31st Air Expeditionary Wing commander greets ROK Air Force Operations Command chief at Gwangju Air Base

Gwangju Air Base, South Korea — The commander of the Republic of Korea Air Force Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Jun Sun Cha, met U.S. Air Force Col. Brad Dvorak, who leads the 31st Air Expeditionary Wing, during the opening week of the Freedom Flag 26-1 exercise on April 15.

Their meeting followed a sortie in which Cha flew an F-15K Slam Eagle as part of combined training involving U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and ROKAF fighter aircrews. On the flight line, the commanders exchanged unit coins and underscored the two countries’ defense partnership during the regularly scheduled readiness exercise.

“Freedom Flag is about forging the trust and tactical sharpness that makes us a lethal, agile, and combined fighting force with our South Korea allies,” said Dvorak during a joint assembly of U.S. and South Korea military personnel at the start of the exercise. “The work we do here has a lasting impact. It will bolster our alliance and contribute directly to the peace and stability of this region.”

Freedom Flag brings together U.S. and South Korean airpower for large-force missions that range from air-to-air engagements to operating under surface-to-air threats, aiming to deepen interoperability and reinforce the alliance’s capacity and commitment. The current iteration features complex profiles including offensive and defensive counter-air, close air support, and air interdiction.

Dvorak is serving as Deployed Forces Commander at Gwangju for the duration of the event. He and Cha were joined on the ramp by pilots and personnel from the ROKAF 1st Fighter Wing; U.S. Seventh Air Force; the 31st Air Expeditionary Wing; the 8th Material Maintenance Squadron; and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232. Aircraft on hand included two ROKAF F-15K Slam Eagles and two U.S. Marine F/A-18 Hornets.

The exercise, part of a recurring series intended to prepare joint and combined forces to defend South Korea, continues this month with additional missions and integrated training across services.