CHEORWON, South Korea (April 20, 2014) -- The 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division joined U. S. Marines and Republic of Korea Army soldiers for a combined joint live-fire exercise in Rocket Valley near Cheorwon, here, March 24-28.
The three services worked together to enhance the interoperability of the units to provide coordinated fire support.
"We are able to demonstrate our ability to use U.S. Army technology and integrate it with our Korean counterparts and show our joint capability by working with the U.S. Marine Corps to provide accurate, lethal and timely artillery fires," said Lt. Col. Mark Brock, the commander of 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Field Artillery Brigade.
U.S. Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Forces traveled more than 6,700 miles from El Paso, Texas, fired rockets side-by-side with Republic of Korea's 5000th Field Artillery Battalion and 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, in the Republic Korea for the first time using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
"This is something we typically do not have a chance to do often as reservists and something I never had a chance to do on active status," said Capt. John Hiett, from Albuquerque, N.M., the platoon commander for D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Corps. "Normally, our annual training is down in El Paso, Texas, so this is definitely a change of scenery, and it is definitely a great place to train."
The units tested their equipment, developed cohesion between branches, and built confidence in their skills while firing live rockets at a target more than 10 kilometers away.
"This is a terrific opportunity for us to come out and train with our [Republic of Korea] partners as well as the U.S. Marines," said Brock, from Stillwater, Okla. "Combined joint live-fire exercises enhance 210th Field Artillery Brigade's readiness to deter aggression against South Korea."
Through integrating their command and control processes, the organizations gained a better understanding of how each of their systems operate when receiving, transmitting and processing fire missions.
For more photos of the event, visit the 210th Field Artillery Brigade Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/210fib/sets/72157643188202615/.
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