The joint drills, which began on Feb. 28, ended on Mar. 10.
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| Soldiers of Cheongwon Battalion under the Army's 37th Division engage in a drill defending the Daecheong Dam in North Chungcheong on Mar. 4. The exercise was a part of annual joint military drill Key Resolve/Foal Eagle of South Korea and the United States. |
During a three-day forward deployment exercise since Mar. 2, troops under Army's 3rd, 32nd and 50th divisions successfully accomplished assigned mission perfectly together. Such exercise is the first of its kind that was performed in the country.
The drill began with a simulated situation which many casualties and wounds under the 3rd Division outbroke due to potential enemy's artillery shelling. The 32nd and 50th divisions deployed their troops to the front along with reserves and supplies right away.
Under the Defense Reform basic plan, reserves are responsible for supplementing troops mobilization, supplies, equipment and ammunition immediately to the frontline.
Troops of 32nd and 50th divisions were deployed to a stricken area and defeated the enemy once and for all by restoring combat capabilities.
In the meantime, the 3rd Division conducted practical and war-time training to troops of other divisions in order to help them prepare for the actual battle. Also on Mar. 5, subordinate units under the 3rd Division such as logistics command and other battalions joined the drill to conduct massive combat skill restoration training.
Divisions that were notified of large-scale damages their allied forces suffered, commanders of those division convened an emergency meeting and assessed the situation as well as discuss countermeasures. As a result, commanders agreed to deploy additional troops to the field in order to supplement combat strength. Other than troop augmentation, ammunition and supplies were supplemented as well.
On Mar. 4, Cheongwon Battalion under the Army's 37th Division conducted a defense maneuver around Daecheong Dam in North Chungcheong which supplies water and electricity in a capital area. Under an organized unexpected provocations from potential enemy, the battalion first installed fences around the dam.
Then the battalion engaged in an exercise aimed at defeating enemy's attack in case of enemy's plane try to land.
In addition, the battalion sought to beef up exercise effectiveness by applying rules of engagement under the control of a command center.
As part of Foal Eagle exercise, the Army's 39th Division carried out anti-terrorism maneuver at Sacheon airport in South Gyeongsang on Mar. 4.
Some 200 active-duty and reserve troops as well as Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel under the 3rd Air Force Training Squadron engaged in the anti-terrorism drill.
The drill was planned to be skilled in eradicating terrorists' explosives with combined capabilities of military, government and civilian. When one of airport passengers reported an explosive bag, Explosive Ordnance Disposal agents quickly and safely removed the bag while other troops were tightening the control of the airport.
RoK MoD