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Three F-16 wings deploy to South Korea

June 6, 2006 (by SrA Stephen Collier) - Elements of fighter wings from three Air National Guard units have deployed to Kunsan AFB this week in support of their air expeditionary force rotations.

An F-16 from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing, commonly referred to as "The Tacos," prepares to beddown recently after deploying to Kunsan Air Base as part of the unit's Air Expeditionary Force rotation. The 150th FW integrated with the 140th and 120th FWs, each from the Colorado and Montana ANGs respectively, to become the 186th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. [USAF photo by Staff Sgt. Becky Nelson]

Components of the 150th, 140th and 120th Fighter Wings from the New Mexico, Colorado and Montana Air National Guard, respectively, have been renamed the 186th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and nicknamed the "Rocky Mountain Coalition." They have integrated into the 8th Fighter Wing's "Wolf Pack" in support of each unit's individual training requirements.

Lt. Col. Mark Scharf, 186th EFS commander, said each Guard unit was looking forward to working with their active-duty hosts. He said he has several goals for the members of the 186th EFS.

"Each of us are AEF partners, giving us the chance to work together," he said. "Not only will we work together, but (we'll do it) in an environment we haven't been together in as a group.

"Many of our pilots haven't flown outside the U.S.," the colonel said. "We will integrate and be … a normal member of this wing."

Each Air National Guard unit, primarily from areas of the United States where the weather is normally a dry heat, is now working in a humid, muggy environment. Colonel Scharf said these conditions make Kunsan a great training opportunity.

The deployment, not unlike those to Southwest Asia, will be a busy one for the 186th EFS. As the unit becomes fully operational in the coming days, it will take on the same operations tempo the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons, based at Kunsan, experience every day.

Chief Master Sgt. Roy Hannah, 186th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron NCO in charge, said the goal of each deployed member is to go anywhere in the world to fly and fight.

"These three units under the AEF concept can go anywhere and we are doing that right now," Chief Hannah said.

Chief Hannah said the training his maintenance troops were receiving allows them to fight side by side with the Wolf Pack.

"If our assets are needed, we'll be right there," he said. "That's what it means to integrate."

Colonel Scharf said the hospitality that Kunsan Airmen have shown to the Guard has been outstanding.

"There is always an organized effort at bases, which is nice, but this unit is (all about) the individual effort from the folks that come over and just offer to help," he said. "Everyone is busy, but the folks from transportation, communications and other offices are ready to support us. It's a lot of work for them and we appreciate it."


Courtesy of 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Additional images:

A deployed crew chief guides an F-16 from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing, commonly referred to as "The Tacos," into place before bedding down recently. The 150th FW deployed to Kunsan along with the 140th and 120th FWs, each from the Colorado and Montana ANGs respectively, where together they formed the 186th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron as part of their Air Expeditionary Force rotation. [USAF photo by Staff Sgt. Matt Schwartz]