CTF 74 Hosts Republic of Korea Navy for SWCM 55 in Guam

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Naomi Johnson | SANTA RITA, Guam (Sep. 30, 2022) – Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7, left, and Rear Adm. Su Youl Lee, commander, Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Submarine Force, present the signed action items at the conclusion of the 55th Submarine Warfare Committee Meeting (SWCM), Sept. 30, 2022. Over the past 28 years, SWCM has brought together leaders of both the U.S. and ROK submarine forces to discuss combined submarine training and force integration. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Naomi Johnson)  

SANTA RITA, GUAM

10.05.2022

Story by Lt.Cmdr. Robert Reinheimer 

Commander, Submarine Group Seven

SANTA RITA, Guam – Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group (CSG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 54/CTF 74, conducted bilateral talks with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam as part of the 55th iteration of the Submarine Warfare Committee Meeting (SWCM) with the ROKN Submarine Force, Sept. 26-30. 2022.

"The U.S.-ROK alliance is absolutely ironclad, and the same can be said of our undersea forces. Together we are among the most interoperable, capable, and dynamic in the world," said Seif. "Having these bilateral discussions in Guam with the ships, Sailors and submarines of our forward-deployed undersea force helps to build deeper cooperation and to maintain readiness with our ROK counterparts."

During SWCM 55, Seif met with Rear Adm. Su Youl Lee, Commander, ROK Navy Submarine Force (CSF), to further enhance the close relationship between the two commands through a slate of tours, meetings, and integrated activities for both U.S. and ROK submariners.

One of the scheduled events during SWCM 55 was a roundtable consisting of women submariners, who offered their perspectives of serving in the submarine force to the ROKN leadership.

"This meeting was a great opportunity to share lessons-learned and various perspectives regarding female integrated submarine crews, as Korea is getting ready for female integration in submarines as well," said Lee.

At the end of the 5-day event, the two Navy leaders reviewed and signed the SWCM 55 action items, committing themselves to continued work in the coming year to increase readiness and integration of the US/ROK combined submarine force.

SWCM was established in 1994, during the early years of the ROK submarine force. Since then, leaders of both the U.S. and ROK submarine forces have met consistently to deepen partnerships and advance combined submarine training and force integration. SWCM 54 was held in June 2022 in South Korea.

Seif, Lee and ROKN submariners toured the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), as well as Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific (NSTCP) Detachment Guam during their time in Guam.

Lee also held an office call with leadership at Commander, Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 15.

SUBRON 15 is located at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam in Santa Rita, Guam, and consists of five Los Angeles-class attack submarines.

"Our forward-deployed submarines are always ready to fight, whether supporting our duty to national defense or supporting our allies and partners in the region,” said Capt. Carl Trask, commander, SUBRON 15.

The squadron staff is responsible for providing training, material and personnel readiness support to commands. The submarine tenders USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and USS Frank Cable (AS 40) are also based out of Naval Base Guam, and provide expeditionary maintenance and logistics capabilities to the SUBRON 15 submarines and visiting ships.

For more news from SUBRON 15, please visit http://www.csp.navy.mil/css15

Submarine Group 7 directs forward-deployed, combat capable forces across the full spectrum of undersea warfare throughout the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/.

• Date Taken: 10.05.2022
• Date Posted: 10.05.2022 21:22
• Story ID: 430807
• Location: SANTA RITA, GU