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	USAF, ROKAF join forces for Herk Guardians 23
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        <h1 class="title">USAF, ROKAF join forces for Herk Guardians 23</h1>
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                <div class="image-title">USAF, ROKAF join forces for Herk Guardians 23</div>
                <div class="image-caption">A South Korean flag and an American flag flutter in the wind side by side at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 13, 2023. South Korea is one of the most important allies to the United States, and the combined efforts between both countries play a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-title">USAF, ROKAF join forces for Herk Guardians 23</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Airmen from the U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force pose for a group photo before the start of Herk Guardians 23 at Gimhae Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2023. Herk Guardians 23 marks the first time the exercise has been held in five years, with the last iteration taking place in 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-title">USAF, ROKAF join forces for Herk Guardians 23</div>
                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Air Force Capt. Heejoong Kim, left, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot; Maj. Cameron Vickroy, middle, 36th AS assistant director of operations; and Capt. Isaac Pérez, 36th AS C-130J pilot, meet with Republic of Korea Air Force leaders during Herk Guardians 23 at Gimhae Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2023. Herk Guardians 23 is a bilateral training event designed to advance interoperability between the USAF and ROKAF through subject matter expert exchanges and scenario-based training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-title">USAF, ROKAF join forces for Herk Guardians 23</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Republic of Korea Air Force Lt. Col. Gi-Yeul Kim, Air Force Operations Command mobility and reconnaissance division chief, shakes hands with U.S. Air Force Capt. Isaac Pérez, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, following a meeting during Herk Guardians 23 at Gimhae Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2023. In a speech delivered at the end of the exercise, Pérez noted that Herk Guardians 23 marked a special moment in his Air Force career, given that his grandfather served in the Korean War. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-title">USAF, ROKAF join forces for Herk Guardians 23</div>
                <div class="image-caption">Members of the 36th Airlift Squadron and Republic of Korea Air Force conduct mission planning during Herk Guardians 23 at Gimhae Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 11, 2023. Herk Guardians 23 is one of several training events where U.S. service members work closely alongside foreign allies, underscoring the mutual respect the U.S. shares with its friends in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-title">USAF, ROKAF join forces for Herk Guardians 23</div>
                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Air Force Capt. David Hook, right, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, conducts mission planning with Republic of Korea Air Force members during Herk Guardians 23 at Gimhae Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2023. Scenario-based training with allied nations ensures the U.S. and its partners are prepared for future operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Estrada, left, 36th Airlift Squadron (AS) instructor loadmaster, inspects a simulated containerized delivery system bundle with a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) member during Herk Guardians 23 at Gimhae Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2023. Herk Guardians 23 allowed members of the 36th AS to learn more about ROKAF bundle rigging procedures while demonstrating proficiency in joint airdrop inspections. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Toni Odom, right, 36th Airlift Squadron (AS) flight chief, listens to a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) member while inspecting simulated containerized delivery system bundles during Herk Guardians 23 at Gimhae Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2023. Herk Guardians 23 allowed members of the 36th AS to collaborate, share knowledge, and advance interoperability across the Indo-Pacific region alongside their ROKAF counterparts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-caption">A combat controller, right, assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing, watches a C-130J Super Hercules fly overhead alongside Republic of Korea Air Force members during Herk Guardians 23 at a training drop zone in South Korea, Oct. 11, 2023. Combat controllers are trained in a wide range of skills and are certified to act as air traffic controllers to support missions all over the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Air Force Capt. Heejoong Kim, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, looks over at a C-130J flown by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) during Herk Guardians 23 in South Korea, Oct. 12, 2023. Kim expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunity to return to his homeland of South Korea to train alongside his ROKAF counterparts during a speech delivered at the end of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-caption">Airmen from the U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force observe a moment of silence at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 13, 2023. The cemetery honors the services and sacrifices made by United Nations forces during the Korean War and contains 2,300 graves. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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                <div class="image-caption">Airmen from the U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force participate in a tour at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 13, 2023. The tour was part of a cultural exchange between members of both militaries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan)</div>
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    <div><b>By Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan,</b> <span class="date">/ Published Oct. 20, 2023</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">GIMHAE AIR BASE, South Korea, </span>
    <p>United States Air Force representatives from Yokota Air Base, Japan, met Republic of Korea Air Force counterparts at Gimhae Air Base, South Korea, for a week of tactical airlift training and cultural exchange as part of Herk Guardians 23, Oct. 9–13.</p>

<p>HG 23 is a bilateral training event designed to advance interoperability between USAF and ROKAF mobility units through subject matter expert exchanges and scenario-based training.</p>

<p>The week-long exercise began with mission briefings and discussions geared toward a variety of topics, including night-vision capabilities and heavy equipment operations, along with mission sets under tactical airlift execution.</p>

<p>Leaders from the 36th Airlift Squadron then sat down with their ROKAF counterparts to conduct mission planning for a training scenario involving static line jumps and simulated cargo drops over a drop zone in South Korea.</p>

<p>Capt. Isaac Pérez, 36th AS C-130J Super Hercules pilot, served as the mission commander for HG 23 and lauded the efforts of both USAF and ROKAF personnel as they worked together to ensure a successful exercise.</p>

<p>“It took a village for members of both the U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force to ensure a safe and effective integration during Herk Guardians 23,” said Pérez. “There's always room for improvement when working together, but that's the beautiful process of strengthening our alliance and building our interoperability for the future. It's been impressive to see our two forces come together this past week.”</p>

<p>The USAF and ROKAF each provided two C-130Js for HG 23, allowing aircrew members from both militaries to observe each side’s tactics, techniques, and procedures.</p>

<p>Master Sgt. Toni Odom, 36th AS flight chief, said she and her fellow loadmasters supporting the exercise learned there are more similarities than differences between them and their ROKAF counterparts when it comes to securing cargo load.</p>

<p>“They hold a very high standard just like we do,” said Odom. “Whenever we meet in the middle and combine our standards, it makes us stronger in the future.”</p>

<p>To conclude HG 23, ROKAF leaders invited members from Yokota to visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, where they observed a moment of silence for the sacrifices made by fallen soldiers and war veterans.</p>

<p>ROKAF and USAF personnel then came together for one last time in the evening to share a meal and exchange gifts, with leaders from both sides thanking each other for a successful exercise.</p>

<p>“It's been a real pleasure working with the ROKAF to practice joint interoperability within the Korean Peninsula,” said Maj. Cameron Vickroy, 36th AS assistant director of operations. “Together, we are working to secure the Indo-Pacific region from the threats we may face in the future, and without this alliance, we can't make that happen.”</p>

<p>HG 23 marks the first time the exercise has been held in five years, with the last iteration taking place in 2018 before the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p>Capt. Heejoong Kim, 36th AS C-130J pilot, is looking forward to training alongside his ROKAF counterparts again.</p>

<p>“Through Herk Guardians 23, we validated the interoperability and tactical airlift capabilities of two great Air Forces,” said Kim. “This was a unique opportunity that allowed the 36th Airlift Squadron to accomplish multiple training objectives, and I hope we get to experience an exercise like this again in the future.”</p>
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