PHOTO CAPTIONS:
1. Approximately one million
regular and mobilized reserve ROK forces participated in this
important test of the ROK's defense capabilities, particularly
in rear areas. ROK troops test their Multiple Integrated Laser
Engagement System (MILES) gear which signals harmless laser "hits."
2. Defense of rear area military
bases is an important feature of FOAL EAGLE. Here, a U.S. Air
Force (USAF) airman acts as a member of a hostile force trying
to destroy rear area USAF communications assets.
3. Base defenders practice
against hostile chemical attacks at Osan Air Base.
4. An ROK Army K-1 tank engages
hostile forces during FOAL EAGLE 98.
5. Simulated hostile forces
infiltrating Kunsan Air Base for a night assault, as seen through
a night vision device.
6. U.S. Army M1A1 Abrams
Main Battle Tanks and other vehicles assemble outside Wonapson,
ROK.
7. ROK Army soldiers patrol
foothills leading up to a simulated brigade battle.
8. An ROK Army anti-aircraft
gun guards against simulated hostile air attacks during exercise
FOAL EAGLE.
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1 Photo by TSgt. James Mossman, USAF |
Air Operations
Air operations included combined interdiction missions, close
air support, and suppression of enemy air defense missions. Interdiction
missions involved ROK KF-16s, F-4Ds and F-5s and U.S. Air Force
F-16s from Kunsan Air Base, Korea; U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18s
out of Iwakuni, Japan; and U.S. Navy F/A-18s, F-14s and E-6Bs
off the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. Numerous sorties
were also flown to repel simulated air attacks, including F-15
missions flown by the Hawaii Air National Guard. Air base security
defense exercises honed the skills of base security units and
a variety of other support organizations as well.
2 Photo: Sr. Amn. Jeffrey Allen, USAF |
3 Photo: Sr. Amn. Jeffrey Allen, USAF |
Ground Operations
Two of these large field training exercises in FOAL EAGLE
involved ground troops. These exercises included a corps-versus-corps
battle at the ground maneuver area between the ROK Army's 6th
and 3rd Corps.
Another ground event was the brigade-level battle in the Twin
Bridges Training Area between ROK and U.S. Army brigades. "We're
fighting the 39th Armor Brigade of the ROK on their
own terrain, using their own equipment, moving into battle positions
that they know well, and they're tough and well trained,"
said Lt. Col. Mike Gunn, commander of the 302nd Forward
Service Battalion and chief of logistics for the U.S. task force.
Some 1,000 soldiers of the U.S. 3rd Brigade, 2nd
Infantry deployed from Ft. Lewis, Washington, for FOAL EAGLE
98. The unit is tasked to "round out" its parent division,
the 2nd Infantry Division, already stationed on the
peninsula for the defense of the ROK.
4 Photo: SSgt. Jim Varhegyi, USAF |
Maritime Operations
"I would say, at first blush, it was a tremendous success,"
remarked Rear Adm. Timothy J. Keating, Commander, Task Force
(CTF) 70, who acted as naval component commander during FOAL
EAGLE 98. "It was great training, day and night. And most
importantly, it was all done safely; nobody got hurt."
Rear Adm. Keating said the exercise contained a number of
important firsts that made this year's FOAL EAGLE the best ever
conducted. "This is the first year that we have been able
to establish anti-submarine operations centers off both coasts
of Korea, coordinate across the peninsula via U.S. Air Force
and U.S. Navy early warning radar aircraft, link up with the
Combined Forces Command headquarters on the ground, and have
an accurate, secure link picture available to all parties in
both the East and West Sea," he noted.
It was also the first year that CTF-70 had tactical command
of both ROK and American submarines for the same exercise, something
made possible by the presence of Submarine Squadron ONE and the
squadron's submarine assistance team aboard the USS Kitty
Hawk (CV 63).
5 Photo: SSgt. Steve Faulisi, USAF |
6 Photo: Spec. Christina Ann Horne, USA |
Rear Adm. Keating said that even though U.S. and ROK
forces have worked together for more than 40 years, exercises
like FOAL EAGLE continue to teach both forces much about interoperability.
"We advertise FOAL EAGLE as the best training available
in WESTPAC [the Western Pacific]."
7 Photo: TSgt. James Mossman, USAF |
8 Photo: TSgt. James Mossman, USAF |
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