SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - The culmination of months of planning and training have finally paid off with the completion of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2013 exercise on Aug. 29, 2013.
The UFG exercise is an annual large-scale computer-simulation command post exercise involving units and personnel from all military branches in the United States and across the Pacific region to perfect mission readiness and combat effectiveness by facilitating real world situations in real time.
“For the first time in an exercise of this type, we were able to include all echelons of the division with battalions and brigade combat teams involved,” said Maj. Gen. Kurt Fuller, commander, 25th Infantry Division. This year’s exercise also served as the 25th ID’s warfighter exercise as well, he said. A warfighter exercise is computer-simulated training designed to sharpen battlefield management skills and tasks.
UFG exercise allows the 25th ID to train and work with units within the Pacific region at the operational and strategic level.
“We were fortunate to have a superb group of observers and trainers from the Mission Command Training Center out of Ft. Leavenworth who helped us hone our skills in planning, synchronization and command and control of the complex joint combined arms operation,” Fuller said.
Ulchi Freedom Guardian, previously named Ulchi-Focus Lens exercise, is named after the Korean military leader, Eulji Mundeok, who repelled an invasion by China’s Sui Dynasty in the 7th century.
“We refined our skills in every war-fighting function and demonstrated that the entire Division is well prepared to conduct contingency operations in support of the Pacific Command Commander in concert with our join teammates and coalition partners of the Pacific.”