ROK Army UAVs enhance combined training exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dana Hill
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron and Republic of Korea Army soldiers teamed up for combined Nuclear Biological and Chemical training here June 23 and 24. 

The two day training course presented the two forces with scenarios requiring them to protect and sustain mission capability at Kunsan Air Base. 

During the training many missions were executed such as NBC reconnaissance using an un-manned aerial vehicle recon system, main supply road decontamination, detailed equipment decontamination and detailed troop decontamination. 

"Our Korean allies are showing us their capabilities and how they will help us defend the base by decontaminating personal and equipment." said Capt. Delvin Ricks, 8th CES, readiness and emergency management flight officer. 

The ROK Army showcased two helicopter-like UAVs, fitted with advanced biological detection and collection equipment during the combined training.

"Today we are going to verify the biological agent collecting system, in case of wartime the 35th homeland reserve division is going to support USAF." said ROKA Maj (s) Park, Ki Chul from the ROK Army Chemical School War Fighting Experiment Center.

Captain Ricks said he now knows what to expect from the ROKA and what kind of support they can offer. The combined training session allowed the 8th CES Airmen to we can see the ROKA's procedures, give recommendations for improvement and also learn what they have to offer. 

"[We know] we can count on them, we know there capabilities and we know they are confident," he said. 

For many of the Airmen and soldiers involved it was their first time training with their allied counterparts.  ROKA Corporal Park, Chunyong ROK Army NBC Decon Team hopes to take part in future combined training opportunities.

"This training is pretty new to me, this is the first time that I have trained with the USAF," he said.  "It's been a great opportunity to have exercise with ROKA and USAF we would like to have more chances like this one."