Story by 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- This is the finale in a series of articles detailing the overall mission and principles at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The pieces have explored the different ways in which Team Osan defends the base, executes operations, receives forces and reinforces stability in the ROK. Beginning next week there will be a series of articles detailing the specific priorities of the 51st Fighter Wing and how Airmen and their partners on base follow these priorities to execute the mission. For the last five weeks, 9 articles were published detailing the abilities of different units here at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and how they contribute to the Mustang mission. Each week the focus was on one of the four principles: defending the base, executing operations, receiving forces and reinforcing stability in the ROK. The overarching mission for Team Osan is to continue to provide stability on the Peninsula of Korea through daily readiness. "The wing's mission is stability brought about by daily readiness," said Col. Brook Leonard, 51st Fighter Wing and Installation commander. "Every single Airman must be ready, all the time, because we must be always ready to fight and win...tonight or sooner, if required. Simply put, realistic robust readiness reinforces stability in the ROK." The first week showed how first responder units, the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters and 51st Security Forces Squadron, help defend the base. Firefighters respond to situations involving malfunctioning engine oil or misfired weapons on an aircraft, egressing people from confined spaces, stuck elevators and lesser and greater fires. While SFS Airmen are trained to protect base borders, entry-control points, and the people living on base. Both units are also among the first responders for emergency situations. The next week showed the 51st Operational Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technicians and 51st Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance team executing operations. AFE provides the aircrew for the 25th and 36th Fighter Squadrons with all the necessary flight and survival gear they need for their flying missions. The vehicle maintenance shop ensures that government vehicles on base are functioning to meet the needs of the other units that use them. Next was how Team Osan stays ready to receive forces. This idea was explored with features on the 51st Force Support Squadron bed down team and the 51st LRS individual protective equipment unit. The bed down team has to be prepared to receive more than 6,000 forces at any given time, and ensures the necessary facilities are available and adequate for incoming troops, while the IPE unit issues training and real-world biological and chemical gear to each member to use for exercises or a real-world situation. "The three primary mission sets: defend the base, execute operations, and receive forces--it's what we do," said Leonard. "Being ready to perform well across these three mission sets deters aggression which reinforces stability, increases our ability to defend the ROK which reinforces stability, and enables us to return to stability. " Additionally, the base is in the process of transitioning from focusing not just on receiving forces, but ultimately sustaining operations at Osan AB. "Reception of follow on forces and equipment during armistice and war is a subset of the larger mission set of sustaining our the human weapon system and weapons, infrastructure and equipment," said Leonard. "Using sustain captures the broader support we do daily as well as the need to sustain readiness and innovate across each mission set and subset in the face of constant turnover and an ever adapting enemy and changing environment." For the last week, the way Osan AB reinforces stability in the ROK, through mission-readiness and quality of life addendums was looked into via the recent construction projects enhancing quality of life facilities and the way weapons load crews keep stability through deterrence by honing their skills in a quarterly load-crew competition. "The mission here, much like our commitment to the Republic of Korea, is all encompassing and everlasting," said Leonard. "Without a doubt, Team Osan and the 51st Fighter Wing are committed to stability in the ROK...we stand together with our host nation--united and ready." Next week we'll being out looking at the 51st FW's command priorities and how the base comes together to accomplish realistic and robust readiness, strengthening the team, long term investments in character and community and daily decisions to improve.
