9th ESB offloads, prepares for KMEP 14-6

Photo By Sgt. Cedric Haller | All Marines benefit from the excellent rating given to Marine Corps Enterprise Information Technology Services in its first command cyber readiness inspection. The results ensure the viability and security of Marines’ pay, promotion and training systems so the warfighters can focus on their primary mission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cedric R. Haller II)  

POHANG, 47, SOUTH KOREA

04.16.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Cedric Haller 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

POHANG, South Korea - U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion offloaded vehicles and supplies in preparation for the Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-6 April 16 in Pohang, Republic of Korea.

KMEP is a series of exercises that are conducted regularly between the ROK and U.S. Marine Corps to increase interoperability and combined capability.

“This particular exercise’s focus is engineering mobility,” said Capt. Gabriel I. Christianson, commanding officer for Company A, 9th ESB, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “What we’re looking to accomplish with this exercise is to expand and understand each other’s capabilities. The rugged and extreme terrain of the Korean peninsula presents a unique challenge when it comes to engineering capabilities.”

From planning to execution, KMEP 14-6 has been a bilateral and collaborative effort between ROK and U.S. Marine Corps forces.

“Some of the things we are expecting out of this KMEP are working with the ROK Marines on bridging techniques, gap-rafting operations, basic-engineer sapper training and introducing the ROK Marine engineers to our combat marksmanship program,” said U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Charles T. Coffey, the company gunnery sergeant. “A major part of the 1st ROK Marine Engineer Battalion engineers’ operations is their mobility and their ability to assault and breach obstacles belts, and they are very good at what they do.

“We’ve adapted a lot of their ideas into our own,” added Coffey. “There will be a small unit of 40-50 ROK Marines along with their company commander involved in the training at each training site.”

KMEP 14-6 demonstrates continued dedication to the ROK-U.S. relationship and contributes to the security and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the Asia-Pacific region.

“I am very impressed with the ROK Marines work,” said Christianson. “Seeing the way they are able to integrate (with us) was absolutely outstanding. This exercise will show that we can work together. By building these interpersonal relationships, we will be able to deepen the relationship we have had for decades.

“Together, we’re able to form a better relationship and a better understanding of the challenges that the Korean peninsula presents,” added Christianson.

KMEP 14-6 is a combined training exercises designed to enhance the ROK-U.S. alliance, engineering mobility capabilities as well as foster the unique relationship between ROK and U.S. Marines.

“There is no Marine Corps around the world that operates and has a special relationship with the ROK Marine Corps like we do,” said Coffey. “This is my third training evolution with the ROK Marine Corps and it has always been a great learning experience.”

• Date Taken: 04.16.2014
• Date Posted: 04.21.2014 19:57
• Story ID: 126964
• Location: POHANG, 47, KR
• Hometown: FARGO, ND, US
• Hometown: MIAMI, FL, US
• Hometown: NASHVILLE, TN, US