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7th AF white cell anything but simulated

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Hailey Davis
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  As an essential component of Exercise Key Resolve, the white cell at Osan Air Base provides realistic simulations of scenarios that would impact the combined Air Component Command during a variety of contingencies.

"Key Resolve is an exercise designed to train people that are stationed (here) on the plans that are in place for the defense of South Korea," said retired Brig. Gen. Barry Barksdale, 7th Air Force white cell senior air controller. "It is one of the largest computer-based exercises in the world, whereas others exercise theater warfighting (capabilities)."

Barksdale has been participating in exercises like Key Resolve since 2005 and is responsible for the air simulations during the exercises.

"For the last 60 years, the ROK and the U.S. have been partners under both the United Nations mandate and the CFC mandate to provide for the common defense of South Korea against foreign aggression," Barksdale explained.

Training exercises like Key Resolve are carried out in the spirit of the 1953 ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty. These exercises highlight the longstanding partnership and enduring friendship between the United Nations Command sending state nations, help ensure peace and security on the peninsula, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to the region.

The white cell employs approximately 300 ROK and U.S. active duty, reserve and contracted personnel who simulate flying airplanes and dropping bombs using simulated input through real-world systems in order to provide more detailed training to exercise participants.

"We provide the processes that (ROK-U.S. leadership) would use if there was ever a contingency they would have to respond to," Barksdale added. "It's remarkably realistic. Sometimes people will forget they are in a simulation."

He also said that plans and results are known during other exercises and there are different goals that are exercised. But at the combined ACC, the plans are dynamic.

"For example if, in the exercise, the people playing the opposing forces attack and they are blocked, they may turn around and go the other way. For the Air Component Command, they must be able to react dynamically to whatever is happening," Barksdale said. "We also have the capability to inject computer generated images into the exercise that look just like you would see from a hand-held camera."

He commented that people can see tanks and trucks moving, or explosions, and that it's realistic training, although it's all simulated.

"It's as realistic as we can make it and we try to use the systems that personnel would use if they were doing this in wartime," Barksdale said. "That's the value of these exercises."

Barksdale added that he's developed a close relationship with his ROK counterparts during his time working with the white cell.

"You can't separate the two," Barksdale said. "For the exercises and for the time we're here during peacetime in armistice, we're here to support the ROK.".