Vigilant Ace 16

An F-16 Fighting Falcon screams down the runway spiting a trail of fire as it takes off for a night mission during Vigilant Ace 16 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 2, 2015. Vigilant Ace 16 is a peninsula-wide readiness exercise focused on strengthening the ROK and U.S. alliance. Supporting aircrews for the various aircraft participating in the exercise will have the opportunity to train alongside the many different crews from the ROK air force, as well as from forces across U.S. Pacific Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amber Grimm)

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Vigilant Ace 16

Staff Sgt. Andrea Clark, 51st Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, monitors incoming and outgoing air traffic during Vigilant Ace 16 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 2, 2015. Osan air traffic controller's exercise and real-world operations are vital to the safe conduct of all aircraft, both military and civilian, occupying the airspace in and around Osan and Suwon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amber Grimm)

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Vigilant Ace 16

A C-130 Hercules from the 176th Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, taxis down the runway of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 2, 2015. The C-130 is at Osan to take part in Vigilant Ace 16, a peninsula-wide readiness exercise focused on strengthening the ROK and U.S. alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amber Grimm)

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Vigilant Ace 16

Air traffic controllers from the 51st Operations Support Squadron track incoming and outgoing air traffic on radar during Vigilant Ace 16 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 2, 2015. The base's air traffic controllers exercise and real-world operations are vital to the safe conduct of all aircraft, both military and civilian, occupying the airspace in and around Osan and Suwon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amber Grimm)

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Vigilant Ace 16

An F-16 Fighting Falcon taxis down the runway of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 2, 2015. Night operations are being run during Vigilant Ace 16, a peninsula-wide readiness exercise focused on strengthening the ROK and U.S. alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amber Grimm)

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Real-world missions continue during Vigilant Ace 16

Published Nov. 3, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Amber Grimm
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- F-16s scream down the runway trailing fire, while A-10s and C-17s slip almost silently onto the airfield. Osan's night sky is filled with the lights and sounds of the myriad aircraft participating in Vigilant Ace 16.

As the peninsula-wide readiness exercise kicks into high gear, the men and women of the 51st Operations Support Squadron radar approach control shop, or RAPCON, are preparing for an increase in air traffic.

"We're looking forward to the training opportunities," said Master Sgt. Terrance Horn, 51st OSS senior watch supervisor air traffic control operations.

In addition to the exercise aircraft, the RAPCON is also the controlling agency for all of Suwon and Desidero, commonly referred to as Camp Humphreys, airspace and manages the civilian air traffic to and from the airports there.

"At different airports you get situations that you run into that may cause you to be busy for one reason or another," said Horn. "But working with fighters is always more challenging.

"When working with fighters that can do 400 knots, everything that you do has to be a quick decision; you don't have a lot of time to second guess yourself. You have to stick to your decision and it has to be right every time. There's no option to be wrong."

When lives are in the balance the pressure can become too much for some.

"It's an individual thing as to how you deal with it," said Horn. "Some people would think it's stressful but personally, I love it. I love my crew, these guys are great, everybody works really well together and we're a very successful crew for the simple fact that we love our job."