KSC Deploys to U.S. for Field Training

YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea - If one were to research the legacy of

the Korean Service Corps, the results would likely tie the unit's efforts to

support the United States Army on the Korean peninsula. For the unaware,

this story of service actually includes chapters on American soil. The most

recent entry was added recently when the KSC sent a team of experts to train

in Virginia.

The KSC sent a team to Fort Pickett, Va. for a field training exercise Apr.

18 - May 1. The 35-member team was responsible for rapidly establishing a

series of pipes to simulate a petroleum distribution system as part of an

exercise that tested U.S. Soldiers' and the KSC's ability to place pipeline.

The drill was called the Fiscal Year 2015 U.S. Forces Command Petroleum

Training Module.

Approximately 5.1 miles of pipeline was installed by the KSC Battalion's

Inland Petroleum Distribution System team, said Choe, Chong-sik, a member of

the KSC. This included one refinery station and one pumping station. This

was no small task for the KSC, given the small operating strength when

compared to other units on ground. A total of 20 miles of pipeline was

installed by all the participating units.

"The KSC team had half the personnel strength of the other teams, but the

KSC team went twice the distance in IPDS trace in the same amount of time,"

said Choe.

Choe said the secret to the KSC's success is a specialized tool used for

moving pipes called a "J Hook." It was created by a member of the KSC

nearly 17 years ago.

"The tool has itself become famous throughout the IPDS circles and was one

of the KSC team's secret weapons in laying down the IPDS pipelines quickly

and efficiently," said Choe. The J Hook is only known to be used by members

of the KSC.

Choe said The KSC team received a lot of accolades because of their super

efficiency. This included Lt. Col. Preston L. Stape, the commander of the

458th Engineer Battalion.

The set up of the IPDS is one of the KSC Battalion's core wartime missions ,

said Choe. The KSC Battalion conducts IPDS exercises to improve its ability

and to hone the wartime IPDS capability. During contingency, KSCs install

IPDS for US forces.

According the the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command website, the KSC

"was founded on July 26, 1950, under Presidential Emergency Decree of

Syngman Rhee, leader of the Republic of Korea, in response to an urgent

request for manpower by General Walton Walker, then Commanding General,

Eighth United States Army. The Civilian Transportation Corps, as the KSC was

originally known, consisted of civilians who were drafted under the

Emergency Mobilization Order of the ROK President.