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The Republic of Korea and Combined Forces Command are training to improve the ROK-U.S. alliance's ability to defend the ROK during the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2010 exercise that began Aug. 16 and will continue through Aug. 26.
Participating in the exercise are Marines from 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, which fall under III Marine Expeditionary Force.
UFG '10 is a computer assisted simulation exercise focused on preparing, preventing and prevailing against the full range of current and future North Korean threats to the Republic of Korea and the region. Those threats include provocations, use of weapons of mass destruction or the conventional force-on-force fight. UFG '10 tests and builds the Alliance's commanders' and staffs' ability to translate information superiority into actionable decision-making.
"Like our combined exercises in the past, Ulchi Freedom Guardian affords the combined team an opportunity to continue to develop organizational structures and collaborate on command and control relationships between our militaries and our governments," said Gen. Walter L. Sharp, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea.
"We conduct staff training to ensure all participants in the exercise are prepared for the decisions they will make in the course of the training," said 1st Lt. James S. Mackin, communications detachment officer in charge, 7th Communications Battalion, III MHG in support of UFG '10.
"UFG '10 represents an excellent opportunity to develop the tenets of our Strategic Alliance 2015 plans as we improve ROK/U.S. combat readiness and joint/combined interoperability," Sharp commented.
"These annual exercises strengthen our bond with ROK forces by allowing us to work hand in hand with them to create organizational relationships, channels of communication and standard operating procedures," Mackin commented.
This exercise also gives members of the ROK and U.S. armed forces a chance to become familiar with each other's equipment, he added.
UFG '10 is carried out in the spirit of the ROK/U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty, signed between the U.S. and the ROK on Oct. 1, 1953. The exercise highlights the longstanding and enduring partnership between the two nations and their combined commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and ensuring peace and security in the region.
After last year's UFG exercise, Sharp said the priority for this summer's version would be improving coordination between the two militaries and ensuring both were able to get the same information during wartime.
The mission statement for UFG '10 states that III MEF "will support the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, in a joint exercise to meet III MEF training objectives and enhance mission readiness."
"This will be good training on our gear as well as leading and employing Marines," commented Cpl. Alan Kerkelapratt, technical controller for Co. A, 7th Comm. Bn. "I have also been very impressed and satisfied with the professionalism, work ethic and positive attitudes I see in the Marines around me."
Ulchi Freedom Guardian is one of two major exercises the U.S. and the Republic of Korea conduct annually, the other being Key Resolve which has traditionally been in the spring.
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.19.2010 21:47 |
| Story ID: | 54866 |
| Location: | CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, UFG '10 helps ROK prevent, prevail against threats, by Cpl Abigail Brown, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
