USAF civil engineers from bases throughout the Pacific trained with their Republic of Korea counterparts during a five-day exercise at Gwangju AB, South Korea. During Pacific Unity 16, the engineers practiced quickly restoring a damaged airfield after a mock attack left two craters and the runway inoperable, according to an 8th Fighter Wing release. Capt. Trent Bolte, chief of plans and readiness for the 7th Air Force at Osan AB, South Korea, said joint training “in a complex and time sensitive environment is crucial to generating the aircraft flying mission,” according to the release. The airmen also worked on and discussed emergency management, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, general engineering, environmental security, and energy conservation during the exercise, which lasted from May 30 to June 3.
While U.S. military leaders worry about China as a near-peer threat, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has doubts has serious doubts about the PLA’s political reliability, leadership, and ability to mobilize, fight, and win wars, according to a new report.