CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea ¬– Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, along with leaders from the 2nd Infantry Division / ROK-U.S. Combined Division and Eighth Army, conducted a demonstration of force on force engagement training systems for members of the Republic of Korea Army on Camp Humphreys, South Korea Nov. 8.

The demonstration consisted of Soldiers of 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Rgmt., conducting a simulated security patrol followed by a battle with role-players acting as North Korean soldiers.

“The purpose of the event was to demonstrate how the U.S. trains with live, virtual, and constructive training,” said Lt. Col. Shawn Whitmore, the chief of training and exercises for Eighth Army. “The demonstration was part of a series of meetings and demonstrations to lay the groundwork for future combined training events between ROK and US forces in Korea.”

Utilizing multiple integrated laser engagement system, or MILES, the Soldiers were able to detect whether they were hit by simulated rounds through the laser-tag like system. The system uses lasers and blank rounds to simulate actual battle.

During the demonstration, the Soldiers moved tactically through the wooded area before opening fire on the enemy role players. Their blank rounds erupted from their weapons, triggering the MILES system and signaling the kills of the enemy soldiers.

At the conclusion of the MILES demonstration, ROK Army leaders were given a demonstration of the Army’s initial-homestation instrumentation training system, or I-HITS, which is used in conjunction with MILES to simulate artillery strikes, air to ground fire, tank fire and other direct and indirect fire scenarios.

Whitmore feels the event went very well. “It had the intended impact of generating discussion and finding common ground for future combined training opportunities between the U.S. and ROCK, leveraging computer simulation technology,” Whitmore said.

The U.S. Army in Korea relies heavily on their partnership with the Republic of Korea and their armed forces.

Maintaining that partnership is important so that U.S. and ROK forces can “maintain readiness for the next potential conflict,” Whitmore said. “We must maximize combined training between the U.S. and ROK military.”

At the events conclusion, ROK leaders were pleased with what they saw, inviting U.S. leaders to view the Korean combined training center in the near future.

“They’re going to be the ones fighting the war while we’re supporting them,” said Capt. Chris Sullivan, the commander of Company A, 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Rgmt. “That interoperability to be able to tie into their forces and their forces tie in with ours is imperative.”