Forum: Air Force Life

I've read about Exercise Reforger, but the information out about any similar exercises involving Korea are slim...I have come across RSOI/Foal Eagle, but they seem to be a lot smaller than Reforger. Are they similar in their objectives?

Can anyone give me some insight into what Reforger and/or Foal Eagle is like for the doers?

I'm guessing info on Foal Eagle is minimal because of OPSEC...so I don't need sensitive info, just stuff about how busy it gets on the peninsula.

Right now I'm working on the part of my book where the US starts throwing as much as can be moved into Korea in to counter the advance of the North Korean Army--it moves in en masse and overwhelms EUSA. Kunsan and Osan also fall--the US and ROK AF's have to move to Pusan, Jeju, and Japan. So I want to be able to give the appropriate mood to this section, based on how it really is.

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Sounds a lot like the Larry Bond book "Red Phoenix"

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"Red Phoenix"

I'll have to get that book next time I head over to Barnes & Noble.

My book follows members from all branches of the Military as they go about the business of reclaiming the peninsula...while Bond and Clancy's Red Storm Rising focused on the commanders giving the orders, my book goes down the chain of command to the people doing the shooting, something RSR doesn't do, apart from the tanker mentioned rarely. All but three of the main characters are NCOs. The three officers are an Air Force Major with the 35th FW, a Marine Captain, and a Navy Lieutenant Commander. I don't do as much reading of other authors as I know I should, but I want a book that both officers and enlisted would be happy to have on their bookshelves/seabags/rucksack/what-have-you

Gotta concur with Nam11b it does sound like it covers the same ground of Larry Bonds "Red Phoenix". Not that theres anything wrong with that, there's room for another authors interpretation. Haven't read "Red Phoenix" in a long time, his novel "Cauldron" about a European war started by an German/French alliance (if I remember it right) was also a good read. But "Red Phoenix" had F-16A's going up against MiG-23's and first generation MiG-29 Fulcrums (N/ Korea's surprise "super" aircraft). Still well worth reading, but a little dated. Published in 1989 according to my well worn paperback copy. Definitely room for an updated scenario, especially with leadership change with "the Great Leader" long since deceased and his son, Kim Jon something (I'm drawing a blank on his name at the moment), missing for weeks/months now? Possibly gravely ill or worse? Whole lot of plot possibilities...

TEAM SPIRIT was the big reforger exercise before it was incarnated into ROSI. I was involved in the last named TEAM SPIRT - 93. The Air Force brought in F-117s from Holloman to Kunsan, F-15Es from Elmendorf and F-15Cs from Kadena went to (K)Gwang Ju, F-16s from Colorado ANG went to Osan and there was a portion of a carrier air wing involved.

Your manuscript idea sounds interesting and similar to Red Pheonix. That being said - a full scale surprise invasion of South Korea - well it wont be a surprise. There are alot of flags that will be raised when you have to mobilize an army that the North Koreans need to use.

Remember that the US also has bases and a carrier air wing in Japan within striking distance of South Korea.

Another major thing that seems to be overlooked is that while the US has the equivalent of two fighter wings permanently stationed in South Korea - the South Koreans have the equivalent of three F-16 wings and an F-15K squadron. The South Koreans can also mobilize their reservists much like the Isrealis can.

You have alot to think about in dealing with this scenario. Since you said much of South Korea will be over run. While North Korea seems fearful - the ROK military is disciplined and well trained as well.

Just my two cents.

The situation starts with Kim Jong-il's death, leaving them without stable leadership. His son, Kim Jong-nam returns from virtual exile to take over the country. He begins making demands of the US, but we naturally refuse since North Korea still hasn't disarmed their nuclear weapons, and they have been hacking into the US State Department computer network. After a few weeks of diplomatic quabbling, he orders an invasion--the first shot is a Rodong missile fired at Seoul. Then artillery shells all other bases in range. Of the eight corps in the DPRK Army--six of them end up inside South Korean territory, backed up by a division of PRC Army (mutual defense pact requires they tag along)

I have ways to deal with some of the things you have raised--the George Washington will be in Norfolk for refit, Kunsan and Osan end up falling to the North Koreans, hence all the US and South Koreans have to fly from bases in Japan--who wanting to remain neutral, do not allow US military personnel off-base.

I have been researching this book for three years--I have plotted out maps of how the fighting progresses, used spreadsheets to determine how long it would take to move our forces in, and done in-person interviews with people that have served in Korea. Even though a good 80% of the things I have looked up will not make it into the book--I am doing it to make sure my backstory and facts are all as right as I can get them.

I'm sure in order for your story to be more feasible your going to have to adjust certain scenarios. You said you want to get things right and factual but theres also the fact that the US has not left a carrier gap in the Pacific. Every time the Kittyhawk had left the Pacific the US has filled that position with another carrier or the Air Force brings in a theater security package of fighters into Korea backed up by bombers on Guam.

Send me a private message if you would like to discuss this further...

Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 620

The NoDAKs can't take a dump without us knowing about it.

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Every time the Kittyhawk had left the Pacific the US has filled that position with another carrier or the Air Force brings in a theater security package of fighters into Korea backed up by bombers on Guam.

That will give me an excuse to have the Abraham Lincoln in the book, and it will give a good excuse why B-2s would be at Andersen. BTW, I know there are special hangars at Whiteman for the Spirits, but are there similar facilities at Andersen, or do they just sit out in the open?

The president doesn't order Global Strike Command (the book is set in 2011-13) to nuke Pyongyang, because he has reservations about launching a retaliation. The North Korean government is in shambles, and he only wants the people that are responsible--Kim Jong-nam.

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The NoDAKs can't take a dump without us knowing about it.

I'm trying to figure out a way to explain an intelligence SNAFU to explain why we didn't put all the pieces together. I don't need it to be too in-depth, I still want to write this about the fighting men and women, not the politicians....besides, the highest ranking character that I spend any time on is only a Major flying with the 35th FW out of Misawa. Some of it can be explained away by the fact that we think it is the PRC pulling the strings, but it's really the N. Koreans behind everything.