Teaching ROK forces to survive the unthinkable

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Members of the Republic of Korea army and air force joined with Wolf Pack members Tuesday near the base track to practice the unthinkable: decontaminating themselves and equipment in the event of a chemical or biological strike on them or the base. 

Supported by the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron readiness flight, the exercise centered on the decontamination of chemical or biological hazards to contaminated troops. 

But the exercise also concentrated on how to properly scrub down vehicles after they have been laced with potential agents and performing a CCA to help get them, and Wolf Pack members, back into the fight. 

"This exercise enhances the combined mission capability and ensures that the ROK military and Air Force are able to decontaminate both their equipment and their personnel during a contingency," according to Capt. Craig Mills, readiness flight officer-in-charge. "The USAF will assist the ROKA and ROKAF with personnel decontamination if necessary." 

In the event a chemical or biological event were to take place, both the ROK military and Air Force personnel are prepared to respond at a moment's notice. 

Units which support the detection and clean up of these deadly agents include the ROKAF's local 38th Fighter Group Chemical Company, the ROK army's 35th Chemical Battalion and the 8th CES 'Red Devils' readiness flight. 

Each unit provides decontamination equipment and assistance with the decontamination of personnel to make the process of decontaminating individuals just that much faster. 

"CE readiness serves as Kunsan's 'Chemical Experts,'" Capt. Mills said. "Our readiness Airmen are sharing their knowledge and helping ROKAF and ROKA troops train each other to decontaminate their personnel. We too learned about ROKAF and ROKA's equipment decontamination process, which was also exercised." 

Senior Airman Tara St. Andrie, a readiness journeyman with the readiness flight, said the integration of the ROK military into our system will inevitably save lives. 

"(The system) allows the Air Force and ROKAF to go through the same exact system," she said. "This way, it streamlines the process of decontaminating people quicker which means we can get Airmen and Soldiers back into the fight and, in effect, save lives all at the same time."