CTF-75 Wraps up First Deployment to Korea

U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

03.26.2016

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Alfred Coffield 

Fleet Combat Camera Pacific

BUSAN, South Korea –Commander, Task Force (CTF) 75 wrapped up its first deployment to Republic of Korea (ROK) for Exercise Foal Eagle 2016, March 25.

This exercise was the first to allow CTF-75 to integrate with ROK naval forces to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to the ROK-U.S. Alliance, and enhanced the combat readiness, flexibility, and capabilities of the Alliance. CTF-75 exercised operational command and control of seven subordinate expeditionary task groups and over 400 personnel.

“For the force, and for CTF-75, it’s the first time this size a force deployed to the Korean Peninsula to work alongside our ROK counterparts in exercising the new operational plan,” said Capt. Erich Diehl, Commander, Task Force 75.” We also, within our first year of standing up the command, were able to deploy and establish command and control in a very short period of time for the exercise.”

CTF-75 is the Navy’s Expeditionary Combat Force within the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The task force is capable of providing the fleet with diverse warfighting capabilities, while supporting security and stability. The task force also promotes the ability to integrate with host and partner nations.

“Our primary mission was to execute operation command and control of all assigned forces to the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force,” said Capt. Diehl.” We also provided the core battle staff for Adm. Morneau, and executed crisis response and major combat operations. We executed planning for Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Navy Construction, Coastal Riverine, and Mobile Diving and Salvage. We provided expeditionary intelligence and logistics to a naval combat power.”

Foal Eagle is an annual combined field training exercise designed to enhance the ROK-U.S. interoperability and improve combat readiness. The exercise highlights the longstanding and enduring alliance between the two nations and our combined commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and ensuring peace and security in the region.

For CTF-75, Exercise Foal Eagle established a standard for the task force to improve on future deployments by refining combat effectiveness, while working alongside ROK forces.

“We are going to use this to establish a baseline to build from. We’re going to take the lessons learned that we gained from deploying the Navy Expeditionary Tactical Command and Control System, and deployment of forces from various locations, and apply those for future exercises later this year and also for when we return next to Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2017.”

CTF-75 was established in Guam to streamline command and control of Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces to better support missions in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

• Date Taken: 03.26.2016
• Date Posted: 03.31.2016 22:16
• Story ID: 194073
• Location: U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY