The CYCLONE in Korea                                                                                                                   By Master Sgt. David Elmore, 38th Infantry Division

More than 5,000 U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and airmen participated in an immense Joint Military Exercise on the Korean Peninsula Aug. 17 – 30. The Army National Guard’s 38th Infantry Division Tactical Command Post played a key role as an American Division working directly for a Republic of Korea Army headquarters.  

The exercise, Ulchi Focus Lens, was a largely computer-simulated war game but involved almost 10,000 U.S. and Republic of Korea military members. UFL is designed to improve the ability of Army Service Component Command Headquarters to conduct collaborative planning with Combined Forces Command, Ground Component Command, U.S. Forces Korea and subordinate elements.

In addition, the exercise improves combined and joint coordination procedures and operations between the U.S. military and Republic of Korea forces. 

Working in a bunker and serving alongside First Republic of Korea Army Soldiers, 52 Soldiers of the 38th Infantry Division learned firsthand how to interact with their ROK counterparts to ensure a successful warfighting outcome.

38th Infantry Division Deputy Commander, Brig. Gen. Tod Carmony, said that no amount of training in Indiana could replace the opportunity to train with the ROK.

“There is not a Soldier here who will return without having captured hard skills that will make him a more effective Soldier, and us a more effective force,” said Carmony. “And that can be directly credited to the incredible training environment created by the First Republic of Korea Army.”

To transcend language and custom barriers, English-speaking Korean Soldiers called KATUSAs, or Korean Augmentations to the U.S. Army, cultivated greater military functionality and maneuverability throughout the peninsula by translating all written orders and interpreting for both the ROK’s and Americans. They were indispensable and worked long hours ensuring full understanding of all operations.

According to Maj. Brent Richard, a 38th Infantry Division intelligence officer, the rewards of working alongside foreign Soldiers outweigh the challenges. “Because ROK and U.S. intelligence personnel use similar analysis processes and tools, we were able to overcome the language differences,” said Richard. “We could focus on fostering continued positive relations between our two militaries and countries.” 

Both sides judged the simulation a success that built on the coalition partnership between ROK and the U.S. Army. 

“The 38th Division’s Cyclone Warriors went out of their way to complete the mission and to establish a relationship with their ROK counterparts through trust and mutual respect,” said Maj. David Ellis, protection officer in charge.

Ulchi Focus Lens began as two separate exercises, the Ulchi Exercise in 1968 and the Focus Lens Exercise in 1954. The two were combined into UFL in 1976.

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