Air Guard Deploys to Korean Peninsula

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.