A 12-ship of F-16s from the New Jersey Air
National Guard’s 119th Fighter Squadron and the District of Columbia Air
Guard’s 121st FS deployed to Kunsan AB, South Korea, along with some 200
airmen. The units will train alongside airmen with the 8th Fighter Wing and
their South Korean allies. The deployment makes up a theater security package,
which arrived at the base in late May and will fly from Kunsan through August. The
integration thus far has been “exceptional,” said Lt. Col Tim Hassel, the
commander of the 119th FS in a
release. The
TSP deployment helps keep the number of jets on the peninsula at a steady
state, and the ANG units fully integrate with Kunsan’s 8th FW to prepare for
any contingency on or off peninsula. “This is an amazing opportunity,” said Lt.
Col. John Cosgrove, the 119th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit
officer-in-charge. Cosgrove said the TSP deployment gives air guardsmen the
opportunity to work 40-60 hours a week on jets, rather than just weekends back
home.
