Soldiers from 'Thunder' brigade conduct counterfire exercise with ROK Army

By CourtesyFebruary 10, 2016

Operations
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ ROK-U.S Combined Division, conduct operations in support of a combined counterfire exercise at Thunder Field, Camp Casey, South Korea, Jan. 27. Soldiers conducted operations in a real-... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Joint operations
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – First Lt. Kang Jin, Lee, an intelligence officer assigned to the 331st observation Battalion (Radar), 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Corps, facilitates cross communication between U.S and ROK Army forces during a simulated combined counterfire exer... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Realistic training
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ ROK-U.S Combined Division, conduct operations in a simulated chemically contaminated environment during a combined counterfire exercise at Thunder Field, Camp Casey, South Korea, Jan. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
MOPP gear exchange
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ ROK-U.S Combined Division, take part in a Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear exchange drill during a combined counterfire exercise at Thunder Field, Camp Casey, South Kore... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP CASEY, South Korea - Soldiers from the 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK - U.S. Combined Division participated in a simulated Combined Counterfire Exercise (CCX) alongside their counterparts from the Third ROK Army (TROKA) at Camp Casey Jan. 25-28.

The purpose of the CCX is to test the counterfire capabilities of 210 FA Brigade in conjunction with the ROK Army and to streamline joint actions taken to effectively deter NK aggression.

"The simulated CCX draws together the ROK and U.S. forces to prove our capability to "fight tonight,'" said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Erik G. Dominguez, a Riverside, California native assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, and battle captain of the TOC for the CCX. "It tests the systems that we use with TROKA counterparts to ensure we have accurate lines of communication open to make fast and accurate decisions at the command level."

From targeting teams to sustainment shops, every aspect of a real-world counterfire operation was put to the test in the simulated exercise.

"It gives leaders down to the lowest level the awareness and understanding of their role in the mission," said Dominguez.

Throughout the four days of the CCX, U.S. Army privates, officers and ROK Army Soldiers could all be seen working side-by-side.

"It was remarkable," said 1st Lt. Kang Jin, Lee, an Intelligence Officer assigned to the 331st Observation Battalion (Radar), 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Corps. "The senior leaders treat low-level Soldiers with respect and their attention to detail was key to completing this exercise successfully."

While simulated exercises such as these prove the ability to fight tonight through joint operations, they also highlight areas which can be improved on.

"These exercises improve us as a unit to see where we fall short due to forces continually evolving and the high turnover rate of Soldiers in theater," said Dominiguez. "By continuing to conduct these exercises, we can ensure that we are always moving in a unified forward direction."

The CCX ended with success as the simulated NK aggression was deterred and the Korean peninsula was made safe through joint operations with ROK military forces.

"It has been an honor to work with the ROK Soldiers and alongside them, seeing that we can have a joint relationship to continue to achieve our end state of keeping South Korea safe and free from hostilities," said Dominguez.