Soldiers from 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives, or CBRNE, Command prepared to return home following Exercise Key Resolve in South Korea, March 13.

The 20th CBRNE Command participated in the two-week exercise that keeps U.S. and South Korean forces ready to deter aggression on the Korean Peninsula and maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The command post exercise is defensive in nature and involves forces in the United States. This year, United Nations Command troops from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France and Great Britain took part in Key Resolve.

Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 20th CBRNE Soldiers deployed to the Korean Peninsula and served with Eighth Army during the exercise.

The 20th CBRNE Command also deployed the 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, or EOD, based out of Fort Carson, Colorado, to serve with the 2nd Infantry Division.

Soldiers and civilians from 20th CBRNE train to counter the full range of CBRNE threats from improvised explosive devices to weapons of mass destruction. The only command of its kind in the Department of Defense, 20th CBRNE trains with joint, interagency and allied partners around the world.

"Key Resolve is a great training opportunity for our Soldiers and the U.S.-ROK [Republic of Korea] Alliance," said 20th CBRNE Commanding General Brig. Gen. JB Burton, who served as the deputy commanding general for maneuver of the 2nd Infantry Division before assuming command of 20th CBRNE in May 2013.

Burton said the 20th CBRNE Command has built a strong and enduring relationship with the Republic of Korea Army Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defense Command.

In addition to participating in annual exercises in Korea, the 20th CBRNE Command also trained with South Korean forces during Exercise Atropian Phoenix 2014 at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, California.

"It is always great to train with our South Korean allies and our fellow American Soldiers in Korea," said Burton, a native of Tullahoma, Tennessee. "For more than 64 years, the U.S. Army has demonstrated our nation's enduring commitment to defending liberty on Freedom's Frontier."