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Regional Japan-U.S. Forces Protecting Common Interests in KEEN EDGE / YAMA SAKURA 2007 Indian Navy Enhances Amphibious Capability Building Trust and Security Strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance in RSOI/FOAL EAGLE 2007 War On AMAN 2007: Nations United Against Maritime Terrorism Humanitarian Partnership for Health in Vietnam Partnership for Peace and Security in BALIKATAN 2007 Focus U.S. Commitment to Asia-Pacific Security: F-22A Fighter Happenings :: |
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Strengthening
the Compiled by Asia-Pacific Defense FORUM from articles by Stars and Stripes authors T.D. Flack and Erik Slavin. Used with permission from the Stars and Stripes. © 2007 Stars and Stripes. Also from press releases by USS Essex (LHD 2) Public Affairs Office; Military Sealift Command Public Affairs; Lt. Col. Michael Shavers, USAF, 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs; Lt. Ken Shade, USN, Public Affairs Officer Expeditionary Strike Group 7; Lt. j.g. Katharine M. Cerezo, USN, Amphibious Squadron 11 Public Affairs; CPO Noel B. Corneja, USN, USS Patriot, (MCM 7) Public Affairs; PO3 Michael A. Lantron, USN, and PO2 Adam R. Cole, USN, Task Force 76 Public Affairs; PO2 Michael Gomez, USS Juneau Public Affairs; LTJG Jessica Gandy and PO1 Lisa Wassilieff, USN, U.S. Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs; LCpl. Noah S. Leffler, USMC; and SN Brandon A. Myrick, USN, USS Tortuga Public Affairs. More than a quarter of a million service members from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States participated in Exercise Reception, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration (RSOI) and FOAL EAGLE 2007 in March 2007. Held concurrently, RSOI/FOAL EAGLE are computer-simulated and field exercises designed to evaluate and improve the ability of the two forces to coordinate procedures, plans and systems necessary to defend the ROK. The exercise demonstrates U.S. resolve to support the ROK while improving overall readiness. This year’s exercise marked the 46th FOAL EAGLE exercise and the sixth time it has combined with RSOI. RSOI primarily involved troops on the peninsula, while FOAL EAGLE involved more than 40 ships and more than 100 aircraft from the ROK and U.S. armed forces. Many of the U.S. ships hosted their counterparts as part of the U.S. Navy’s liaison naval exchange program. Those in the program assisted the ships with communications and provided support throughout the exercise. Events included close-air support for ground forces, air-to-air defense exercises, maritime interoperability training, and expeditionary operations, including an amphibious landing at the end of the exercise. RSOI focused on initial flow of U.S. forces to the ROK; receiving military units (reception); connecting units with their equipment once in country (staging); moving them into their respective strategic position within the peninsula (onward movement); and integrating newly arrived forces with the forces already there (integration). “RSOI and FOAL EAGLE are training opportunities, so that we can be more jointly proficient in what we do. Combat readiness requires practice,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Anthony J. Pachuta. “But more than operational proficiency, this exercise creates and reaffirms friendships so that we can more closely work together if any type of emergent situation were to arise.” Military Sealift Command In the crisis action center at the MSC Office (MSCO) Korea in Busan, more than 40 MSC personnel responded to simulated emergency scenarios. Eight MSC personnel staffed a forward-deployed headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, that conducted command and control of MSC ships going in and out of the ROK. Another 15 personnel aboard a Mobile Sealift Operations Command van independently coordinated ship arrivals and off-loads in simulated events where port facilities were damaged or destroyed. “In a real world emergency, we would have to hit the ground running,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Luke McCollum. “Our training and familiarization of Korean ports is essential, so we can be ready to carry out our mission.” “This exercise is a dedicated time where MSC works with key players to practice a very important mission,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Ron Oswald, commanding officer of MSCO Korea. That office provides administrative, material and logistic support to more than 120 visiting MSC ships each year. Minesweeping Both forces’ minesweepers used their variable-depth sonar systems to locate training mines within a mock-up minefield. After marking the location of a mine, a mine neutralization vehicle (MNV) with camera was deployed underwater to identify the mine. The MNV carries a cutter for severing a chain or cable of a moored mine. The vehicle can also attach a small explosive charge next to a mine for detonation from a safe distance. “I was impressed with … working with our ROK counterparts at sea,” said Lt. Cmdr. Thomas E. Shultz, commanding officer of the minesweeper USS Patriot (MCM 7). “This proves that our two forces can operate together and respond together to any type of mine countermeasures-related contingency.” Harbor Defense Practicing these operations makes threats to the harbor easier to detect and defend against. “There was a lot of … teamwork involved in this exercise, said ROKN Lt. Kim Hyun-gil. “This opportunity was important because it gave us a chance to learn about another country’s navy.” Commenting on the importance of working with ROKN counterparts, U.S. Navy Capt. Guy Bony said, “Integration is always critical. It is important to work together and function effectively as a team. It gets the job done.” Bridge Building The two forces practiced putting together, testing and tearing down Medium Girder and M2 Bailey Bridges. These structures provide an expedient means of providing bridging capability. U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Mark Nelson noted that even though the Seabees train on building these bridges in their homeport, the ROK Army has more experience, since they build these types of bridges four times a month. “The ROK Army provided the training and equipment for this exercise,” said Lt. j.g. Nelson. ROK Army Capt. Myoung Seo felt the exercise was more than just a training evolution. “The experience has gone well. The combined training has brought us closer together,” he said.
E-mail: apdforum@apan-info.net
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