YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - Senior ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command leaders welcomed the 66th graduating class of the Korean Military Academy here Feb. 3 to familiarize them with the current combined defense system and the transformation of ROK-U.S. Alliance.
As buses arrived near the Combined Forces Command Headquarters, ROK and U.S. Army officers greeted the graduates.
The cadets took a photo with senior CFC leaders, including Gen. Walter L. Sharp, commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, and Gen. Hwang Eui-don, CFC deputy commander.
The cadets then divided into two groups to receive briefings at the Korean Battle Simulation Center and CFC headquarters.
The orientation briefings covered CFC and the ROK-U.S. Alliance transformation, while highlighting the CFC's role in supporting the ROK-U.S. Alliance.
As the briefings were completed, the groups went to the Seoul American High School Auditorium.
During his remarks to the cadets, Sharp described the traits of leadership.
"You knew what an honor it would be when you volunteered to the academy - the pride of being an officer, the opportunity to defend your country, even more responsibility, and most importantly, the trust and respect given to you," said Sharp. "It is loyalty that requires us to look outside ourselves and consider our obligations to our institutions, our units, and most importantly, our Soldiers."
After Sharp's speech, the KMA graduates got to ask the commander questions.
At the end of the day, U.S. sponsors took small groups of KMA graduates to their houses for dinner.
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