ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- This year's Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercises afforded the opportunity for the Army Field Support Battalion - Northeast Asia, 403rd Army Field Support Brigade, Camp Carroll, Republic of Korea, to receive and integrate six Soldiers from Detachment 12, Army Sustainment Command-Army Reserve Element.
The exercises began late February.
The ASC-ARE provides Reserve Component Soldiers in support of Army Sustainment Command missions. ASC is a two-star command headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. The ASC supports Army and joint forces in support of the combat commanders around the world. It has seven AFSBs, one in the ROK.
Like all AFSBs, the 403rd is a mission-focused and modular unit, organized to place logistics power forward to every element of the expeditionary Army.
The six Soldiers were comprised of officer and enlisted ranks in various sustainment military occupational specialties.
The six augmentees supporting AFSBn-NEA were Lt. Col. Brian McNulty, shift battle captain; Lt. Col. Stanlea Rodriguez, shift battle captain; Maj. Berle Winston Jr., Battalion Operation Information Center operations officer; Maj. Charles Molinets, shift battle captain; Master Sgt. Betheny Jones, BOIC noncommissioned officer in charge; and Staff Sgt. Maxine Johnson, BOIC NCOIC.
"This is the first time AFSBn-NEA has received augmentees for the exercise, and they have been remarkably effective. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, and are all highly motivated to learn and participate," said Lt. Col. Gary Cregan, battalion commander.
"The exercise has allowed us to capture some excellent lessons learned, much of which focus on the myriad of tasks that AFSBn-NEA would have to accomplish in advance of a contingency situation," Cregan explained.
"They all mentioned at how impressed they were with AFSBn-NEA operations and our support to them during the after action review," said Joseph Springer, deputy to the commander. "They also enjoyed gaining the additional experience within the APS (Army Prepositioned Stocks) arena that Key Resolve provided."
Key Resolve was scheduled from Feb. 24 - March 6, and is largely a computer-simulated exercise, while the eight-week Foal Eagle exercise involves air, ground and naval field training between the ROK and the U.S. Combined Forces Command.
"Key Resolve is a vital exercise to strengthen readiness of the Republic of Korea and U.S. Alliance. I look forward to training with all of our ROK, U.S. and sending state participants," said Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, Combined Forces Command commander. "The scenarios are realistic, enabling us to train on our essential tasks and respond to any crisis which may arise."
The reservists were there for two weeks, Springer said.
Approximately 5,200 U.S. forces participated in KR14; about 1,100 of which will came from off the peninsula.
The Foal Eagle exercise was slated from Feb. 24 -- April 18. It is a series of joint and combined field training exercises conducted by CFC and U.S. Forces Korea components spanning ground, air, naval, expeditionary, and special operations.
Approximately 7,500 U.S. forces will participate in FE14; about 5,100 of them are from off peninsula. Forces from major ROK units representing all services will also participate in FE14.
These joint exercises are annual military drills and defensive in nature.
At the beginning of the exercise, Detachment 12 Soldiers quickly worked alongside permanent party Soldiers and Army civilians, allowing for a rapid and timely start-up. ASC reservists participated in all around-the-clock wartime sustainment updates and briefings given to brigade and battalion commanders and distinguished visitors.
Members of the 403rd AFSB staff and the AFSBn-NEA staff gave the Det. 12 Soldiers a series of briefings on the importance of the positioning of the APS-4 in Korea/Japan and what it provides to the combatant commander.
"In Korea, we train like we fight - as a team," said Eighth Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux. "Because of exercises like Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, our joint and combined team is stronger and getting stronger."
(Editor's note: Eddie Compo, planner, Army Field Support Battalion - Northeast Asia; USFK Public Affairs; and Eighth Army Public Affairs?' Walter Ham IV contributed to this article.)
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