BUSAN, South Korea -- Nearly 40 pieces of equipment were transported up the Korean Peninsula by combined effort between the Republic of Korea and United States Army. The 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command executed combined reception, staging and onward movement operations in coordination with ROK forces, June 12-16.

The RSO field training exercise tests the ROK and the U.S military's ability to transition personnel and equipment into operationally viable forces. Its intent is to enhance combat readiness and ROK-U.S interoperability during RSO operations in a combined environment by assuming U.S rotational forces deployment.

"[The] RSO operation is key because once we evacuate all necessary personnel off [of] the peninsula, we do our job as logisticians and bring more supplies on," said 2nd Lt. Tobin Cooper, RSO officer in charge, 551st Inland Cargo Transfer Company. "We really sustain the fight, which is our mission."

Soldiers from various organizations supported the multi-day operation. The ROK assets included: Transportation Company, 2nd Operational Command and Third Republic of Korea Army. U.S. support included the 19th ESC staff, 94th Military Police Battalion, 25th Transportation Battalion, 837th Transportation Battalion and Materiel Support Command - Korea.



Cargo and equipment were received and pre-positioned at the Busan Storage Center, June 13. The equipment included Container Express, Load Handling System, Medium Tactical Vehicles, cots, generators and fuel cans. The next day, those pieces were staged in four different serials, all of which employed land assets for transportation.

"Readiness and preparation made this operation successful," said Staff Sgt. Chan Yun, transportation section chief, 551st ICTC. "During the down time we have to train soldiers, especially on cargo for better proficiency. The fact that ROK and U.S. forces train together in RSO operations enables more effective communication during contingencies and that makes this exercise meaningful."

After a number of rehearsals, and final preparations, combined convoy operations were finally executed, June 15. Each serial was escorted and secured by one ROK security and 94th MP vehicle throughout the onward movement. ROK contractors, ROK Transportation Co., and U.S. convoys departed, fully loaded, from the BSC to their designated destinations in 30-minute intervals.

"In times of contingency, this is an operation that we have to know forward and backward," explained Cooper. "We have to be able to execute on a moment's notice with very little coordination, so it has to be a muscle memory. The more we practice, the quicker we can actually activate, mobilize and start doing the job."

While helicopters provided aerial security, the convoys downloaded their loads at their final destinations and completed a safe delivery of all notional, rotational assets in a timely manner.

"RSO operations validate the ROK-U.S. alliance because it really allows us to work out the kinks in our system," said Cooper. "Usually there is very little communication, other than just general coordination of time, location and place. But this really allows us to get face time with our allies and to examine common and different standards of operating procedures and how we run convoys."

The 19th ESC will now review the lessons learned from these operations to build closer coordination systems with the ROK forces and to identify sustainable solutions to shortfalls for future RSO operations.