YONGSAN GARRISON, SEOUL, Republic of Korea – United States rotational Special Operations Forces (SOF) recently arrived to the Republic of Korea to train with ROK Special Warfare Command and increase Alliance special operations readiness and capability on the peninsula.

Elements from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the 75th Ranger Regiment comprise part of the ground special operations component of rotational SOF commanded by SOCKOR. Throughout 2015, U.S. air, maritime and ground SOF conducted combined training and complex joint training events with their ROK special operations partners in the rugged terrain and off the waters of the Korean peninsula.

Sustaining rotational U.S. special operations forces in Korea strengthens the Alliance by ensuring a high level of ready, flexible, and agile combined special operation forces and enables the Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea to leverage SOF capability to deter regional asymmetric aggression, and maintain peace for the Korean people.

SOCKOR is an operationally focused headquarters of United States Forces Korea (USFK) committed to the ROK-U.S. Alliance. SOCKOR, in coordination with U.S. Special Operations Command, conducts rotational SOF partner engagements and comprehensive combined/joint training with elements of the ROK special operations units. These sustained engagements enhance U.S.-ROK SOF partnerships and increase readiness and capability on the Korean Peninsula, while providing strategic options to Alliance leaders which ensure regional stability.