Photo By 2nd Lt. Jimmy Nguyen | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Norek, a full-motion video screener with the...... read more read more
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- At the Pacific Air Simulation Center, realism is not just a goal--it is the mission.
During Freedom Shield 25, an annual defense-oriented exercise featuring live, virtual, and field-based training that engages alliance forces and government agencies, the PASC achieved just that.
From generating intelligence and logistics reports to designing complex scenarios and role-playing engagements, the center provided realistic training to participants who travelled from around the world to support the exercise. Over the past two weeks, this large-scale training tested the combined air component’s ability to project airpower and integrate joint all-domain operations.
As part of the Seventh Air Force A8/A9 directorate at Osan, which oversees exercise planning, the PASC is the only center in the Korean theater of operations providing air simulation and war gaming capabilities for training audiences. These capabilities improve the readiness and lethality of Alliance Forces for any necessary military response in and near the Korean Peninsula.
“This air-focused capability is unique in the Pacific,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Noah J. Hassler, PASC director. “But we are one in a joint and combined federation of models and simulations that support exercises in Korea, as well as throughout the theater.”
Operating year-round, the PASC is staffed by a core team of civilian employees, contractors, and a military director who plan, maintain, and manage the infrastructure that power its simulations. During exercises, the center scales up to a 24-hour operation to meet mission demands.
More than 300 personnel augmented the PASC this year. These augmentees, experts in their respective fields, represented more than 40 functional areas.
Together, they delivered round-the-clock simulated data to the combined and joint force. This data provides a tactical and operational advantage by allowing members to respond with innovation and flexibility to real-time feedback.
“It makes it more dynamic,” said Master Sgt. Eric Burks, a PASC scripting cell augmentee responsible for developing and role-playing scenarios for his functional area.
By offering an immersive, data-driven environment, the PASC enhances interoperability between Republic of Korea and U.S. forces, enabling them to train side by side to enhance alliance processes based on real-world scenarios and challenges.
“Neither of us can face the adversaries we have alone,” Hassler said, emphasizing the need for ROK-U.S. forces to practice working together to identify communication and process gaps.
Highlighting interoperability across military services and among ROK-U.S. forces, Master Sgt. Steven Coney, Seventh Air Force A8/A9 senior enlisted leader, added, “When we come together, we learn more about each other--more about our cultures, the way we interpret information, the way we execute information.”
As ground, marine, and naval forces engage in exercise scenarios and training throughout the region, the PASC ensures integration of the air component into the combined force, executing a whole-of-force focus on realistic combat training. It is also currently working to incorporate non-kinetic effects--such as information operations, cyber and electromagnetic capabilities--into the training environment.
The PASC mission is to elevate and sustain Pacific Air Forces combat readiness by providing realistic, simulation-driven training and exercise events integrated with actual wartime command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence systems, databases, and processes.
“Ultimately, we're here to give the training audience that realistic environment for them to practice their mission and practice their processes,” Hassler said.
By building a framework for the ROK Air Force Operations Command and Seventh Air Force to come together as a Combined Air Component Command, the PASC provides training opportunities for the alliance to employ airpower to deter aggression, defend the Republic of Korea, and defeat any attack.
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2025 19:42 |
| Story ID: | 493409 |
| Location: | OSAN AIR BASE, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Web Views: | 174 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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