Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI)/FOAL EAGLE 2004 is a defensive exercise that tests the ability of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to defend itself, assisted by U.S. armed forces. Here, a ROK Marine guards the group, while U.S. Marines evaluate their situation during a field exercise. Photo by SSgt. D. Myles Cullen, USAF

Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, talks with U.S. Army Col. Michael D. Clay at Camp Humphreys, ROK. While in the ROK to discuss security issues with senior ROK officials, Adm. Fargo visited U.S. troops participating in Exercise RSOI/FOAL EAGLE 2004. Photo by Spec. Tricia O. Ortiz, USA

“In a purely defensive exercise, RSOI/ FOAL EAGLE 2004 tested the ability of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to defend itself, assisted by U.S. armed forces. About 8,500 U.S. service members participated in FOAL EAGLE 2004. Of these, 5,500 came from outside the Korean peninsula to take part in FOAL EAGLE and Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI). The originally separate exercises were combined in 2002, which resulted in tying field training with computer war simulations.

The RSOI portion is a ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) and ROK government-sponsored, simulation-driven, operational plan, command post exercise. This annual joint/combined ROK-U.S. exercise focuses on receiving, staging, moving, and integrating the U.S. augmentation forces deployed to Korea. It also involves rear operations command and control, force protection, force tracking, and sustainment. The exercise includes a seminar where ROK and U.S. military leaders discuss issues associated with the ROK-related operations plans. Finally, it involves a simulation-supported command post exercise to train commanders and staffs at field army level and above.

The FOAL EAGLE portion is CFC’s primary field training exercise, primarily for exercising tactical units and their functions. It is a multifaceted joint and combined exercise that trains participants in all aspects of CFC’s mission, including rear battle area protection, RSOI, special operations, and conventional multi-service force-on-force operations.

The exercise was preceded by a logistical buildup of war materiel arriving from outside. Before the start of the March 2004 exercise, U.S. Marines offloaded equipment, including tanks and support vehicles, at the Pyongtaek port. This operation practiced the massive influx of U.S. equipment into the ROK that would take place in the event of a conflict.

ROKAF airmen subdue a mock aggressor, while a U.S. Marine secures the perimeter during an airbase ground defense exercise. Photo by LCpl. David Revere, USMC

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Compiled by the Asia-Pacific Defense Forum staff from press releases by Jeremy Kirk, a journalist with the Stars and Stripes; JO David J. Ham, USN, assigned to USS Fort McHenry Public Affairs; JO3 James Kimber, USN, assigned to Amphibious Group One Public Affairs; JO2 James Evans Coyle, USN, assigned to USS Essex Public Affairs; LCpl. David Revere, USMC, assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.