U.S. Special Operations Command Korea selected for Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

SOUTH KOREA

09.26.2023

Story by Maj. Christopher Mesnard 

Special Operations Command Korea

USAG HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea – Today the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) President, Yoon Suk Yeol, awarded U.S. Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR) with the Presidential Unit Citation at the 75th Anniversary ceremony of the ROK Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base (K-16), Seongnam, ROK. The ROK Presidential Unit Citation award is the highest unit honor the President can bestow on a military unit and dates back to the Korean War of 1950.

The presentation signified the first time a ROK President recognized a U.S. joint headquarters with the prestigious honor. The award bestows credit on the people of SOCKOR, recognizes the command’s 35-years of distinguished service on the Korean Peninsula, and highlights the headquarters’ recent efforts to strengthen the ROK and U.S.’s Alliance.

Over the past year, SOCKOR conducted more than 150 special operations-oriented exercises and training events focused on the mutual defense priorities between the ROK and U.S., advancing special operations skill sets and related capabilities, and improving combined relationships with ROK Armed Forces.

“This is truly a historic event for all the people who have served under the SOCKOR banner and highlights the impact special operations forces have day-to-day on our combined, integrated deterrence and strategic competition,” said Brig. Gen. Derek Lipson, SOCKOR commander. “Across the Korean Peninsula the motto, ‘We Go Together,’ remains a resolute representation of our Alliance, and it is the efforts of people and our combined teams who deserve the ultimate credit for maintaining competition below the level of conflict in this complex, strategic environment. Working with our Korean Allies, United Nations sending states, and enabling our mutual defense priorities is our primary job, so it is with the humblest gratitude that we accept this recognition of efforts from President Yoon.”

Due to a travel-schedule conflict, Lipson was unable to attend the event. U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Martin, SOCKOR deputy commander, received the recognition on behalf of the command.

U.S. SOCKOR is a theater special operations command under U.S. Special Operations Command, based out of Tampa, FL, and forward postured to enable U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea efforts.

NOTE: For official SOCKOR multimedia products visit the unit’s DVIDS page at: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/SOCKOR

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• Date Taken: 09.26.2023
• Date Posted: 09.26.2023 05:16
• Story ID: 454176
• Location: KR