SEOSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea – U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft from the 51st Fighter Wing and personnel from the 36th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit are currently participating in Buddy Wing 16-1 at Seosan Air Base, alongside the ROK air force's 20th Fighter Wing, from Jan. 25 to 29, 2016.

Buddy Wing 16-1 is the first of multiple training exercises to be conducted this year on the peninsula. The Buddy Wing program occurs several times a year, designed to sharpen interoperability between the allied air forces so that if need be, they are prepared and ready to fight as a lethal, combined force.

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the 36 FS will integrate with ROK air force KF-16 fighter aircraft from the 20th Fighter Wing, in order to exchange ideas, discuss different scenarios and practice combined tactics, as well as plan, brief, fly, and debrief missions together.

"After 62 years, the ROK-U.S. Alliance continues to be one of the longest standing and successful alliances in modern history," said Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, U.S. Forces Korea. "The Buddy Wing program plays an important role in maintaining interoperability between our two air forces, which in turn helps maintain our alliance and ultimately the long-term stability of the Korean Peninsula."

For more information, please contact Seventh Air Force Public Affairs at 0505-784-4724, or 7afpa@us.af.mil.

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