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International observers watch Max Thunder unfold

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Air attaches and international observers from five countries descended on Gwangju Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 23, to watch U.S. and Republic of Korea forces as they participate in Exercise Max Thunder.

The air attaches from Colombia, Turkey and the U.S. joined with observers of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission during the visit to gain insight and understanding of how the ROK Air Force, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy train to fight an air war in a joint and combined environment.

Max Thunder replicates scenarios and planning cycles in a robust exercise setting that simulates combined operations against a hostile force and provides large-force employment training for U.S. and ROK military personnel. This combined large-force employment exercise included F-16s from the 8th Fighter Wing, and 51st Fighter Wing, F-18s from Marine Air Group 12, EA-18Gs from U.S. Seventh Fleet, C-130s from the 374th Airlift Wing, F-15Cs and E-3Bs from the 18th Wing, numerous ROKAF aircraft and accompanying support personnel during the two-week exercise.

"We are opening our doors to this exercise so they can see what we're doing here," said Maj. Kendall Spencer, Max Thunder's lead planner. "There are two facets to this visit: To invite these nations to participate in future exercises so that the alliance can be more ready to defend Korea and to open our doors for the NNSC representatives in accordance with the provisions of the armistice to show that what we're doing here is not provocative nature."

The visitors were given briefings on the exercise where they had the opportunity to ask questions on the benefits of the exercise, lessons learned and the complexities surrounding putting on such a large exercise with so many different units.

"When I came here, I assumed it was a limited exercise," said Turkish Air Force Maj. Sinan Durkaya, Turkish Air Force Attache for the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey. "But when I heard there were people coming from outside of Korea and the number of aircraft, it was a big surprise for me. Gathering that kind of different aircraft types and gathering many people from different places and organizing them in the same area for the same mission is a good point for an exercise."

Spencer said he hopes the attaches will recognize Max Thunder's value and urge their countries to participate in the future.

"I'm hoping they come away with an understanding of what opportunities for combined training are available on the Korean peninsula and that they are welcome to send their forces to participate in this exercise so that we can make this alliance stronger in a multinational sense," he said.