Photo By Staff Sgt. Daniel Schroeder | U.S. service members, 1st Canadian Division troops and soldiers from the Third...... read more read more
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CAMP YONGIN, South Korea - Soldiers of I Corps and Third Republic of Korea army set up a joint operations center in preparation for the computer-simulation Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2014 exercise at Camp Yongin, South Korea, which begins Aug. 25.
The I Corps JOC joins multiple other operations centers, simultaneously standing up for the large-scale exercise happening at bases throughout the Korean peninsula.
“I Corps is just one of several other [units] participating in the exercise,” said Col. Bob O’Brien, I Corps chief of operations. “Our leaders work out of the JOC here while communicating and working in conjunction with the rest of the units at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.”
UFG is a defense-oriented command and control exercise to enhance the combat readiness of the ROK, U.S. and other international militaries supporting forces through combined and joint training.
The exercise, led by Combined Forces Command, focuses on the strategic, operational and tactical aspects of military operations in Korea
Small command elements from the 1st Canadian Division, two ROK divisions, a 25th Infantry Division task force and corps separate brigades are spread throughout I Corps area of operations for the exercise. Each of the command elements communicates with one another as well as command centers located at each unit’s home station.
This rotation is the second consecutive year I Corps has participated in the exercise and only about 250 of the estimated 30,000 U.S. troops participating in UFG are assigned or attached to I Corps in Camp Yongin. And while the numbers are relatively small, I Corps and TROKA leaders insist their participation is key to success in the region.
With the rebalancing of U.S. Forces in the Pacific, I Corps is now regionally aligned with the Pacific Area of Responsibility. The rebalance places United States Pacific Command in tactical command and I Corps in operational command.
“In becoming the operational command in the Pacific,” said O’Brien, “I Corps can participate in exercises like this to build on the habitual relationships and provide a cohesive fighting force should a situation arise.”
“The best way to strengthen a partnership is by conducting exercises to work through any barriers and develop a system ensuring mission success,” said Lt. Col. Jinkwan Chung, I Corps TROKA liaison officer. “The exercise is important in strengthening the relationship and combat readiness between the two forces.”
According to Chung, the Army units participating in UFG rotated every year.
“By having I Corps and TROKA working together for two consecutive years, we will develop our tactical techniques and procedures to ensure success in our mission and not repeat the same mistakes every year.”
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2014 05:27 |
| Story ID: | 140001 |
| Location: | YONGIN, KR |
| Web Views: | 231 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, I Corps, TROKA take on critical role in UFG ’14, by SSG Daniel Schroeder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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