Wolf Pack tackles Beverly Bulldog

  • Published
  • By Capt. Omar Villarreal
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  It is safe to say that if you have served in the military, you have been through an operational readiness exercise. For those who haven't, Kunsan would like to give you a little taste of what you're missing.

Wolf Pack Airmen are currently tackling Beverly Bulldog 12-01, the first exercise of the New Year, and are being tested on their abilities to defend the base, accept follow-on forces and take the fight north.

"When we exercise our wartime mission at Kunsan we play for keeps," said Col. Scott Pleus, 8th Fighter Wing commander. "The entire base participates as if we are in actual combat operations. We simulate virtually nothing."

With the HUMVEES rolling around, alarms blaring, gunshots going off in the background and boxes of Meals Ready to Eat being broken open, one's imagination wouldn't have to get very creative to envision what life would be like if the Wolf Pack was actually at war.
The exercise officially kicked-off with a base-wide recall on Sunday and has had several scenarios since then.

"When you get recalled you know it's time," said Capt. Aileen Bailey, 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron's materiel management flight commander. "We all came to Kunsan with the intention of helping keep the Republic of Korea safe and secure ... and now it is time to do so."

Exercise injects include threats and situations that may be seen during an actual war.

"Operational readiness exercises are meant to test a unit's ability to survive and operate in a wartime scenario," said Capt. Randy Kinsey, 8th Fighter Wing, chief of inspections. "We do these exercises to provide realistic training that shows our Airmen are ready to defend the base and produce combat sorties."

Scenarios happen day and night, rain or shine, and as Airmen are finding out at Kunsan, during snow and ice storms...24 hours a day.

"We always have the safety of our Airmen in mind during exercises," said Capt. Monica Wu, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron's asset management flight commander. "Even with that ... we have to be ready to flip that switch and go to war any time of day or night and in any condition."

Some of the exercise scenarios include threats such as chemical and missile attacks, building fires, vehicle crashes, medical responses, active shooters and firefights.

"I am completely confident in the Wolf Pack's ability to perform our mission," said Pleus. "We train hard and are prepared mentally, physically and emotionally to take the fight north and help maintain the stability of the Republic of Korea."