Thunderbolts set to return home after completing AEF rotation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephen Teel
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Eighteen F-15E Strike Eagles and more than 450 Airmen assigned to the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron "Thunderbolts" will return to Mountain Home Air Force Base Idaho, this week. 

As part of U.S. Pacific Command's continuous force posture adjustments in the Pacific , the Strike Eagles deployed here in June to demonstrate a continued U.S. commitment to fulfilling security responsibilities throughout the Western Pacific. 

"This has been a great opportunity for our Airmen to train in and around a unique environment," said Lt. Col. Michael Koscheski, 389th EFS commander. "Additionally, it provided us the opportunity to train with other assets like B-52s, F-22s and U.S. Navy aircraft on large-scale training scenarios free from tight air traffic control restrictions." 

"In addition to training with other U.S. assets, we were able to deploy to Kunsan Air Base, Korea, and work with the Republic of Korea to prepare a squadron of F-15K's for their first Red Flag deployment," Colonel Koscheski added. 

Aside from the deployment from Andersen to Korea, the 389th EFS participated in three large-force exercises, dropped approximately 144,000 pounds of live and inert training munitions and conducted missions to maintain flying currencies and tactical proficiency. 

"The success we achieved here is a direct reflection of the Airmen who make up the 389th EFS, the 36th Operations Group and the 36th Maintenance Group" said Maj. Ki Jackson, 389th EFS instructor pilot.