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The routine training event, which took place April 13-24, 2026, is designed to prepare joint and combined forces to defend the Republic of Korea.
More than 30 U.S. and ROK units participated in FF 26-1, planning and executing over 500 sorties as the 31st AEW employed its modular, scalable unit of action for the first time during Freedom Flag. Overall, the benefit was improved agility and the preservation of decision space for commanders.
“We operated as a multinational joint force gathered to prove our combined strength and seamless integration,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Brad Dvorak, 31st AEW commander and U.S. deployed forces commander during the exercise. “We executed complex missions—including offensive and defensive counter-air, close air support and air interdiction—to demonstrate that we are a force multiplier. The tactics this team validated will define the next fight.”
Operating out of Gwangju Air Base for the duration of the exercise, 31st AEW provided a standardized command and control and combat air base squadron force package necessary to deliver centralized command and distributed execution.
Before exercise operations began, the staff quickly established an expeditionary wing operations center and secure communication capabilities.
“The foundation of a successful team is to be brilliant at the basics,” said Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Greiner, 31st AEW command chief. “Leading up to this event, we had numerous training touchpoints to build a cohesive team focused on problem solving, winning, and flexing to address emergent issues.”
The 31st AEW staff integrated with contingency intelligence and mission planning cells from U.S. and ROK units, maintaining interoperability via liaison officers from U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, the 35th Fighter Squadron, the 909th Aerial Refueling Squadron, the 621st Air Control Squadron, Seventh Air Force exercise planners, and the 8th Material Maintenance Squadron.
“We can lean on a SOF principle from this exercise: humans are more important than hardware,” Dvorak told exercise participants at the closing ceremony. “It was each of you—the trust you built in mission planning cells, the unbreakable links you forged in the air, and the shared understanding you developed during debrief—that made this exercise a success.”
Republic of Korea air force Col. Jeonghyun Choi, 29th Tactical Fighter Weapons Group commander, echoed that sentiment. “Every player involved saw capabilities improve and went above and beyond to execute the mission,” he said. “Every player took the time to establish and develop their capabilities here.”
The effort was augmented by the deliberately teamed, capabilities-based 31st Combat Air Base Squadron which established Base Operating Support Integrator for designated forces—including U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and ROKAF—before the majority of personnel arrived. The 31st CABS also provided personnel support for contingency operations, medical services, airfield security, and aircraft refueling for units based at Gwangju for the duration of the exercise.
“The 31st CABS demonstrated the principles of agile combat employment and excelled,” said Dvorak. “They exemplified the critical maneuvers required for any future Indo-Pacific fight, proving the ability to be flexible, lethal, and survivable.”
Together, 31st AEW and 31st CABS provided staff and C2 functions as well as the Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration and BOS-I necessary to enable the combined force to fly, fix, fight, and win throughout FF 26-1.
The 31st AEW is a ready unit of action aiming to bring competitive advantages over pacing challenges. The O-6 wing headquarters consists of a command and control element and a combat air base squadron with up to 2,500 Airmen across more than 60 Air Force specialty codes capable of providing base operating support for up to three mission generation force elements required to execute agile combat employment at any deployed location.