CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea –
Following completion of their mandatory service obligation, Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army soldiers, more commonly called KATUSAs, are required to conduct training to refresh their military skills ever so often. The KATUSAs are Republic of Korea Army Soldiers selected to work side-by-side with U.S. Army Soldiers, which puts a face on the ironclad ROK-US Alliance.
Usually, the yearly training is conducted at Taehaengsan Dongwon Training Center, a South Korean military mobilization training center, but this mobilization training was different. For the first time, the training was held at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, according to the Republic of Korea Army.
With coordination between Eighth Army's ROK Army Support Group, Camp Humphreys and the ROK Army, about 700 KATUSA reserve soldiers descended on the post Oct. 24 for a three-day mobilization training event.
"After consultation with the U.S. Eighth Army, the reservist KATUSA soldiers will be held at Humphreys Training Center so that they can concentrate on actual wartime training," said Col. Ku Seok Mo. "We hope that this training will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the cooperation system and alliance between the two countries, especially as it is the first reservist training held at a U.S. military base."
The KATUSAs trained on individual weapons, first aid, and dealing with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environments, among other requirements.
Camp Humphreys is noted as the largest U.S. military installation outside of the United States and provided excellent facilities to house the reservists and ample training equipment and space.
The ROK Army said it will analyze this first-of-its-kind training and determine whether to continue implementation in the future with further coordination with Eighth Army.