My Year in South Korea – Introduction

My first flying assignment was to Osan AB, South Korea, where I flew the OV-10 as a forward air controller. Since graduating from the Air Force Academy, I had been in training for a year and a half and had no idea about operational flying in the Air Force. Plus, that first assignment was in Korea, so I had none of the familiarity from being stationed in the U.S.

After graduating from pilot training in July 1980, I attended the five-week FAC lead-in course in New Mexico and the eight-week Forward Air Controller in the OV-10 course in Florida.

I arrived directly at Osan AB (airbase) via contracted Air Force transport. At base ops, I was gathered up by one of my new squadron mates, who started me on my introduction to living and flying in South Korea.

As the new guy in the squadron, I was the “green bean.” The previous green bean’s job was to show me the ropes about getting settled on base and in the squadron, which was the 19th TASS, Tactical Air Support Squadron.

I went to Osan on what was called a remote or unaccompanied tour. This means all of us regular (not command level) pilots had assigned rooms in dormitory-like buildings. Remote assignments were 12 months long, compared to the typical three years of a regular assignment.

Outside of running the bars just outside the front gate (running the ville), we rarely left the base. I remember going once to Seoul and once to a dinner out with some South Korean officers. That was an experience!

My year at Osan was formative for the rest of my Air Force time and an amazing experience. I will share my memories over a series of posts. Next up will be life in the squadron.

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