CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea -- No matter what the occasion, whether it's a date, job interview, or meeting the in-laws for the first time, there's an old saying that goes, "first impressions are lasting ones." One newly arrived cavalry unit understood the importance of that saying and decided to show their true colors from the get-go.
The 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment based out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska recently joined the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, as they embarked on a nine month rotational deployment here.
Their first piece of business was made obvious during a welcoming ceremony held in honor of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army Soldiers assigned to the unit.
"Successful execution of the 6-17th Cavalry mission will require teamwork from all of our assigned cavalrymen," said Command Sgt. Maj. Kirk W. Parsons, senior enlisted advisor of 6-17th Cav. Regt. and native of Princeton, Texas. "Welcoming new members to the squadron is step number one in building a team."
That team building concept started long ago with the KATUSA program that began during the Korean War as an informal agreement between U.S. forces and the Korean government, allowing Korean soldiers to integrate and train with U.S. Soldiers.
KATUSAs, to this day, continue to work and serve alongside their U.S. counterparts. This combined force maintains the ability to "Fight Tonight" while keeping the Korean phrase "Katchi Kapishida" (We Go Together) mantra alive.
That cohesion and relationship is seemingly strengthened by such occasions like the KATUSA welcoming ceremony, making Most U.S. Army units here a well established force. Soldiers and KATUSAs come and go, but they complete their service obligations assigned to these units.
The 6-17th Cav. Regt. unlike most units in Korea is a rotational asset that was deployed to Korea and will return to the United States later, making this a special and unique opportunity for the KATUSAs who are assigned to it.
Upon their arrival, the leadership and Soldiers of 6-17th Cav. Regt. seized the moment to make a first impression with their Korean counterparts.
"I was surprised at first because this is not a usual thing for KATUSAs to be welcomed in a big ceremony," said Cpl. Hyung Sub Shin, senior KATUSA assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6-17th Cav. Regt. and native of Seoul, South Korea. "I was really thankful that they [held] this ceremony and gave us a certificate, welcoming us to 6-17th Cav. All of us KATUSAs were really impressed by that."
One Soldier felt the importance and need to welcome her new teammates in such a ceremony.
"It was a good way [for us] to introduce the KATUSAs into the unit and let them know that we care," said Pvt. Shynice L. Zellars, human resource specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6-17th Cav. Regt. and native of Washington, Ga. "The ceremony made me feel like we are making a difference by letting the KATUSAs know that they are a part of our Family."
Now that these KATUSAs are part of the Cavalry Family, what can they expect?
"We expect the same from them as any other Soldier," said Parsons. "They must be ready to "Fight Tonight." This takes commitment, professionalism, responsibility, disciplined initiative, and of course, cavalry swagger."
Soldiers will have the opportunity to carry out these expectations as 6-17th Cav. Regt. and their extended Family begin joint and combined training ventures across the peninsula. They do so in support of the "Second to None" warrior division's mission to deter aggression and maintain peace.
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