US & ROK Soldiers Train Together at Twin Bridges
Here is an interesting story from the Stars and Stripes about a Field Artillery battery using ROK Army assets in conjunction with their training:
U.S. and South Korean soldiers trained side-by-side here all last week as part of a combined joint exercise involving infantry, artillery and air strikes.
On Thursday, South Korean infantrymen stood guard while U.S. soldiers from B Battery, 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment prepared to fire simulated rocket missions at Twin Bridges, a training area just south of the demilitarized zone.
Battery B commander Capt. Gary Lyke, 34, of Pensacola, Fla., said 31 infantrymen from 1st Battalion, 113rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Republic of Korea Armored Brigade were guarding his unit’s six Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, 12 ammunition trucks and three fire direction centers.
Now I got one question. Is the ROK Army training to protect the FA soldiers from these people:
Or from these people:
A KATUSA that was interviewed also had some interesting things to say about comparing the ROK Army with the US Army:
Cpl. Jung Kyung-hoon, a 21- year-old KATUSA, said the South Korean soldiers were curious about his job and that he told them it was good.
South Korean soldiers are very different than U.S. soldiers, he said. Their training schedule is really tight, and they don’t get enough rest. Sometimes the ROK Army just thinks the U.S. Army is not motivated and not good. The only time they hear about us is when there is an accident. But when they train with us, it makes them think about us for real. We have got to do more of it.”
“Unmotivated and not good?” You have got to be kidding me. Who’s countries soldiers are kicking ass in Iraq right now while the Korean soldiers remained locked on a base in Kurdistan playing Starcraft and installing toilets? The ROK Army is always welcome to take up operations in Baghdad to show their military skills.
To be fair though that is the first time I have heard such a comment coming from the ROK Army. The ROK Army soldiers I have worked with have been quite professional and appreciative of USFK. I have had a few whining KATUSAs before but the vast majority have been outstanding.
Never the less I can’t let the comment go by unchallenged just because the image of the US Army in Korea is tarnished by the few negative incidents that happen every year that the Korean press blows way out of proportion doesn’t mean that the US Army is unmotivated and no good. If positive stories like this one also in the Stars and Stripes about a doctor jumping down on to train tracks to aid car wreck survivors will receive little to no national publicity in Korea thus not helping USFK improve it’s national image.
Good day,
I was just reading the above article and would like to make a comment. To start, the KATUSA program and the ROK relationship with the U.S. military has been and will continue to be a valued asset for both parties. Like with many things worth doing well, there are some challenges and possibly friction points, but for the most part, both parties benefit greatly from the continued cooperation. From personal experience in Korea, the Balkans, and now Iraq for the second time; every opportunity we take to break away from the vague, narrow view of the world is for the better. Each step we find a common bond, each day a closer appreciation for the greater concept of the world beyond ourselves. In the case of CPL Jung, I can tell you that he greatly enjoyed his time with the U.S. and learned much from it. Yes, I know…..the comment is biased since he was in my battery. A simple fact is, many of the Soldiers in the KATUSA program used to protest against the U.S. forces in Korea. However, I could not begin to count the number of times I heard how good the experience was because now they understood us and our role better and were proud to be a part of it.
O.K. enough of the soapbox. The big picture…..the experience and training with not just the South Koreans, but with the Iraqi, Turks, Greeks, Germans, Brits, Aussies, Albanians, Pols, and Russians……each has added a better appreciation for what we, as a U.S. Army, do and how we do it. That might be a little tongue in cheek, but it is always a valued learning experience for all.
Big question that is always asked. Is it worth it? Is it worth the time, money, energy, manpower and human cost? Damn straight! All that and then some. I, like many Soldiers, do not like being away from loved ones, but there is a purpose and there is progress. For most it is very difficult to see or touch, but I assure you. There are small gains daily. Sometimes even the miracle of large gains, but it is worth every ounce of sweat, every tear, and sadly every bit of blood shed. It would be a crushing shame, for any of us, to let down those who gave everything they had, to not press on and succeed even against the might of our own nation's short sightedness and impatience. It is not my job, but my privilege and honor to serve with the finest, volunteer Soldiers our nation has to offer before the alter of freedom.
I admit that was more than I intended to write. I enjoyed your article. Thank you for your time and patience.
Maj Lyke.
Thanks for your words.
I think you must be a good soldier and a good person. Also a good example for your men.
I have been to Songtan last month and saw many american soldier in the street. I did not want to talk to them when I arrived at Songtan, but one night I suddenly met a MP soldier in the street and he just said hello to me in korean. That was something unexpected since I have been avoiding contact with american soldiers at any cost, but I must admit that this soldier just broke my prejudice against american soldier with that simple gesture.
He made me think about my attitude toward american solders and how I was being unfair with them. I owe this guy a favor.
Your words reminded me this soldier. Thank you.
Maj Lyke,
My criticism was not towards Cpl Jung but rather the ROK Army soldiers he spoke to that said they thought the US Army was "not motivated and not good". When I wrote that posting I had served in Operation Iraqi Freedom myself and helped with the train up for the 2BCT for their deployment from Korea to Iraq. So when someone in the ROK Army makes such a comment about US Army soldiers it does strike a nerve especially when I would walk out the front gate of Camp Casey and see names of the supposedly "not motivated and not good" soldiers listed as being deceased on the 2BCT memorial there.
Besides the clarification above I agree with everything else you have said. Thanks for commenting.