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	Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise
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        <h1 class="title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</h1>
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                 alt="80th Fighter Generation Squadron Airmen observe an F-16 Fighting Falcon while conducting preflight systems inspections."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">80th Fighter Generation Squadron Airmen observe an F-16 Fighting Falcon while conducting preflight systems inspections on F-16 Fighting Falcons during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined training and exercises are defensive in nature, intended to build combat readiness and ensure we are ready to “Fight Tonight.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)</div>
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                 alt="Capt. Jacob Yarnell reviews preflight procedures during Vigilant Defense."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Capt. Jacob Yarnell, 35th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, reviews preflight procedures during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined Flying Training Events integrate U.S. and ROK forces to train on mutual support procedures, further improving understanding and trust between the two nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karla Parra)</div>
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                 alt="Capt. Patrick Oshea inspects a F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Capt. Patrick Oshea, 35th Fighter Squadron pilot, inspects a F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined training and exercises are defensive in nature, intended to build combat readiness and ensure we are ready to “Fight Tonight.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)</div>
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                 alt="Capt. Jacob Yarnell boards an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense"
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Capt. Jacob Yarnell, 35th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, boards an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined Flying Training Events integrate U.S. and ROK forces to train on mutual support procedures, further improving understanding and trust between the two nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karla Parra)</div>
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                 alt="Capt. Patrick Oshea onducts a preflight systems check during Vigilant Defense."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Capt. Patrick Oshea, 35th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, conducts a preflight systems check during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined training and exercises are defensive in nature, intended to build combat readiness and ensure we are ready to “Fight Tonight.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)</div>
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                 alt="Capt. Patrick Oshea, 35th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, taxis after completing pre-flight checks during Vigilant Defense."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Capt. Patrick Oshea, 35th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, taxis after completing pre-flight checks during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined Flying Training Events integrate U.S. and ROK forces to train on mutual support procedures, further improving understanding and trust between the two nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)</div>
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                 alt="Capt. Jacob Yarnell conducts a preflight systems check during Vigilant Defense."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Capt. Jacob Yarnell, 35th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, conducts a preflight systems check during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined training and exercises are defensive in nature, intended to build combat readiness and ensure we are ready to “Fight Tonight.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karla Parra)</div>
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                 alt="80th Fighter Generation Squadron Airmen observe an F-16 Fighting Falcon while conducting preflight systems inspections."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">80th Fighter Generation Squadron Airmen observe an F-16 Fighting Falcon while conducting preflight systems inspections on F-16 Fighting Falcons during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined Flying Training Events integrate U.S. and ROK forces to train on mutual support procedures, further improving understanding and trust between the two nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karla Parra)</div>
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                 alt="Capt. Mitchell McCulley conducts a preflight systems check during Vigilant Defense."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Capt. Mitchell McCulley, 35th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, conducts a preflight systems check during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023.
Combined training and exercises are defensive in nature, intended to build combat readiness and ensure we are ready to “Fight Tonight.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karla Parra)</div>
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                 alt="80th Fighter Generation Squadron Airmen observe an F-16 Fighting Falcon while conducting preflight systems inspections."
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                <div class="image-title">Wolf Pack kicks off Vigilant Defense 24 exercise</div>
                <div class="image-caption">80th Fighter Generation Squadron Airmen observe an F-16 Fighting Falcon while conducting preflight systems inspections on F-16 Fighting Falcons during Vigilant Defense at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 28, 2023. Combined training and exercises are defensive in nature, intended to build combat readiness and ensure we are ready to “Fight Tonight.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karla Parra)</div>
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    <div><b>By Capt. Kaylin P. Hankerson,</b> <span class="date">/ Published Oct. 30, 2023</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea, </span>
    <p><span style="font-family:arial;">The 8th Fighter Wing began participation in the Vigilant Defense 24 combined flying training event, Oct. 30. Vigilant Defense 24, a Seventh Air Force hosted, annual training event is a part of an annual, continuous training schedule designed to strengthen the U.S. Air Force and ROK Air Force Alliance.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">“The Wolf Pack is always training because we never want to lose focus of our critical defend, deter, and if necessary, defeat mission,” said Col. Jeffrey D. Shulman, 8th Fighter Wing deputy commander. “Vigilant Defense is taking that always ready mentality, our ‘Fight Tonight’ focus and applying it on a much larger scale to prove we can defend the ROK alongside mission partners.”</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">Participation in Vigilant Defense 24 called for the Wolf Pack to energize its 14 squadrons and 2,600 personnel to enable the rapid generation of the unit’s 40 F-16 Fighting Falcons to fly sorties across the Korean Peninsula. Throughout the duration of the training event, 8th FW assets are set to integrate with various types of fighter, cargo, tanker, and reconnaissance aircraft from U.S. Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force units.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">“While the training we do year-round keeps us sharp, opportunities like this to integrate our operations with international partners are truly invaluable to refining the necessary tactics, techniques and procedures that ensure the combined force can operate as one cohesive unit should we ever be called upon,” said Col. Michael G. McCarthy, 8th Operations Group commander.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">Regularly scheduled, combined flying training events like Vigilant Defense 24, are designed to enhance combined and joint training and are entirely defensive in nature, not related to any current real-world threats or situations. Vigilant Defense 24 is not intended to be threatening or provocative toward any other country.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">“We participate in these types of events regularly, but each one is a unique opportunity to develop our partnership and improve our ability to work together,” said McCarthy. "This continuous improvement I think speaks volumes about our ability and commitment to protect the peace, stability, and prosperity of this region.”</span></p>
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