Foal Eagle enhances readiness of ROK US alliance

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tong Duong
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The 8th Fighter Wing hosted components of U.S. and Republic of Korea forces during joint aerial training exercises, April 4, 2013.

The training was a part of Exercise Foal Eagle and focused on scenarios which simulated combined operations against hostile forces. Foal Eagle provided invaluable large-force employment training for U.S. and ROK military personnel.

"This event is a combined Airborne jump, a friendship jump," said U.S Army Lt. Col. Patrick Duggan, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group commander, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. "This is the culmination of four weeks here as part of Foal Eagle."

There is no better way to build trust in a relationship, from a private all the way up to the colonels and generals, Duggan said of the training between his soldiers and the ROK 7th Special Forces Brigade, 35th Special Forces Battalion.

The joint training was staged from Kunsan AB, with MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft support from the 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

Foal Eagle is a series of 20 separate field training exercises conducted by Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea components spanning ground, air, naval, expeditionary and special operations.

It is an annual training exercise culminating many months of planning and is designed to enhance the security and readiness of the Republic of Korea and is deterrent in nature.
"This is the first time we worked together. We don't speak the same language," said ROK Lt. Col. Hyun, Seung Woon, 7th SFB, 35th SFB commander. "I am very impressed at how well we have worked together; it was a very great experience and now we are better prepared."

After completing the joint training together, U.S. and ROK Airborne soldiers exchanged jump wings and unit motto patches as a token of friendship.

Approximately 10,000 U.S. forces along with approximately 190,000 ROK military personnel participated in Exercise Foal Eagle.

Training exercises like Foal Eagle are carried out in the spirit of the Oct. 1, 1953, ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty and in accordance with the Armistice.