Reserve combat ops squadrons conclude Exercise UFG

by Capt. Joe Simms
940th Wing Public Affairs

9/5/2013 - OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Reservists assigned to the 940th Wing, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., wrapped up exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian, a two-week joint and combined exercise here Aug 30.

UFG, named in honor of a Korean military leader who repelled a Chinese invasion in the 7th century, is a computer simulated, command and control exercise designed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance and maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.

940th Wing reservists from the 701st Combat Operations Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., and the 713th Combat Operations Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif., participated in the exercise to prepare the ROK military to take the lead for the combined defense of the Republic of Korea in 2015.

While administratively assigned to the 940th Wing, both squadrons support a theater of operations outside of the contiguous United States.

Established in 1995, the one-of-a-kind 701st COS augments 7th Air Force, the U.S. Air Force component to the United States and Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command's Air Component Command for exercises such as UFG and Key Resolve.

"The 701st is here to support the air operations center for the exercise," said Lt. Col. John Carkin, 701st COS director of operations.

The AOC mission is divided into five divisions:  strategy, plans, intelligence, operations and air mobility and is responsible for created and executing air tasking orders for the component numbered Air Force.

This is accomplished by deploying more than 75 airmen from different specialties to work alongside their ROK counterparts for this exercise in a hardened tactical air control center, commonly known as the "war room."

While the mission of the 701st is to augment the Korean Theater and the AOC mission, the 713th COS auguments Pacific Air Forces and the Air Force Forces Staff during surge and contengency operations, and during exercise, such as UFG.

"The two combat operations squadrons are separate, but we have to work together, especially in the planning phase," said Lt. Col. Mitchell Costa, 713 COS and AFFOR air operations/plans representative for UFG. "The AFFOR staff is responsible for deciding the best locations for the forces to fight from and making sure they have everything they need to accomplish the mission. This entails working with the AOC."

The need for an experienced AFFOR staff, provided by the 713th is evident in exercises like UFG when the rapidly changing operating environment of the exercise requieres continual adjustments to the operations plan. Especially when the changes are large enough to require formation of an Operational Planning Group to create a solution.

"When a big problem comes up, we bring together representatives from all elements of the commander's staff to form and OPG, define the problem, and create courses of action that can solve the problem." Costa said. "Then we present those COAs to the commander."

"As the fight moves forward, we consistently need to reevaluate our plans to maintain our flexibility and air superiority," he continued.

Currently, the Korean Theater does not have a reserve squadron dedicated to the AFFOR mission, but adding a reserve augmentee force could become a priority for 7th AF in the future.

"We are the only COS in the AF Reserve that supports an AFFOR staff, and PACAF considers us essential to their mission because no other squadron can step in and do what we do as seamlessly as we can," said Costa.

"It is an ideal mission for the reserve. We bring with us a very experienced team of individuals and provide the continuity for the PACAF theater of operations which oversees more than 30 countries," he continued.

With the unique mission come unique challenges. While most reserve missions are performed at home station, the members of the 713th are constantly training with an eye toward the Pacific area of operations.

Each unit training assembly, members of the 713th brief the squadron on items in the theater and current PACAF concepts and strategies. To further assimilate themselves with their PACAF counterparts, the 713th has a detachment with several full-time reservists assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

"The whole idea of having the detachment at Hickam is to be able to walk across the street and make sure we stay integrated with PACAF so we can meet their needs," Costa said. "That interface is very important so we can organize, equip, and train the way we should to support them back home at Beale."