36 FS begins new squadron immersion program

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Terri Barriere
  • 51 Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --   The 51st Security Forces Squadron recently got a chance get up close and personal with an F-16 Falcon during a squadron open house hosted by the 36th Fighter Squadron here. 

The half-day tour was part of the new 36 FS Fiend Warrior Immersion Program aimed at educating Osan Airman about day-to-day life in a fighter squadron. 

"This is my fourth tour in Korea and it's become apparent that due to the operations tempo we don't have a chance to integrate with our sister squadrons around base," said Lt. Col. Rob "Houdini" Swaringen, 36 FS commander. 

"Every squadron on base has a mission that either impacts or enables our peace time and war time mission, so this is an opportunity for us to show our appreciation and give them an up close and personal look at the greatest fighter squadron in the world - but of course I'm biased." 

The colonel said he hopes that through this experience everyone will be able to gain a mutual understanding of the 36 FS mission, which is to prepare for and execute immediate air combat operations to dominate any aggressors threatening U.S. or Republic of Korea interests. 

"I want my officers to increase their knowledge of all the force enablers that allow them to do their job, and I want everyone to see how all the different roles play into the one team one fight concept. My guys are just a bunch of guys in flight suits without force enablers," he said. 

Throughout the course of the morning, the open house attendees were broken into three groups and given; a wartime mission brief, a "day-in-the-life" briefing by an F-16 pilot, an up close and personal tour of an F-16 static display and an opportunity to experience combat configurations in the F-16 simulator. 

For most members of the SFS the tour was not their first time on the flightline, yet it was the first time many of them were able to experience the simulator. 

"It was cool ... more realistic than I thought it would be," said Airman 1st Class Justin Farrar, a member of the 51 SFS, of his first time in the simulator. 

"This was the first time I actually sat in a simulator and it was way different than a video game. It wasn't as easy to fly as I would have thought, and it was even difficult to get off the runway." 

Airman Farrar said the tour was his first opportunity to get a firsthand look at what he spends his day protecting. 

"It really helps you put your job into perspective, and makes it more meaningful," he said. "I'll take my job more personal now because I know what it [the aircraft] does, what it's here for and how helping it, helps me help Osan." 

However, while learning the ropes in the simulator was the highlight of the day for some, for others just being able to learn about new missions was enough. 

"When the opportunity came up for something new, I volunteered because it's fun to see what other people do and I thought it would be a nice change of pace," said Staff Sgt. O.J. Ornelas, 51 SFS. "I thought it was great of them to let us experience what they do and what they go through. It changed my perspective of them a little." 

Changing perspectives and providing insight is exactly what Capt. Patrick Lysaght, 36 FS "E" Flight commander, said he hoped would come out of the day. 

"It's important to us to be able to get what we do out to everyone," he said. "They see us going about in a hurry and they might get the wrong idea. We dedicate so much time to the mission, but it's important for us to take the time out to show what we do, and how what everyone else does plays into that." 

"With the pairing down of the force, everybody's just trying to do their jobs," Captain Lysaght said.   

"People are so focused on their jobs; they don't usually get to see what we do and what the wartime mission is. That's why we like to get people out here and show them the sims, the aircraft and really let them know what we're doing out here." 

Captain Lysaght described the tour as a tailored airshow. 

"This is your chance to come out and ask those burning questions," he said. "Any questions you may have, come out and get them answered." 

The squadron will open its doors once a month for the tour on a first come first serve basis to units around the base. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact the 36 FS.