Illinois Air National Guard Airmen cook in Korea

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (03/11/2015)(readMedia)-- OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea ? Members of the 183rd Fighter Wing, Force Support Squadron in Springfield, Illinois, deployed in support of Exercise Key Resolve 2015. The Airmen supported the exercise by cooking various meals, including wings for "Wing Wednesday" on March 4, at the Pacific House Dining Facility, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

Key Resolve is a combined U.S.-South Korea training exercise held annually in the Republic of Korea to ensure the operational readiness of air, space and cyberspace operations in the Korean theater of operations.

Unit members were deployed as augmentees to the Pacific House Dining Facility staff, as the base numbers swelled to over 1,500 additional personnel for the exercise.

"Breaking out of the one weekend a month mentality, I have been in for the last year, has opened my eyes and given me the opportunity to support a big operation like this," said Airman 1st Class Andrew Flinn of Havana, Illinois. "The most rewarding opportunity has been to work within a new culture."

Flinn was joined by other members of the 183rd including Airman 1st Class Drewnard Woods of Springfield, Illinois, of Atlanta, Georgia and Airman 1st Class Nathan Weiss of Hillsboro, Illinois.

"The opportunity to be a part of large-scale exercises like the ones Airman Weiss, Woods, and Flinn are supporting is invaluable training for our Services Airmen. The experiences and knowledge they will bring back will greatly enhance our current home station readiness training and prepare them to be expeditionary Airmen. We are proud to see our young Airmen of the 183rd Fighter Wing working seamlessly with their active duty and coalition counterparts," said Maj. Sean Heup, Commander, 183rd Force Support Squadron.

Cutline 1: U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Andrew Flinn of Havana, Illinois, an Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Force Support Squadron food service apprentice, collects spices to make wing sauce from scratch for "Wing Wednesday," March 4, at the Pacific House Dining Facility, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, during exercise Key Resolve. Active-duty Airmen worked alongside Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve counterparts along with U.S. Marines and local civilians to provide total force integration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

Cutline 2: U.S Air Force Airman 1st Class Drewnard Woods a Springfield, Illinois native, an Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Force Support Squadron food service apprentice, chops cabbage while cooking lunch March 4, at the Pacific House Dining Facility, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, during exercise Key Resolve. Active-duty Airmen worked alongside Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve counterparts along with U.S. Marines and local civilians to provide total force integration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

Cutline 3: U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nathan Weiss of Hillsboro, Illinois, an Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Force Support Squadron food service apprentice, prepares defrosted chicken wings to be fried for "Wing Wednesday," March 4, at the Pacific House Dining Facility, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, during exercise Key Resolve. Active-duty Airmen worked alongside Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve counterparts along with U.S. Marines and local civilians to provide total force integration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

Cutline 4: U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Andrew Flinn of Havana, Illinois, an Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Force Support Squadron food service apprentice, makes wing sauce from scratch for "Wing Wednesday," March 4, at the Pacific House Dining Facility, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, during exercise Key Resolve. Active-duty Airmen worked alongside Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve counterparts along with U.S. Marines and local civilians to provide total force integration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)

Cutline 5: U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nathan Weiss of Hillsboro, Illinois, an Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Force Support Squadron food service apprentice, works alongside Senior Airman Samantha Holt, a 51st FSS food service journeyman, during lunch March 4, at the Pacific House Dining Facility, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, during exercise Key Resolve. Working alongside U.S. Marines, local civilians and Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Airmen provided a unique learning opportunity and a chance to share best practices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel/Released)