Wolf Pack welcomes local youth

By Staff Sgt. Anthony Hetlage, 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published November 14, 2019

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U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sarah Allen, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Unit electric and environmental craftsman, tells students from Gunsan Dong High School about the capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon during a tour at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 8, 2019. This was the first time the students were able to visit Kunsan and get up close and personal with an F-16. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Hetlage)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Lace, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, takes a selfie with a group of students from Gunsan Dong High School at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 8, 2019. Lace spoke to the students about the capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon including its cost, payload and his role in the repair of the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Hetlage)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Edwin Leyva, 8th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, reacts to being bitten by MWD Nex during a demonstration at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 8, 2019. The demonstration was part of a base tour for 41 local students from Gunsan Dong High School that taught the students how MWDs are trained and their role in the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Hetlage)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Patrick Misnick, 8th Medical Group commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Steve Cenov, 8th Fighter Wing command chief, pose for a group picture with a group of students from Gunsan Dong High School during their visit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 8, 2019. The tour included meeting wing leadership, checking out an F-16 Fighting Falcon and observing an 8th Security Forces Squadron military working dog demonstration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Hetlage)

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --

Students from Gunsan Dong High School visited Kunsan Air Base to meet with 8th Fighter Wing leadership, check out an F-16 Fighting Falcon and observe a military working dog demonstration, Nov. 8.

The 41 students are all a part of various school clubs and programs, many of which include speaking or writing English. The visit gave the students the opportunity to gain insight of the Wolf Pack mission and meet U.S. Airmen while also enhancing their English skills.

The tour kicked off by meeting with Col. Patrick “Hawk” Misnick, 8th Medical Group commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Steve “Wolf Chief” Cenov, 8th Fighter Wing command chief, whom welcomed the students to Kunsan and gifted the students with small goody bags that included souvenirs from base units to mark the occasion.

“The relationship between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea has been strong and beneficial for the last 60 years,” said Cenov. “The reason this relationship will continue to be so successful is because of your commitment to excellence and your determination.”

After the introduction, the students took a trip over to the flight line for a close-up with one of the 80th Fighter Squadron’s F-16 Fighting Falcons. The students were able to speak with a group of aircraft maintainers and get up close with an F-16 for the very first time.

“I wanted to visit Kunsan to meet U.S. Airmen and see an F-16 for the first time,” said Tae-Gyun Kim, a 16-year-old sophomore in the Gunsan Dong High School Management and Economy Club. “I could not believe how big the F-16 actually was. It feels like the U.S. is truly our friends and the Airmen were so cool.”

After learning about the F-16’s capabilities and the mission of the 8th Maintenance Group, the students were able to ask any questions they had and take pictures with the F-16 and Airmen.

The last portion of the tour was with the military working dog handlers. The students witnessed how MWDs are trained and utilized in various base defense situations. This included witnessing MWD Nex perform attack training and testing his discipline by only obeying his handler when students yelled and tried to distract MWD Nex.

“The tour was awesome but the F-16 was my favorite because I want to fix jets for the Republic of Korea Air Force in the future,” said Myung-han Yu, a 16-year-old sophomore in Gunsan Dong High School the Broadcast and 3-D Printer Club. “I like how active and friendly the U.S. is with the Republic of Korea.”