Buddy Wing: flight of friends

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Roy Lynch
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Kunsan Air Base hosted a Buddy Wing Exercise with their fellow Korean counterparts, March 15-17. The exercise partners U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force pilots so they are able to operate effectively together for possible joint combat actions.

"Buddy Wing is a way for us to gain experience flying with the host nation pilots," said Capt. Patrick Hickie, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot. "This enables us to integrate seamlessly and be effective as possible."

The ROKAF's F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 21st Fighting Squadron out of Seosan Air Base and F-15E Strike Eagles from the Wolf Pack's own 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron played part in several realistic aerial exercises to become familiar with each other's tactics and procedures.

"This is the bread and butter of what we do," said Captain Hickie. "We need to understand how to operate and employ together efficiently, this exercise gives us the chance to do that."

Buddy Wing is held several times throughout the year to help ensure all incoming pilots are able to participate sometime throughout their tour and so U.S. and Republic of Korea Air Forces can operate smoothly together to complete their missions.

"ROKAF mainly use English terms on the radio in accordance with communication procedures," said Capt. Sung Jin Jeon, 21st Fighter Squadron. "We primarily share jargon, codeword, brevity, and so forth, so we don't see any problem with communication between ROKAF and USAF pilots."

If something verbally does go wrong, the mission is halted for safety.

"Just in case we do misunderstand each other due to the language barrier, we would first consider safety factors and suspend a mission," said Captain Jeon. "We conduct an exercise with our safety secured."

Through this training ROKAF pilots are able to return to their squadrons and pass on the lessons learned through the exercise to their ROKAF counterparts.

"Buddy Wing gives us such an opportunity to experience and practice an air combat," said Captain Jeon. "We can share our experience with other ROKAF who haven't done this exercise. A select group of pilots can get the training and disseminate what they experience and learn."

Through any contingency, USAFand ROKAF pilots will work together to stop any threat. The Buddy Wing Exercise allows these pilots the opportunity to work together before the contingency ever happens.