Photo By Jennifer Archdekin | Missouri National Guardsman Maj. Michael Kinder of Company B, 35th Infantry Division...... read more read more
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Guardsmen primarily from Missouri and Kansas kicked-off Exercise Key Resolve March 14 which is an annual multi-national training exercise with the Republic of Korea Army.
Three Missouri Guardsmen with Company B, 35th Infantry Division out of St. Joseph are working with their division, headquartered at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to provide military intelligence during the training.
About 50 35th ID soldiers are participating in Key Resolve, which runs through March 21. This year's exercise, Key Resolve-Foal Eagle, involves more than 3,000 U.S. participants teaming up with 10,000 of their South Korean counterparts.
Maj. Michael Kinder, of Columbia, said that the Missouri contingent is a small slice of yet another small slice supporting the exercise. As the senior intelligence officer, he is in charge of the intelligence section for the 35th ID and is heading up the military intelligence section for Key Resolve, along with two other Missouri Guardsmen.
The role of the 35th ID is to emulate a corps headquarters for the Republic of Korea while conducting the direct action exercise.
Kinder is tasked with defining the battlefield, allowing the commander to make more informed decisions. It's his job to facilitate the collection process, be it through Human or Imagery Intelligence, and assess the information collected.
Throughout the exercise the division receives injects that move units on the notional battlefield and allows South Korea to react accordingly.
Col. John Andrew, 35th ID chief of staff, said his division typically participates in the exercise in Korea, but this is the first time they are participating from home at Fort Leavenworth.
“We play a small role, but an important one,” said Andrew.
According to Andrew, the U.S. Army usually takes the lead with Key Resolve, but this is the first year the ROK is taking the lead while the U.S. plays more of a support role.
Regardless of how well the simulation goes, Andrew said the one thing he wants to take away from the exercise is the learning experience his Soldiers will encounter. He hopes they will sustain skills, as well as build new ones.
"One thing is the staff coordination and interaction,” said Andrew. "It's the perfect exercise to integrate new soldiers and introduce them to this process.”
In August, the 35th ID will participate in another training exercise known as Ulchi-Freedom Guardian with the U.S. Pacific Command. About 100 Soldiers will participate in Korea while another 200 Guardsmen will support stateside.
Andrew said Key Resolve is a great opportunity to train and prime his troops for this summer and those participating will be better prepared.
Kinder added that they will also be more familiar with the issues within the Korean Theater.
In addition to the 35th ID, the Missouri National Guard sent nine other citizen-soldiers to Korea from the 3175th Military Police in Warrenton, 2175th Military Police in Hannibal and the 1175th in St. Clair to fill in as cooks and liaison officers for the exercise.
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2013 11:36 |
| Story ID: | 103655 |
| Location: | FORT LEAVENWORTH, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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