Editor’s Note: We’re sure a lot of you are familiar the “Elephant Walk” formations at Kunsan Air Base in the Republic of Korea, but this one is a little different. While there isn’t the usual number of Vipers on the runway as with others we’ve seen, what makes this particular instance stand out is the fact it was done at night! This is a pretty awesome spectacle of power projection!
Wolf Pack Airmen sharpened their ability to survive and operate with various simulated contingency scenarios during Beverly Pack 16-2 here at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Feb. 2 through 6.
The exercise scenarios were crafted with an emphasis on readiness.
“We conduct multiple operational readiness exercises every year to hone that edge of readiness,” said Lt. Col. Scott Seigfried 8th Fighter Wing inspector general. “We also conduct the exercise multiple times to accommodate for the high turnover rate of Airmen at Kunsan.”
With most of Kunsan’s Airmen being on one-year tours, that creates a higher turnover rate than the Air Force average. That turnover means high value is placed on educating new Airmen and preparing the wing to be ready at all times.
“We need to constantly exercise to ensure that we are bringing our new folks along and getting them ready to defend the Republic of Korea at a moment’s notice,” Seigfried said.
The maintenance teams met all their time constraints for generating aircraft, Seigfried said. This was especially impressive, considering they worked around the clock, often out in the elements, in temperatures that often stayed in the teens at night, he added.
“You never know when we’ll get recalled to start generating aircraft,” he said. “That could happen at any time. The mentality of being ready around-the-clock is critical when it comes to maintaining the wing’s ability to stand strong regardless of the circumstances and defend the Republic of Korea.”
The original article by Staff Sergeant Nick Wilson of 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs can be viewed here.
(Featured photo: Twenty F-16s from the 8th Fighter Wing line up for an elephant walk early in the morning on Feb. 3, 2016 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The elephant walk was designed to test the 8 FW’s ability to launch aircraft at a moment’s notice. U.S Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)
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