An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  
Crew members from the Legend-class U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) welcome aboard Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Sea Patrol Able Seaman for bilateral maritime law enforcement operations in RMI waters, July 9, 2025. 250709-G-NJ244-9291
The USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) crew stand for a photo with Palauan maritime officers from the Division of Marine Law off the coast of the Republic of Palau on June 27, 2025. 250627-G-G0020-5022
A U.S. Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Apra Harbor departs Agana Boat Basin after safely mooring the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest following a tow from offshore on July 1, 2025. 250701-G-G0020-6743
The U.S. Coast Guard, in close collaboration with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, safely moor the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest in Agana Boat Basin after a tow from offshore on July 1, 2025. 250701-G-G0020-3035
The U.S. Coast Guard, in close collaboration with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, safely moor the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest in Agana Boat Basin after a tow from offshore on July 1, 2025. 250701-G-G0020-1380
U.S. Navy Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, deliver 100 first aid kits to medical staff at Belau National Hospital during Koa Moana 25 in Palau, June 26, 2025. 250626-M-CQ925-1047
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Syed Hussain, an emergency medicine physician with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, showcases the contents of the first aid kits to members of the Ministry of Health and Human Services during Koa Moana 25 at Belau National Hospital in Palau, June 26, 2025. 250626-M-CQ925-1096
Lt. Emma Saunders, commanding officer, gives a tour of her ship, the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139), to members of the Republic of Singapore Naval Diving Unit in Guam on June 11, 2025. 250611-G-GT199-7679
Cmdr. Patton Epperson, acting deputy commander of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, alongside Deputy Commander Singapore Naval Diving Unit Lt. Col. Brandon Choo, lead a discussion on shared challenges, interoperability, and strategies to advance maritime security in the Pacific in Guam on June 11, 2025. 250611-G-GT199-5299
Lt. Emma Saunders, commanding officer of USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) and members of the Republic of Singapore Naval Diving Unit stand for a photo in Guam on June 11, 2025. 250611-G-IA651-6751
U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia Jennifer Johnson speaks with leaders from the Federated States of Micronesia and U.S. Department of Defense during a Joint Committee Meeting during a Joint Committee Meeting at Joint Region Marianas headquarters, June 4. 250604-N-ML137-1026
Federated States of Micronesia and U.S. Department of Defense leaders assemble for a Joint Committee Meeting at Joint Region Marianas headquarters, June 4. 250604-N-ML137-1035
Federated States of Micronesia and U.S. Department of Defense leaders assemble for a Joint Committee Meeting at Joint Region Marianas headquarters, June 4. 250604-N-ML137-1057
Four aircraft fly through a blue sky near clouds over an island as seen through the open exit of an aircraft. 506th EARS Refuel A-10s across the Pacific
Acting Guam Gov. Josh Tenorio speaks during Joint Region Marianas’ change of command ceremony at Guam High School, May 29. 250529-N-JC256-1049
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, outgoing commander, Joint Region Marianas, congratulates Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, incoming JRM commander, during a change of command ceremony at Guam High School, May 29. 250529-N-JC256-1070
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander, Navy Installations Command, center, officiates the turnover between Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, outgoing commander, Joint Region Marianas, right, and Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, incoming JRM commander, during a change of command ceremony at Guam High School, May 29. 250529-N-ML137-2085
The crew of the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) arrive on scene with the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest adrift around 125 nautical miles west of Guam on May 16, 2025, and begin setting up the tow. 250516-G-QB242-4387
The crew of the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) arrive on scene with the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest adrift around 125 nautical miles west of Guam on May 16, 2025. 250516-G-QB242-6490
U.S. Coast Guard transfers tow of missing vessel Lucky Harvest. 250517-G-QB242-8541
The crew of the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) arrive on scene with the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest adrift around 125 nautical miles west of Guam on May 16, 2025, and set up the tow. 250516-G-G0020-3757
U.S. Army Privates First Class Jay Rideb, left, and Willie Aguilar, assigned to the 1224th Engineer Support Company, Guam National Guard, renovate a prenatal and neonatal resource center during Annual Training, Guam, May 9, 2025. 250509-Z-RJ317-1052
Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero presents the Maga'haga award to U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, outgoing commander, Joint Task Force - Micronesia, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Fitness Center, May 15. 250515-N-ML137-1107
Senior leadership salutes the colors as the national anthem plays during Joint Task Force - Micronesia’s change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Fitness Center, May 15. 250515-N-ML137-1022
Joint sideboys render honors to U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Josh Lasky, incoming commander, Joint Task Force - Micronesia, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Fitness Center, May 15. 250515-N-ML137-1003
Maritime law enforcement and emergency responders from the Guam Port Authority and Guam Fire Department conduct training in Apra Harbor, Guam, as part of the NASBLA Boat Crew Member Course on March 27, 2025. 250327-G-G0020-9887
Maritime law enforcement and emergency responders from the Guam Port Authority and Guam Fire Department conduct training in Apra Harbor, Guam, as part of the NASBLA Boat Crew Member Course on March 26, 2025. 250326-G-G0020-1330
Maritime law enforcement and emergency responders from the Guam Port Authority and Guam Fire Department conduct training in Apra Harbor, Guam, as part of the NASBLA Boat Crew Member Course on March 27, 2025. 250327-G-G0020-6153
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew respond to a SAR case on March 30, 2025, rescuing two distressed mariners from an 18-foot skiff adrift near Namoluk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on March 30. 250330-G-G0020-7385
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew responded to a SAR case on March 30, 2025, rescuing two distressed mariners from an 18-foot skiff adrift near Namoluk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on March 30. 250330-G-G0020-1727
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew conduct a port visit to Nauru on March 25, 2025. 250325-G-G0020-2772
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew depart Namoluk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia, on March 30, 2025, after responding to a SAR case, rescuing two distressed mariners from an 18-foot skiff adrift near Namoluk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). USCGC Oliver Henry returns to Guam after successful transit post drydock
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew host Australia’s high commissioner and the Nauru acting police commissioner along with members of the Nauru Police Force Maritime Unit on March 26, 2025, in Nauru. 250326-G-G0020-9921
Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, shows Surangel Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, and his delegation the supporting component command and memorial locations throughout Oahu during a working lunch for the biannual Joint Committee Meeting at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, March 27, 2025. 250327-A-BA691-2015
Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, joins Surangel Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, for a photo with the President’s delegation during the biannual Joint Committee Meeting at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, March 27, 2025. 250327-A-BA691-2006

 

 

JTF - Micronesia News

U.S., ROK Military Members Bond through Martial Arts

18 April 2019

From Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez

Download Icon Download
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The traditional martial art of Korea is Taekwondo, and members of the United States Forces-Korea got a chance to experience it firsthand with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army.

The Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) organizes and hosts tours for U.S. military personnel on the peninsula to expose them to Korean culture. The Taekwondo tour gave both American and Korean service members a chance to understand the art, train together and deepen their bond through hand-to-hand combat techniques.

"It was a really great experience," said Staff Sgt. Robert Johnson, 8th Security Forces Squadron member. "I've done Taekwondo before and to experience it with Koreans was a special experience for me. To see the art form in its native country being performed and taught by its native people is something not many people can say that they have done."

The MND has been organizing tours almost every month since 1972, giving many opportunities for personnel stationed all over Korea to learn more about the vast history and unique culture of their ROK counterparts. Taekwondo is the national martial art of Korea, and Koreans take pride in their proficiency and expertise in the sport.

"We hope that everything we teach to the U.S. military members is impactful," said Grand Master John Hur, a Taekwondo instructor at Camp Humphreys. "Our goal is to motivate them to learn more and practice not only for the fun of it, but so that they can learn to better themselves through Taekwondo."

Members who participated in the tour learned the basics of Taekwondo, along with some of the self-defense techniques that the ROK military use in their combative programs. Additionally, at the Taekwondowon campus, they toured the only museum in the world dedicated to Taekwondo, and watched several performances highlighting traditional Korean music and martial arts.

Soldiers, Marines, and Airmen who went on the MND tour developed a stronger bond and friendship through blood, sweat and dedication from training with the ROK Army.


 

Guidance-Card-Icon Dept-Exclusive-Card-Icon