Combined Forces Command Announces Completion of Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2014

"This year's Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise further strengthened our combined defense and enhanced the readiness of Republic of Korea and United States Combined Forces and the United Nations sending states," said Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Combined Forces commander. "The exercise was based on realistic scenarios that enabled valuable training on our essential tasks and ensured we are fully prepared to defend the Republic of Korea should the need arise.”

This year’s training event involved computer simulations hosted at various sites across the Republic of Korea and the U.S. UFG allowed senior leaders to exercise their decision-making capabilities and trained commanders and staffs in combined planning, military intelligence, logistics and command and control operations. UFG also allowed the ROK and U.S. to evaluate and improve joint air coordination procedures, plans and systems including Combined Space Operations.

Service members and civilians from the Republic of Korea and the United States took part in the exercise. Participants came from the Korean peninsula, the U.S., and elsewhere in the Pacific region. Ten United Nations Command sending states also participated in the exercise: Australia, Canada, Columbia, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Norway. Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission observers monitored the exercise to ensure it was is in compliance with the Armistice Agreement.

Training exercises like Ulchi Freedom Guardian are carried out in the spirit of the Oct. 1, 1953, ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty and in accordance with the armistice. These exercises also highlight the longstanding military partnership, commitment and enduring friendship between the two nations, help to ensure stability and security on the peninsula, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to the Northeast Asia region.