SEOUL, South Korea -- Just about any time the U.S. Eighth Army conducts a large training event in Korea, a select group of citizens come together to ensure the event goes off without a hitch. These Korean citizens are part of a group known as the Korean Service Corps.
The KSC is an unarmed, civilian group of paramilitary personnel whose lineage dates back to when South Korea and the U.S. forged a partnership in blood during the Korean War. In the decades since that time, KSC members have been part of Eighth Army's success in maintaining the partnership of South Korea and the U.S. and peace on the Korean peninsula.
The 22nd KSC Company, a subordinate element within Eighth Army, conducted a drill
to test its ability to set up and run a mobilization station at Pyongil
Elementary School Jan. 13-15 as part of its annually-required training.
This training required KSC members to exercise their ability to process and then
distribute stock to mobilizing KSC personnel. They used the Real-Time
Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) to input trainee information.
KSC members successfully gathered and distributed 289 sets of tactical gear, the
most ever distributed during a mobilization drill, according a KSC spokesperson. Additionally, Geneva Convention Cards were issued and hot meals were served to all participating personnel exactly as would be done in a real wartime situation. KSC members also familiarized supported units with their responsibilities
and completed a full rehearsal of their Mobilization Plan.
At the conclusion of the three-day training event, an activation ceremony was
held for the 211th Wartime KSC Company who was then transported and escorted
by ROK Army convoy security personnel to a wartime link-up point.
The 22nd KSC Company is part of Eighth Army's KSC Battalion, headquartered
at Camp Humphreys in Pyongtaek.
(Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Kosterman contributed to this report.)
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