City streets to chemical threats: US and ROK armies train side by side

By 1st Lt. Jonathan SaulsSeptember 3, 2025

U.S., ROKA Soldiers Train Together on Urban Warfare, CWMD During Ulchi Freedom Shield
U.S. and Republic of Korea Army Soldiers rush into a building under the cover of smoke during MOUT training in the Republic of Korea, Aug. 27, 2025. The exercise was designed to enhance combined maneuver and interoperability during Ulchi Freedom Shield. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Jonathan Sauls) VIEW ORIGINAL

ICHEON, South Korea — U.S. Soldiers assigned to B Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division joined Republic of Korea Army Soldiers from the 17th Infantry Division to sharpen urban combat and counter-weapons of mass destruction skills during Ulchi Freedom Shield 2025.

The combined training focused on military operations on urban terrain, emphasizing room-clearing, movement under fire and integration of allied forces in a dense, urban environment. Soldiers maneuvered through smoke-filled streets, breached fortified buildings and coordinated stairwell and hallway tactics to clear simulated threats.

In addition to urban maneuver, the exercise incorporated counter-WMD tasks, highlighting the importance of detecting and neutralizing simulated chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. ROKA Soldiers employed advanced robotics to inspect hazardous areas, while U.S. troops operated in protective masks and suits to identify and secure suspected materials.

U.S., ROKA Soldiers Train Together on Urban Warfare, CWMD During Ulchi Freedom Shield
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Soldier with B Co., 4-9 Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, moves through a training site in full protective gear during counter-weapons of mass destruction training with Republic of Korea Army soldiers assigned to the 17th Infantry Division as part of Ulchi Freedom Shield, Aug. 27, 2025, in the Republic of Korea. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Jonathan Sauls) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S., ROKA Soldiers Train Together on Urban Warfare, CWMD During Ulchi Freedom Shield
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Soldier with B Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, creates a smoke-filled intersection during Military Operations on Urban Terrain training in the Republic of Korea, Aug. 27, 2025. The event was part of Ulchi Freedom Shield, a combined exercise with the Republic of Korea Army. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Jonathan Sauls) VIEW ORIGINAL

The event also included demolition, and the integration of unmanned aerial systems, underscoring the combined force’s ability to adapt to both conventional and unconventional threats.

Ulchi Freedom Shield, the annual joint U.S.-ROK exercise, aims to strengthen readiness and interoperability across the full spectrum of conflict, from large-scale combat to countering asymmetric threats.

The Manchus of 4-9 IN and their ROKA partners concluded the event with a successful validation of combined urban and CWMD capabilities, further reinforcing the enduring U.S.-ROK military partnership.