36th FS hosts ROKAF pilots during Buddy Wing

by Senior Airman Siuta B. Ika
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/9/2013 - OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Two Republic of Korea air force pilots flew with pilots from the 36th Fighter Squadron during a Buddy Wing exchange here Sept. 11-12.

The Buddy Wing exchange program places both ROKAF and U.S. Air Force pilots in the same briefings and flying rules that the host unit flies under.

During this exchange, the ROKAF pilots took to the skies with two 'Fiends' from the 36th FS for air combat maneuvering, which is something that both sets of pilots don't normally get to do, explained U.S. Air Force Capt. David Ludington, 36th FS pilot and assistant chief of scheduling.

"Buddy Wing is an awesome experience for us to train together, because we don't normally get to do that," he said. "We took turns testing each other's game plans, which went very well. They got us when they were supposed to and we did the same when we were supposed to. It was good to see that our allies on the Korean side are as diligent in their training as we are."

The Korean pilots shared Ludington's opinion and are anxious to fly with the 36th FS again, said ROKAF Capt. Hyun Seung Lee.

"We had a lot of fun, learned a lot, and hopefully taught them something too," Lee said.

This may have been the last Buddy Wing exchange of 2013, but definitely won't be the last exchange between the two fighter squadrons, Ludington said.

"We would love the opportunity to fly at their base or have them come back and fly with us again here," he said. "It's great to have the opportunity to train with one of our allies, which in the end, is beneficial for both sides."