The Korea Herald

소아쌤

Korea to join US Air Force drill

By Catherine Chung

Published : July 25, 2017 - 10:16

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A C-130H transport plane from South Korea's Air Force left for the United States on Tuesday to join a multinational exercise.

The Air Force said it is also sending 30 service members to the inaugural Mobility Guardian training organized by the US Air Mobility Command slated for early August.

It is the command's largest regular drill, replacing the Air Mobility Rodeo, and focuses on airdropping paratroopers and cargo, as well as in-air refueling and medical evacuation missions.

South Korean Air Force service members pose for a photo before heading to the US for the Air Mobility Command`s Mobility Guardian exercise on July 25, 2017, in this photo provided by the Air Force. (Yonhap) South Korean Air Force service members pose for a photo before heading to the US for the Air Mobility Command`s Mobility Guardian exercise on July 25, 2017, in this photo provided by the Air Force. (Yonhap)

The US and 10 other countries will take part in the drill, with 19 others observing.

The C-130H is scheduled to arrive at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state on Sunday by way of Guam and Hawaii.

A C-130H transport plane is leaving for the US to join the Mobility Guardian practice on July 25, 2017, in this photo provided by the Air Force. (Yonhap) A C-130H transport plane is leaving for the US to join the Mobility Guardian practice on July 25, 2017, in this photo provided by the Air Force. (Yonhap)

"Our Air Force has actual combat experience and know-how on the operation of air mobility aircraft through the participation in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the Iraq War," Col. Chung Yeon-hak, commander of the aerial combat team of the Fifth Air Mobility Wing, said. "We will sharpen the aerial mobility operation capability via the combined exercise." (Yonhap)