JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Pacific Air Forces hosted 78 Republic of Korea Air Force Academy cadets during an immersion here Oct. 19. The visit was part of an effort to build a foundation of partnership and interoperability between PACAF Airmen and future ROKAF leaders.
“Since 1950 our two nations have fought together to defend the Korean peninsula and that relationship grows stronger each and every day,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Dillon, PACAF vice commander, speaking to the cadets.
The visit included U.S. Pacific Command strategy and PACAF command briefs to highlight the command’s role and mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and further the cadets’ understanding of that role. Additionally, the cadets visited and had the opportunity to pay their respects at the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri Memorial and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific where they participated in a wreath-laying ceremony.
During the PACAF briefing, Dillon correlated the ROKAF’s part in presence, partnership, power projection and people. He discussed how joint and combined exercises such as Red Flag-Alaska, Vigilant Ace, Cope North and Ulchi Freedom Guardian, help the alliance remain strong for the future.
“The incredibly strong alliance between our two air forces and the presence of the United States around the theater allows us to project power and presence and partnerships across the entire region,” Dillon said. “It’s all underpinned by our great Airmen.”
For Republic of Korea Air Force Academy Senior Cadet Seungtae Han, a highlight was visiting a U.S. Air Force base for the first time and learning about how the U.S. and ROK work together.
“My favorite part of the visit was visiting and speaking with members of the U.S. Air Force,” Han said. “I learned about U.S. Air Force tasks and strategies and how the U.S. continues to support the Republic of Korea through various exercises and engagements. This allowed me to have a better understanding of our relationship.”
This was the third time a ROKAFA cadet class visited Headquarters PACAF.