Mountain Home Airmen arrive at Kunsan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  More than 300 members from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, arrived here Jan. 19 to begin a deployment at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

The new members will be a part of the 391st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and will be replacing the 389th EAMXS and FS who returned back to Mountain Home recently.

Members of the 391st have big shoes to fill during this deployment as their 389th counterparts set the bar high.

"During their deployment here the maintainers kept the planes well maintained and did it with style," said Lt. Col. Greg Hutson, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. "As a result, they kept their aircrew proficient so they were ready to fly, fight, and win."

The 389th maintainers were able to get the jets in the air with as little delay as possible.

"One of the greatest maintenance accomplishments the 389th achieved was throughout their five -month deployment their total non-mission capable rate due to maintenance was 11.4 percent," said Colonel Hutson. "This rate is much better than the combat Air Force's standard. Also, their eight-hour fix rate was superior to the combat Air Forces' standard.

"They left the Wolf Pack better than they found it ... a Wolf Pack adage that we all want to be part of. The NCO corps from Mountain Home has proven that it can take care of its mission and its people extremely well. I expect the 391st will be no different in that regard. They'll do great," he said.

The incoming members of the 391st are ready and willing to fill the shoes of the departing members.

"We're excited and looking forward to showing the Wolf Pack what it means to be a GunFighter," said Master Sgt. Michael Vonahnen, 391st EFS first sergeant. "Ride hard, shoot straight and always speak the truth; that is what it means to be a GunFighter."

Sergeant Vonahnen continued that the GunFighters are ready to begin.

"We're going to maintain the same success we had at home station," he said. "We want to maintain the health and welfare of all our Airmen and continue to push forward with the mission here. We are excited and eager to be here."

With the F-15E Strike Eagles from Mountain Home here, Lt. Col. Mark Slocum, 391st EFS commander, believes that with this capability the Wolf Pack continues to solidify the security of the peninsula.

"The Bold Tigers are here to help the Wolf Pack carry out their very important mission," said Colonel Slocum. "From the moment we stepped of the jet, we have been welcomed as an integral part of the Wolf Pack. We are excited to join the Wolf Pack and bring Gunfighter Air Power to the peninsula."