CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea - During Sergeant's Time Training on June 22 the noncommissioned officers of Echo Forward Support Company 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade led their Soldiers in a professional development history hike up Pinnacle 4 Mountain. Along the way they also delivered a history course on the Korean War.

The hike offered not only in depth education on the Korean War, it emphasized the team concept of our combined U.S.-ROK forces, building cohesion and camaraderie within the company.

Soldiers climbed one mile up the mountain in duty uniform with their assault pack. The steep ascent and warm weather made for a rigorous climb--a deliberate part of the training to emphasize the importance of physical and mental toughness a Soldier should have and to experience the terrain Korean War troops faced.

At points during the climb, Soldiers received classes about the events leading up to, during, and following the Korean War.

At the base of the mountain, Sgt. Tasha M. Osborne taught the Soldiers on the major events leading to the outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula. At the quarter-way mark of the climb, Spc. Yang Jung Mo took a turn to instruct Soldiers about the actions of North and South Korea during the war.

At the halfway mark Sgt. Lee Hee Ho discussed the culminating days of the war and its aftermath. At the summit Pfc. Lee Myung delivered a final lecture concerning post-war South Korea and how the country has evolved to the present.

The meaning behind the History Hike was not only to teach the Soldiers about the Korean War, but to help them acknowledge the importance of our mission here.

Affording the Soldiers the opportunity to understand the history of Korea not only gives context to their mission on the peninsula, but also allows them to keep faith with our Korean allies across the ranks of the 2nd Infantry ROK-US Combined Division, and appreciate the Korean culture.

Soldiers agreed that the training was effective and engaging. Not only was it educational for the many newly arrived Soldiers within the ranks, but the physical training component added variety and challenge. While training is important in our line of work, it is just as important to make sure the Soldiers are actively engaged in it as well.

The alliance between South Korea and the United States remains strong due to the understanding and appreciation for the history and partnership between our Soldiers and nations that events like this build.