35th Fighter Generation Squadron focuses on ACE capabilities

Staff Sgt. Clay Fulfer, left, 35th Fighter Generation Squadron dedicated crew chief, and Staff Sgt. Mykelti Chatman, 35th FGS aircraft electrical environmental systems technician, perform initial checks of the landing equipment on an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a U.S.-Republic of Korea Buddy Squadron event at Cheongju Air Base, ROK, July 25, 2023. Throughout the week, Airmen from both countries improved their capabilities while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-ROK Alliance through focused training both in the air and on the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

35th Fighter Generation Squadron focuses on ACE capabilities

Airman 1st Class Tayven Steele, right, and Staff Sgt. Taylor Collins, 35th FGS dedicated crew chiefs, perform pre-flight inspections on an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron during a U.S.-Republic of Korea Buddy Squadron event at Cheongju Air Base, ROK, July 25, 2023. The 35th FGS deployed a small group of maintainers who focused on honing their agile combat employment techniques while ensuring all 35th Fighter Squadron aircraft were in top shape for bilateral training missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

35th Fighter Generation Squadron focuses on ACE capabilities

Members of the 35th Fighter Generation Squadron walk the flightline towards F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron during a U.S.-Republic of Korea Buddy Squadron event at Cheongju Air Base, ROK, July 25, 2023. The 35th FGS dispatched a small group of maintainers who focused on honing their agile combat employment techniques while ensuring all 35th Fighter Squadron aircraft were in top shape for bilateral training missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

35th Fighter Generation Squadron focuses on ACE capabilities

Staff Sgt. Mykelti Chatman, 35th Fighter Generation Squadron aircraft electrical environmental systems technician, inspects the landing equipment of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a U.S.-Republic of Korea Buddy Squadron event at Cheongju Air Base, ROK, July 25, 2023. During the training event, the 35th FGS honed their agile combat employment techniques while ensuring all 35th Fighter Squadron aircraft were in top shape for bilateral training missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

35th Fighter Generation Squadron focuses on ACE capabilities

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron takes off during a U.S.-Republic of Korea Buddy Squadron event at Cheongju Air Base, ROK, July 25, 2023. Buddy Squadron events are regularly held at different bases around the Korean peninsula to give pilots from both countries a chance to learn with and from each other while strengthening shared tactics, techniques and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

35th Fighter Generation Squadron focuses on ACE capabilities

Two F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron taxi to the runway before taking off during a U.S.-Republic of Korea Buddy Squadron event at Cheongju Air Base, ROK, July 25, 2023. The event is regularly held at different bases to give pilots from both countries a chance to learn with and from each other while strengthening shared tactics, techniques and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

35th Fighter Generation Squadron focuses on ACE capabilities

Members of the 35th Fighter Generation Squadron complete repairs on an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a U.S.-Republic of Korea Buddy Squadron event at Cheongju Air Base, ROK, July 25, 2023. To hone their agile combat employment techniques, members of the 35th FGS trained aircraft maintenance skills that they do not perform regularly in their assigned air force specialty code. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

35th Fighter Generation Squadron focuses on ACE capabilities

Published Aug. 3, 2023
By Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

CHEONGJU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --

The 35th Fighter Generation Squadron participated in a U.S.-ROK Buddy Squadron event, July 24-28.

While pilots from the 35th Fighter Squadron, assigned to Kunsan AB, planned, operated, flew and debriefed with their 151st FS ROK Air Force counterparts, the 35th FGS focused their attention on incorporating agile combat employment principles into their operations.

ACE, which can look different for every unit and in every theater, was originally designed as the U.S. Air Force’s scheme of maneuver for increasing survivability while generating combat air power. During this Buddy Squadron training event, ACE operations for the 35th FGS meant reducing and refining maintenance operations down to a small contingent, as they would operate at a forward deployed location.

“Rather than bringing a large maintenance footprint out to Cheongju AB we took a small maintenance package focused on launch, recovery and servicing operations only… treating Cheongju like a ‘spoke location’ to the main ‘hub’ operation at Osan,” said Col. Bradley D. Altman, 8th Maintenance Group commander. “Ultimately, we reduced our logistical footprint while maintaining a high operational tempo, proving that we can generate air power in any environment and that is what ACE is all about.”

The 35th FGS’ ACE operations not only delivered mission capable F-16 Fighting Falcons for the traditional exchange between U.S. and ROK air force units, but on a larger scale reinforced how critical it is for the Wolf Pack to be able to project capabilities from anywhere on the Korean peninsula.

“The Air Force has acknowledged that in future conflicts the fight will not be at home station, so it's important to get troops into the mindset that they will have to leave an established base of operation and hit the ground running in a more austere location to prepare sorties and produce airpower,” said Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Fisher, 35th FGS flightline expediter.

Practical implementation of ACE methods during routine operations is just one way Wolf Pack maintainers stay sharp and always ready, so that the 8th Fighter Wing can ‘Take the fight north!’ if ever called to do so.