An RSOI/FOAL EAGLE chokepoint exercise evaluates potential movement problems. Photo by Sr. Amn. Sarayuth Pinthong, USAF

A Korean Service Corps mechanic climbs out of a U.S. Army M88 Recovery Vehicle a the APS-4 railhead during RSOI activities at Camp Carroll, ROK. Photo by SFC Keith J. Gardner, USA

U.S. Army 7th Cavalry Regiment M1A1 tanks move from a live fire exercise. A KATUSA – Korean Augmentation to U.S. Army - soldier is part of the crew. Photo by SSgt. Vincent A. King, USA

Time-Phased Force Deployment

Under an agreement with the ROK, the United States would provide units to reinforce ROK forces in the event of an external attack. These units and their estimated arrival dates are in the Time-Phased Force Deployment List in the agreement. RSOI/FOAL EAGLE 2002 tested this list for currency and adequacy as U.S. forces arrived from bases outside Korea.

Air Base Ground Defense

The air base ground defense portion of RSOI/FOAL EAGLE 2002 occurred in the northeast section of the U.S. Air Force Base in Osan, Korea, and focused on the defense of critical rear-area targets and agent infiltrations. Exercise participants included elements of the ROK Army’s 71st Special Forces Battalion and the U.S. Air Force’s 51st Security Force Squadron.

ROK-U.S. command and control staff also participated, gathering data on scenario results and assessing defense force plans, operations, and support throughout the exercise.

Due to the War on Terrorism and unlike previous years, U.S. participants did not include Security Forces and U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigation personnel deployed from bases outside Korea. Nevertheless, the exercise benefits were considerable for the ROK and U.S. forces.