Kunsan, Camp Humphrey support Key Resolve exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Steven R. Doty
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea --  Korea is better known as the "land of the morning calm". Yet on Saturday, March 1, the calm was broken with the sound of convoys herding across the base and Army personnel setting up an encampment in a secluded area.

Soon after the convoys arrived and Soldiers began to cover the land with tents and communication facilities, the sky was filled with the thump of rotor blades cutting through the air as 18 helicopters arrived here from Camp Humphreys, South Korea.

4-2 Attack Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, arrived to Kunsan with about 400 Soldiers to conduct a training exercise during Key Resolve/Foal Eagle, formally known as a Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration exercise.

Key Resolve/Foal Eagle is an annual command post exercise held by United States Forces Korea and conducted with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. The exercise will be carried out from March 2 to 7, and it focuses on improving combat readiness and joint interoperability.

Army Major Jason Hoge, 4-2 Attack Battalion Operations Officer, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, stressed the importance of this exercise.

"[Key Resolve/Foal Eagle] will enhance combat readiness for all elements in theater to include elements flowing in to support the exercise," said Maj. Hoge.

Kunsan plays an important role in this exercise as it provides a number of key elements that allows the 4-2 Attack "Death Dealers" to execute their mission. Its biggest role is as a staging area that supports one of its primary missions assisting the Naval Component Command, a combined United States and Republic of Korea element, with a mission to suppress maritime targets.

It's more than just the location that has Major Hoge pleased and impressed with Kunsan Air Base. Rather, he is happy with the warm welcome and support he has received from Airmen since arriving.

"[Kunsan] is essential as it flows into the mission as a reception piece, providing real estate and services," said Maj. Hoge. "Kunsan has been a superb host, providing superior facilities, necessary communication elements and lighting for aircraft maintenance."

Alpha Company, 4-2 Attack hopes to accomplish much more than their maritime mission as the week progresses. Part of enhancing combat readiness, is preparing Soldiers to target maritime threats and to expose them to conditions they would not have otherwise experienced.

Army Captain Tom Potter, Commander of Alpha Company 4-2 Attack, explained how this exercise would also test our Soldier's abilities to work on the ground in a maritime war situation.

"Our Soldiers complete a number of operations on the ground to include going through functions of our communication checks to maintenance of the aircraft," said Capt. Potter. "We also ensure each Soldier is prepared to use their M-16 and M-4, employ aircraft at a moment's notice and train for all types of radio communication."

According to Army General B. B. Bell, U. S. Forces Korea Commander's, message 14-08, it's important to not only improve combat readiness, but to conduct the training as safe as possible.

"KR/FE '08 is key to our readiness and effective deterrence," he stated. "I am totally committed to achieving the training objectives of KR/FE '08, and I am equally insistent that we execute the training safely."

This is the first major training exercise of the year and involves over 6,000 individual augmentees and entire units joining combined staffs and formations.

Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008 is an essential training opportunity that allows skills and techniques to be perfected across the services. It is through this exercise, and many others, that have allowed Korea to remain the "land of the morning calm".