Beverly Herd 17-3 commences

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Tinese Treadwell | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Joseph Clutts performs a routine maintenance check during Exercise Beverly Herd 17-3 at Osan Air Base Republic of Korea, September 17, 2017. During the exercise, the 51st Fighter Wing will have an intensified flying schedule while ground forces practice readiness and responsiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tinese Jackson)  

OSAN AB, 41, SOUTH KOREA

09.18.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Alex Echols 

51st Fighter Wing

Base officials initiated Exercise Beverly Herd 17-3, evaluating Team Osan’s ability to “Fight Tonight” through realistic scenario simulations.

From Sept. 18 – 22, base personnel will demonstrate their ability to navigate both conventional and nonconventional attack scenarios while launching and recovering aircraft during 24-hour flying operations testing the base’s readiness and response against any adversary.

“The Mustangs are proving we do much more than survive, we thrive in these conditions,” said Chief Master Sgt. Philip B. Hudson, 51st Fighter Wing command chief master sergeant. “‘Fight Tonight’ is not a platitude for the 51st Fighter Wing Mustangs. We maintain a constant, high state of combat readiness, and these quarterly exercises provide the opportunity to showcase our fighting abilities.”

During the exercise, participants defend and recover the base from ground opposition forces, as well as mortar and missile attacks while donning mission oriented protective posture gear proving they can also protect themselves from any chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents that might be present during a real-world attack.

“The threat is as real as it ever has been,” said Lt. Col. Timothy J. Fryar, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron commander and 51st FW Emergency Operations Center director. “It is extremely important that we exercise on a continual basis, something we have been doing since the armistice of 1953.”

With the large personnel rotation that comes from Osan’s summer PCS season, the training and evaluation from Beverly Herd 17-3 is imperative to ensure everyone knows their role and can work together seamlessly in times of crisis.

“With new personnel and the ever changing threat environment, routine exercise is a must,” said Fryar. “New and old commanders alike, need to understand the limitations of our readiness and every individual needs to understand their operating environment. The ultimate goal would be for all to come away from this exercise understanding how critical each and every one of them are to the success of our mission.”

• Date Taken: 09.18.2017
• Date Posted: 09.18.2017 04:40
• Story ID: 248641
• Location: OSAN AB, 41, KR