Eighth Army weathers typhoon during UFG

By Walter T. Ham IV, Eighth Army Public AffairsAugust 29, 2012

Eighth Army weathers typhoon during UFG
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea (Aug. 29, 2012) -- While training to confront simulated threats during exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2012, Eighth Army overcame a real one when the strongest typhoon in a decade struck the Korean Peninsula, Aug. 28.

Eighth Army moved from its cavernous tent command post complex to fixed command facilities and Combined Forces Command temporarily halted the exercise before Typhoon Bolaven brought heavy rains and high winds ashore.

Named after a highland hill area in Laos, Bolaven wreaked havoc across the Western Pacific before making landfall in South Korea.

"Typhoon Bolaven and our response to it demonstrated the flexibility of our entire team here in Korea," said Eighth Army Public Affairs Chief Col. Andrew C. Mutter. "They adapted, adjusted and overcame. And we pressed on with the exercise in spite of the storm because it is that important."

During Exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2012, Eighth Army is training for its new mission as an operational Field Army headquarters, capable of commanding multi-national combined and joint combat formations.

Mutter said Eighth Army capitalized on Typhoon Bolaven as a training opportunity.

"Just like the enemy has a vote in any conflict -- so does the weather," said Mutter, "and this typhoon demonstrated the agility of our entire combined and joint combat team."

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