Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Newsroom

    Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      PACAF visits Kunsan AB, validates next-gen aircrew protectionPublished Jan. 22, 2023
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Isaiah J. Soliz
                    
                    
                    8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS)  --****Pacific Air Forces** recently deployed a joint team of representatives and subject matter experts to **Kunsan Air Base**, conducting the major command’s first test and validation of counter-chemical warfare tactics, techniques and procedures, or TTP.
These tests are part of the Next Generation Aircrew Protection program, designed to ensure aircrew have proper chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, or CBRN, protective equipment and that CBRN measures are modernized to meet emerging threats while maintaining peak human performance.
“Current aircrew and pilot CBRN protective equipment are effective but restrictive and burdensome, thus hindering combat effectiveness,” said Chief Master Sgt. Charles Hall, PACAF aircrew flight equipment major command functional manager. “The Air Force realized this in late 2021 and early 2022 and set aside about $16 million to conduct research on aircraft, ground and air testing across various platforms to collect quantitative and qualitative data.”
Armed with the data, researchers refined existing TTPs to better equip aircrews, like Kunsan AB’s, with the tools necessary to continue the ‘Fight Tonight’ mission.Pilot performs preflight checkFirst Lt. Moritz Wienke, 35th Fighter Squadron pilot, performs a preflight check while outfitted in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protective equipment at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Jan. 13, 2023. Pacific Air Forces sent a validation team to Kunsan AB in the first step of a PACAF-wide Next Generation Aircrew Protection program update. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Isaiah J. Soliz)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Pilot follows directions during decontamination line processingFirst Lt. Moritz Wienke, 35th Fighter Squadron pilot, prepares to step into an F-16 Fighting Falcon while wearing an M-50 gas mask during a Next Generation Aircrew Protection step, launch and recovery test at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Jan. 13, 2023. The drill tested Kunsan AB Airmen on their ability to safely and efficiently launch and recover an aircraft in a simulated chemical-laden environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Isaiah J. Soliz)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Airman helps pilot remove gearFirst Lt. Moritz Wienke, 35th Fighter Squadron pilot, gets an over-cloak removed by Senior Airman Brett Haifley, 35th Fighter Generation Squadron dedicated crew chief, during a Next Generation Aircrew Protection step, launch and recovery test at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Jan. 13, 2023. Testing and validating were conducted and affected several base agencies to include the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons, 8th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management, 8th Maintenance Group and the 8th Medical Group bioenvironmental engineering flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Isaiah J. Soliz)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

“Wing commanders have an associated risk attached to nearly every decision they make,” said Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Rios, PACAF AFE command manager. “With the integrated data and refined TTPs, wing commanders now have additional information to help them make those tough decisions and continue executing their mission should a CBRN event occur.”
The TTPs are the brainchild of **Col. Daniel Roberts**, who now serves as 97th Medical Group commander at **Altus Air Force Base**, Oklahoma.
“Risk is ever-present,” Roberts said. “Looking at combat operations in a chemical environment brings the question to mind; ‘How does one balance and right-size risk to improve combat effectiveness?’ Thinking this way allowed us to improve human performance and the ability of our ground crews to turn aircraft in an effective manner so our combat forces are ready when called upon.”
The program’s tests and validations affected several base agencies to include the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons, 8th Operations Support Squadron AFE, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management, 8th Maintenance Group and the 8th Medical Group bioenvironmental engineering flight.
Participating Airmen tested the updated CBRN TTPs safely and efficiently by stepping, launching and recovering a flying mission in a simulated chemical filled environment.
The PACAF team is scheduled to validate every installation within the MAJCOM and ultimately will establish standardized PACAF-wide counter-chemical warfare aircrew protection measures. Efforts like this help ensure Kunsan AB maintains maximum combat readiness capabilities to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Kunsan Air Base 



Pacific Air Forces 



cbrn 



AFE 



35th FS 



MXG 



validation 



test 



counter-chemical warfare tactics 



aircrew 



Human Performance 



80th FS 



protective measures 



readiness 



Next Generation Aircrew Protection 



combat effectiveness Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition
                    
                    SECAF, 16th Air Force CC visit America’s Cryptologic WingInnovation
                DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in Hawaii
                    
                    AFWERX accepting applications for spring 2024 fellowship
                    
                    Restoring an F-35A Lightning II: A collaborative endeavorMAJCOM News
                USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander emphasizes five focus areas during AFA Warfare Symposium
                    
                    PACAF welcomes new commander
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil