POHANG, Republic of Korea -- On a bright and windy day, a gray Landing Craft Utility ship slowly makes its way to the Trident Pier causeway while Soldiers and Marines patiently wait.

The U.S. Army ship was loaded with tactical vehicles and other mission equipment to support exercise Operation Pacific Reach 2017.

Service members grabbed ropes to secure and position the ship to offload and transport the equipment to the marshaling yard, a holding area where the equipment would be shipped to front line forces.

The ROK and U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps came together to test Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, the use of rail, inland waterways and Air Terminal Supply Point capabilities during combined joint and multi-domain training. The exercise focused on readiness to sustain the ROK and U.S. alliance.

“This exercise showed us how to communicate with our counterparts on and off sea and shore,” said Staff Sgt. Tony Burnette, watercraft operator assigned to 331st Transportation Company. “Working with the ROK and the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force allies was a great experience. We learned how to move tactical vehicles as a team from the ship, as the other team collected pipelines from the sea to shore to receive water and fuel.”

The exercise could not be accomplished without the effort of Soldiers and Marines operating the Inland Petroleum Distribution System. The U.S. Army working alongside the Marines Corps maintained the IPDS capability to transport fuel and water from the sea to major logistical transportation hubs.

During the two-week exercise, units worked together to construct the Trident Pier causeway modular sections with sustained winds and waves while preparing to offload the heavy equipment on Dogu Beach.

Transporting equipment on and off shore was only one piece of the exercise. In addition, ROK aircraft transported pieces of equipment to locations where needed.

“Operation Pacific Reach has offered us a unique opportunity to inherent our interoperability between our ROK and joint partners,” said Col. Christopher Dexter, commander, Material Support Command-Korea. “Every day we work together side by side and have the opportunity to collaborate, cooperate and communicate with our ROK counterpart.”

The exercise focused on logistical operations from the air, sea and shore to transport mission equipment across the peninsula using LCUs, Landing Craft Mechanized, Logistics Support Vessels and causeway ferries. The crafts transported and offloaded nearly 2,000 cargo containers during the operation.

“Each training event had a unique tactical scenario derived from our Mission Essential Task List, aimed at improving readiness and increasing interoperability,” said Lt. Col. Natasha Jones, commander, 10th Transportation Battalion. “I am extremely proud and confident in the demonstrated ability of the ROK and U.S. forces to conduct complex operations efficiently and safely side by side and sustaining the capabilities which strengthen the ROK and U.S. alliance.”