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	Vigilant Defense 24: Accept follow-on forces
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        <h1 class="title">Vigilant Defense 24: Accept follow-on forces</h1>
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                 alt="8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, observes the take-off of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base"
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                <div class="image-title">Vigilant Defense 24: Accept Follow-on Forces</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Staff Sgt. Eric Sadowski, 8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, observes an F-16 Fighting Falcon taxi before take-off during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 30, 2023. Combined Flying Training Events are regularly scheduled training events designed to enhance the readiness of U.S. and ROK forces and sustain capabilities, which strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)</div>
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                 alt="8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisors, don protective gear during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base"
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                <div class="image-title">Vigilant Defense 24: Accept Follow-on Forces</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Staff Sgt. Eric Sadowski, right, 8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, and Tech. Sgt. Paul Gary, 8th OSS ATC senior watch supervisor, don mission-oriented protective posture gear during during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 30, 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="The Kunsan Air Base air traffic control tower provides a vantage point of flight operations for air traffic controllers"
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                <div class="image-title">Vigilant Defense 24: Accept Follow-on Forces</div>
                <div class="image-caption">The Kunsan Air Base air traffic control tower provides a vantage point of flight operations for air traffic controllers during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea, Oct. 30, 2023. Combined Flying Training Events are regularly scheduled training events designed to enhance the readiness of U.S. and ROK forces and sustain capabilities, which strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)</div>
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                 alt="8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisors, observe the take-off of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base"
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                <div class="image-title">Vigilant Defense 24: Accept Follow-on Forces</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Staff Sgt. Eric Sadowski, left, 8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, and Tech. Sgt. Paul Gary, 8th OSS ATC senior watch supervisor, observe an F-16 Fighting Falcon as it taxis before take-off during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 30, 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="8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, observes the take-off of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base"
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                <div class="image-title">Vigilant Defense 24: Accept Follow-on Forces</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Staff Sgt. Eric Sadowski, 8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, observes the take-off of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 30, 2023. Combined Flying Training Events are regularly scheduled training events designed to enhance the readiness of U.S. and ROK forces and sustain capabilities, which strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)</div>
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                 alt="8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, observes the take-off of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base"
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                <div class="image-title">Vigilant Defense 24: Accept Follow-on Forces</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Senior Airman David McCall, 8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, uses binoculars to conduct a visual inspection of the flightline during Vigilant Defense 24 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 29, 2023. Combined Flying Training Events are regularly scheduled training events designed to enhance the readiness of U.S. and ROK forces and sustain capabilities, which strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)</div>
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    <div><b>By Tech. Sgt. Emili Koonce,</b> <span class="date">/ Published Oct. 31, 2023</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea, </span>
    <p><span style="font-family:arial;">During the combined flying training event known as Vigilant Defense 24, more than 25 various types of fighter, cargo, tanker, and reconnaissance aircraft from the U.S., ROK, and Royal Australian air forces are conducting flight operations from ROK and U.S. bases across the peninsula Oct. 30 - Nov. 3.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">Vigilant Defense is designed to enhance combined training and here to ensure Airmen remain safe in the sky and on the ground are air traffic controllers like U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Gary, 8th Operations Support Squadron ATC senior watch supervisor.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">“As air traffic controllers, we have to be proficient at coordinating all airframes from fighter to cargo, military or civilian,” said Gary. “We’re always prepared for whatever may come our way, including an increase in air traffic operations during a contingency operation because for us it would be nothing more than practicing how we play.”</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">The center component of Kunsan AB’s three-part mission is to “Accept Follow-on Forces” and during a contingency operation, ATC’s ability to coordinate increased flight operations is vital to ensuring efficient and safe reception of those forces.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">“I think it is important for Airmen to step away from exercises like this with the ability to remain flexible in situations that take you outside of your comfort zone,” said Gary. “You may have to adapt and follow someone else’s lead in a dynamic situation, and doing so could be the difference in saving or losing lives while coordinating aircraft.”</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">Controllers provide pilots with their flight and landing information along with weather reports all while deconflicting landing and air space congestion within their zone of responsibility. Gary explains how working together is essential to performing ATC operations.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">“Building teams is particularly important,” said Gary. “The person on your left and right needs to be on the same page as you.”</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial;">CFTEs are regularly scheduled training events designed to enhance the readiness of U.S. and ROK forces and sustain capabilities, which strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance.</span></p>
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