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Pacific Defender Outreach 19-1 builds cohesive joint force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James L. Miller
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  

Recently U.S. Air Force Security Forces members joined Republic of Korea military police during a subject matter expert exchange at Gwangju Air Base, Republic of Korea, during Pacific Defender Outreach 19-1.

 

The training is intended to enhance strong personal relationships and cooperation with the Republic of Korea Air Force Military Police Agency.  During the event, attendees shared force protection tactics, techniques, procedures, and information while developing and enhancing interpersonal relationships. 

 

“This training gives us upfront realistic understanding of our joint capabilities when working with our Republic of Korea Air Force counterparts,” said Master Sgt. Edward Grant, current operations manager with 7th Air Force. “What we have learned together is invaluable and unifies our combined force.”

 

Security Forces members from the 736th Security Forces Squadron, Andersen Air Base, Guam, teamed up with military police and special forces units from Republic of Korea’s 1st Fighter Wing, Gwangju AB, for the weeklong event.

 

“This training gave the ROKAF forces a new perspective and helped give us some new methods for things we were already doing,” said Staff Sgt. Tae Kwan Yeon, a special duty team member assigned to Gwangju AB. “The training itself was a cultural exchange, which helped us become more comfortable with each other as the training went on.”

 

Members attended classroom sessions followed by practical applications revolving around base defense, team tactics, casualty care, perimeter defense, combatives and flight line security. 

 

While a language barrier would typically hinder most trainings, for those attending Pacific Defender Outreach 19-1 that wasn’t the case.

“I didn’t feel like there was a language barrier at all,” said Grant. “During the training it created unique ways to get the message across and helped build bonds between us, which nails home the cohesive joint force we are trying to achieve.”

 

“These trainings need to continue,” said Technical Sgt. Rowdy Spears, ground combat instructor for the 736th Security Forces Squadron. “The more training we do with our joint forces, the more cohesive we are and the more fluid our movements are together. We gel together and become one family, and that makes us a power force to reckoned with.”