OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea: The first combat cross-servicing program evaluation of the year for Osan Air Base Airmen took place Aug. 10 when two South Korean F-5’s landed on the flightline here.
The Osan AB combat cross servicing program is a mutual agreement between the U.S. and South Korean air force that allows maintainers from both services to get hands-on experience working on each other’s aircraft.
According to Master Sgt. Dale Deskins, the 7th Air Force combat cross servicing superintendent, the agreement allows South Korean air force aircraft to land at U.S. Air Force bases in South Korea and receive maintenance from Airmen, and allow U.S. planes to land at South Korean air force bases and receive maintenance from South Korean air force maintainers, thus increasing both services’ warfighting capability.
Sergeant Deskins said this program allows either plane to land at any base during a war time environment, get serviced and get back in the fight faster.
“The intent of the program is to increase joint combat capability,” said Master Sgt. Paul Marquez, the transient alert section chief. “This program gives maintainers a broader feel and a wider range of knowledge and a better appreciation for the joint mission by allowing them to work with Republic of Korea air force maintainers firsthand.”
U.S. transient alert personnel, to include weapons loaders and crew chiefs, participanting in the program are given training on the foreign aircraft at South Korean air force bases prior to working on them, but said the hands-on experience is the best teacher.
“This is a great program. We can get with the Koreans and learn their culture as well as teach them ours,” said Senior Airman Brandon Savage of the 51st Maintenance Operations Squadron. “It’s nice to work with them though, because if we need help or if they ever need emergency help we already know them and have a good working relationship with them and their aircraft.”
However, for other participants in the program, such as Staff Sgt. Trenton Schreyer, a transient alert crew chief, the best part about the participating in the program is simply the challenge.
“I launch, recover, inspect and service the incoming (South Korean air force aircraft), and what I like the most about CSP is that it keeps us fresh,” he said. “If you’re only trained once but never see the aircraft you’re going to be familiar with it, this helps keeps us competent.”
Sergeant Schreyer said he also enjoys the uniqueness of the job.
“This job is a lot more of a challenge,” he said. “This aircraft is different than any others we work with and working with the (South Korean air force) is enjoyable. I find we actually have a lot in common. Some things they do differently, but the majority of what we all do is the same.”
Sergeant Schreyer has been involved with cross servicing program for more than two years and said he volunteered to do it again because he truly likes working with the South Koreans. “I have met a lot of good people and a lot of friends and I’m having a good time,” he said.
For now, the cross servicing program exchange takes place on average five to eight times a month, culminating in an annual inspection.
Sergeant Marquez said the program will be expanding in the near future to include the South Korean air force’s new aircraft, the F-15K, which is the country’s premier fighter jet.
