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Follow-on forces deploy to Kunsan

Osan's Red Horse train for contingencies with Wolf Pack

Feb. 7, 2003

By Senior Airman Andrew Svoboda
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Troops from Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea's elite heavy construction team deployed to Kunsan this week for contingency training.

Nearly 100 members of the 554th Red Horse Squadron loaded their gear and drove to Kunsan in three convoys of 15 vehicles earlier in the week.

The opportunity to actually deploy to a field location provides far more effective training than the troops would receive training at Osan, said Lt. Col. Joe Castro, 554th RHS.

"Osan is very limited for space and we're limited to how we play in scenarios," said Castro. "What Kunsan provides is a bare base site, where we perform our mission while interacting with opposing forces and (chemical) attacks. We also have to overcome working on actual grass and gravel, as opposed to concrete."

An advanced team of about 10 troops arrived Saturday to prep the sight and layout for the main team. These troops and the main team, which arrived later in the week, provided actually troops for Kunsan's personnel line to process as follow-on forces.

"Processing troops provided more realistic training for the people working the in-processing line," said Staff Sgt. Michael Plante, 8th Mission Support Squadron. "The people working the line were able to answer real-world questions troops may have, since they were actually living here for a week."

Although Kunsan already has a civil engineer squadron capable of rapid runway repair, the Red Horse team provides heavy construction capabilities including well-drilling and quarry and demolition operations.

"We have the skills, training and equipment to provide a base with the ability to do construction instead of just doing repairs," said Castro.

When the Red Horse team deploys, they take everything they'd need to deploy to a bare base and independently sustain operations for 30 days. In addition to equipment and construction workers, the team arrived here with vehicle mechanics, and troops to cook, provide financial assistance and provide their own security.

In 24-hours, the team had a small city of tents set-up, complete with a fully operational kitchen, command and control center, armory, entry control points and living space for the team's nearly 100 troops.

The team trained here last year, but whether or not they return for the Operational Readiness Inspection is up to the Inspector General. Regardless, the team appreciates the opportunity to train here.

"The support we receive from Kunsan has been outstanding and we interact really well," said Castro. "We really enjoy any opportunity to come out here and train." (PACAFNS)