Foal Eagle
Encyclopedia
Foal Eagle is an annual combined Field Training Exercise (FTX) conducted between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and United States
armed forces under the auspices of Combined Forces Command (CFC)
within the Korean Theater of Operations (KTO). It is one of the largest military exercises conducted annually in the world. While defensive in nature and conducted primarily as a rear area security and stability training exercise, Foal Eagle has been as source of friction with the government of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
and domestic ROK critics.
United Nations Command informs the Korean People's Army
in North Korea
that the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States would be conducting the routine defensive exercise. The United Nations Command also reassured the Korean People's Army at general officer-level talks that these exercises, conducted annually in or around March, are purely defensive in nature and have no connection to ongoing or current events. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission
monitors the exercise to ensure that there are no violations of the Korean Armistice Agreement.
Since 2001, Foal Eagle combined with the annual ROK-US Reception, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration (RSOI) combined exercises, with RSOI being re-named Key Resolve
in 2008.
Foal Eagle 1997 took place between 17 October and 6 November 1997, and it included a non-combatant evacuation operation; reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOI) maneuvers; combat operations; and anti-infiltration activities. One significant feature of FE 97 was the deployment of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter with the carrier strike group
led by the carrier . Hamilton also participated in a combined Navy-Coast Guard force to provide defense ring around the harbor of Pusan.
Foal Eagle 1998 (FE 98)
Foal Eagle 1998 was notable for a number of accomplishments. It marked the use of the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES)
by all exercise participants, allowing forces to engage in realistic battle conditions without the loss of personnel or equipment. FE 98 marked the first time that the U.S. Navy established anti-submarine operations centers off both coasts of Korea with the U.S. Seventh Fleet's battle force, Task Force 70, in tactical command of ROK and American submarines. Foal Eagle 1998 also featured an amphibious assault involving seven battalions of ROK and U.S. forces.
Foal Eagle 1999 (FE 99)
Foal Eagle 1999 took place between 26 October and 5 November 1999, and that year's exercise scenario involved defending against infiltration by North Korean special operation forces into the rear area. Most training sites were located well south of Seoul
, with training events included firing blank ammunition and night operations.
Foal Eagle 2000 (FE 00)
Foal Eagle 2000 took place between 25 October and 2 November 2000, it included 30,000 U.S. and over 500,000 ROK military personnel involved in air and ground operations, as well as maritime operation in defense of Pusan. FE 00 also included a non-combatant evacuation exercise codenamed Courageous Channel.
Combined Forces Command (CFC) announced that Foal Eagle 2001 was postponed, and starting in 2002, its annual Foal Eagle exercise would be combined with its Reception, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration (RSOI) combined ROK-U.S. exercise. It was also announced that the new exercise would be scheduled for one to two weeks in Spring 2002, and the exercise would take place annually thereafter. ROK military did execute an anti-terrorism exercise in 2001.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2002 (RSOI/FE 02)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2002 took place between 21–27 March 2002, and it featured amphibious warfare training between the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group
which included landing at Tok Sok Ri beach.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003 (RSOI/FE 03)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003 took place between 3 March and 2 April 2003 amid rising tensions between the United States and North Korea who threatened to withdraw from the Korean War Armistice. Prior to the start of RSOI/FE 03, a U.S. Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft was shadowed by four North Korean aircraft. The 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment
was deployed from Fort Riley, Kansas
, to participate in Foal RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2004 (RSOI/FE 04)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003 took place between 21–28 March 2004, it featured amphibious warfare training exercises between the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group
which were supported by P-3 Orion
maritime patrol aircraft from Patrol Squadron One (VP-1).
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2005 (RSOI/FE 05)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2004 demonstrated the role of air power in theater-wide military operations as ROK Air Force
worked closely with U.S. Marine Corps' Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 (MWSS 171)
and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122)
from Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12)
, as well as Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2)
from the U.S. Navy's Carrier Strike Group Nine led by the carrier
.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2006 (RSOI/FE 06)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2006 took place between 26–31 March 2006, and is designed to improve the commands' abilities to defend the ROK and includes a full range of equipment, capabilities and personnel. This year’s exercise marked the 45th Foal Eagle exercise and the fifth time it’s been combined with RSOI. This exercise featured close-air support for ground units, air-to-air defense exercises, maritime interoperability training, and expeditionary operations involving Carrier Strike Group Nine, with the carrier serving as the exercise's maritime command-and-control node. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
and Essex Amphibious Ready Group
participated in assault climbing, live-fire ranges, urban combat training, community outreach efforts, and a combined amphibious landing with 3rd Regimental Landing Team, 1st ROK Marine Division
and the ROK Navy's Amphibious Squadron 53 (pictured). In addition to the rehearsed scenarios throughout RSOI/FE 06, the salvage ships and ROKS Pyeongtaek (ATS-27)
conducted a real-world salvage operation for a U.S. Air Force F-16C fighter aircraft that crashed off South Korea’s coast on 14 March 2006 as part in the 21st combined diving and salvage exercise (SALVEX 06).
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007 (RSOI/FE 07)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2006 took place between 25–31 March 2007, with its initial focused on initial operational flow of deployed forces to Korean theater of operations (KTO). This RSOI phase incorporated receiving military units in Korea (reception); connecting units with their equipment once in country (staging); moving them into their respective strategic position within the peninsula (onward movement) and integrating newly arrived forces with the forces that are already here (integration). The Foal Eagle phase included amphibious landing involving over 3,000 U.S. Marines and Sailors as well as 1,400 ROK Marines.
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008 included the participation with U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group Eleven
, led by the carrier , and marked the first time that the RSOI phase would be known by its new resignation of Key Resolve. Key Resolve was now primarily a command-post exercise with computer-based simulations that focused on deploying troops and equipment to Korea in the event of an attack while Foal Eagle continued to be a series of field exercises. Both exercises have U.S. troops training with South Korean military personnel.
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009 (KR/FE 09)
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009 began on 28 February 2009. Key Resolve/Foal Eagle was held in the aftermath of the sinking
of the ROK
corvette Cheonan
and the shelling
of Yeonpyeong Island by North Korea
.
Approximately 12,800 U.S. and 200,000 South Korean troops participated in the exercise. Key Resolve was the computer-based simulation portion of the combined exercise, while Foal Eagle was the peninsula-wide training portion of the exercise. Key Resolve was scheduled to end March 10, and Foal Eagle on April 30. The major U.S. naval formation that participated in Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009 was Carrier Strike Group Three
(pictured}.
During the exercise, the aircraft carrier was overflown by two Russian Ilyushin Il-38
maritime patrol aircraft on 16 March and two Tupolev Tu-95
long-range bombers on 17 March. In both incidents, the intruders were intercepted and escorted by F/A-18 Hornets until the Russian aircraft left the exercise area.
Task Force Hawkins, an Army battalion, deployed from the United States, drawing equipment from Army Preposition Stock-4 at Camp Carol, Korea. The task force conducted live-fire exercises at Rodriguez Range. The task force also appears to have been designated TF HAwkins II, and included soldiers from 1-64 Armor and 2-5 FA. Special Operations Command Korea
conducted airborne jumps with a helium blimp and gondola at the ROK Drop Zone prior to the official start of RSOI/FE 09.
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010 (KR/FE 10)
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010 took place between 8–18 March 2010, which included U.S. Seventh Air Force
and Marine Aircraft Group 12
participating in the Key Resolve phase of computer simulated exercise scenarios as well as physical military exercises during the Foal Eagle phase. The Combined Battle Simulation Center, collocated with the U.S.-Korea Battle Simulation Center, served as the exercise hub. The operational force was based at another simulation facility, the Warrior Training Center at Camp Casey, South Korea
. Other simulation organizations included the Korea Air Simulation Center on Osan Air Base
, South Korea’s Army Battle Command Training Program in Daejeon, and the III Marine Expeditionary Force’s
Tactical Exercise Control Group, based at Camp Courtney
in Okinawa, Japan.
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2011 (KR/FE 11)
The annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise started 28 February 2011, and employed almost 13,000 US troops and more than 200,000 South Korean troops, as well as a U.S. Navy carrier strike group
led by the . Key Resolve involved computer-based military simulations that ran from 10 March 10, while Foal Eagle field training programs were completed by 31 March 2011.
Like earlier Team Spirit
exercises, Foal Eagle exercises have been a source of controversy with the government of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
and domestic ROK critics. In response to the start of Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008, DPRK Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement via the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
that read in part:
Also, for Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010, KCNA quoted North Korea's military high command warning about the upcoming ROK-U.S. joint exercise as follows:
For RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007, ROK domestic protesters stuck stickers on U.S. Marine vehicles as they landed on the Malipo Beach, a public beach. In response, for RSOI/Foal Eagle 2008, almost 800 South Korean combat police guarded Malipo Beach. Also, between 40 and 80 protesters demonstrated on a sidewalk overlooking Malipo Beach. During Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010, U.S. Forces Korea advised U.S. military personnel and dependents about announced protests by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
and a group known as Pyong Tong San around the Korean War Memorial.
Held in the aftermath of the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan
and the live-fire shelling
of Yeonpyeong Island during 2010 as well as the breakdown of bilateral military talks on February 11, 2011, RSOI/Foal Eagle 2011 was held during a period of heightened tension on the Korean peninsula. On February 28, 2011, a North Korean military's statement threatened a "merciless counteraction as engulfing Seoul in sea of flames" while the Korean Central News Agency
urged "direct fire at sources of the anti-DPRK
psychological warfare to destroy them on the principle of self-defense." Also, on February 28, 2011, 30 South Korean activists demonstrated outside one of the military exercise control centers at Seongnam
while issuing a press statement that "strongly urge South Korea and the U.S. to stop fooling Koreans and the world and to stop the exercise which aims to invade North Korea and to overturn the regime."
United States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea refers to the ground, air and naval divisions of the United States armed forces stationed in South Korea....
armed forces under the auspices of Combined Forces Command (CFC)
United Nations Command (Korea)
The United Nations Command is the unified command structure for the multinational military forces supporting the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War...
within the Korean Theater of Operations (KTO). It is one of the largest military exercises conducted annually in the world. While defensive in nature and conducted primarily as a rear area security and stability training exercise, Foal Eagle has been as source of friction with the government of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and domestic ROK critics.
Overview
The primary purpose of Foal Eagle is to demonstrate ROK-US military resolve to deter war on the Korean peninsula and to improve the combined and joint operational posture of those forces. Foal Eagle is a purely defensive exercise which tests the capability of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to defend itself, assisted by U.S. armed forces, and it is also primarily a rear area security and stability operations, onward movement of critical assets to the forward area, special operations, ground maneuver, amphibious operations, combat air operations, maritime action group operations and counter special operations forces exercises (CSOFEX).United Nations Command informs the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
that the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States would be conducting the routine defensive exercise. The United Nations Command also reassured the Korean People's Army at general officer-level talks that these exercises, conducted annually in or around March, are purely defensive in nature and have no connection to ongoing or current events. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission
Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission
The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission was established by the Korean Armistice Agreement signed July 27, 1953, ending the Korean War...
monitors the exercise to ensure that there are no violations of the Korean Armistice Agreement.
Since 2001, Foal Eagle combined with the annual ROK-US Reception, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration (RSOI) combined exercises, with RSOI being re-named Key Resolve
Key Resolve
Key Resolve is the new name for the military exercise previously known as RSOI, which stands for Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, Integration...
in 2008.
Foal Eagle series
Foal Eagle 1997 (FE 97)Foal Eagle 1997 took place between 17 October and 6 November 1997, and it included a non-combatant evacuation operation; reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOI) maneuvers; combat operations; and anti-infiltration activities. One significant feature of FE 97 was the deployment of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter with the carrier strike group
Carrier Strike Group
A carrier strike group is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates, and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft...
led by the carrier . Hamilton also participated in a combined Navy-Coast Guard force to provide defense ring around the harbor of Pusan.
Foal Eagle 1998 (FE 98)
Foal Eagle 1998 was notable for a number of accomplishments. It marked the use of the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES)
Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System
The Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System or MILES is used by the US military and other armed forces around the world for training purposes. It uses lasers and blank cartridges to simulate actual battle....
by all exercise participants, allowing forces to engage in realistic battle conditions without the loss of personnel or equipment. FE 98 marked the first time that the U.S. Navy established anti-submarine operations centers off both coasts of Korea with the U.S. Seventh Fleet's battle force, Task Force 70, in tactical command of ROK and American submarines. Foal Eagle 1998 also featured an amphibious assault involving seven battalions of ROK and U.S. forces.
Foal Eagle 1999 (FE 99)
Foal Eagle 1999 took place between 26 October and 5 November 1999, and that year's exercise scenario involved defending against infiltration by North Korean special operation forces into the rear area. Most training sites were located well south of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, with training events included firing blank ammunition and night operations.
Foal Eagle 2000 (FE 00)
Foal Eagle 2000 took place between 25 October and 2 November 2000, it included 30,000 U.S. and over 500,000 ROK military personnel involved in air and ground operations, as well as maritime operation in defense of Pusan. FE 00 also included a non-combatant evacuation exercise codenamed Courageous Channel.
RSOI/Foal Eagle series
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2001 (RSOI/FE 01)Combined Forces Command (CFC) announced that Foal Eagle 2001 was postponed, and starting in 2002, its annual Foal Eagle exercise would be combined with its Reception, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration (RSOI) combined ROK-U.S. exercise. It was also announced that the new exercise would be scheduled for one to two weeks in Spring 2002, and the exercise would take place annually thereafter. ROK military did execute an anti-terrorism exercise in 2001.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2002 (RSOI/FE 02)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2002 took place between 21–27 March 2002, and it featured amphibious warfare training between the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
Republic of Korea Marine Corps
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Republic of Korea...
and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group
Task Force 76
Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN/Task Force 76 is a United States Navy task force. It is at one and the same time operationally a Task Force of the United States Seventh Fleet and administratively, the USN's only permanently forward-deployed Expeditionary Strike Group...
which included landing at Tok Sok Ri beach.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003 (RSOI/FE 03)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003 took place between 3 March and 2 April 2003 amid rising tensions between the United States and North Korea who threatened to withdraw from the Korean War Armistice. Prior to the start of RSOI/FE 03, a U.S. Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft was shadowed by four North Korean aircraft. The 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment
34th Armor Regiment (United States)
The 34th Armor Regiment is an armored regiment of the United States Army formed in 1941.-Lineage:Constituted 28 August 1941 in the Regular Army as the 34th Armored Regiment and assigned to the 5th Armored Division...
was deployed from Fort Riley, Kansas
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, to participate in Foal RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2004 (RSOI/FE 04)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003 took place between 21–28 March 2004, it featured amphibious warfare training exercises between the Republic of Korea Marine Corps
Republic of Korea Marine Corps
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Republic of Korea...
and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group
Task Force 76
Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN/Task Force 76 is a United States Navy task force. It is at one and the same time operationally a Task Force of the United States Seventh Fleet and administratively, the USN's only permanently forward-deployed Expeditionary Strike Group...
which were supported by P-3 Orion
P-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
maritime patrol aircraft from Patrol Squadron One (VP-1).
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2005 (RSOI/FE 05)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2004 demonstrated the role of air power in theater-wide military operations as ROK Air Force
Republic of Korea Air Force
The Republic of Korea Air Force is the air force of South Korea...
worked closely with U.S. Marine Corps' Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 (MWSS 171)
Marine Wing Support Squadron 171
Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as "America's Squadron", they are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan...
and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122)
VMFA-122
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron, known as the "Werewolves", are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . Their...
from Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12)
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12 is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at MCAS Iwakuni in Japan.-Mission:The...
, as well as Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2)
Carrier Air Wing Two
Carrier Air Wing Two is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln .-Mission:...
from the U.S. Navy's Carrier Strike Group Nine led by the carrier
Supercarrier
Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial...
.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2006 (RSOI/FE 06)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2006 took place between 26–31 March 2006, and is designed to improve the commands' abilities to defend the ROK and includes a full range of equipment, capabilities and personnel. This year’s exercise marked the 45th Foal Eagle exercise and the fifth time it’s been combined with RSOI. This exercise featured close-air support for ground units, air-to-air defense exercises, maritime interoperability training, and expeditionary operations involving Carrier Strike Group Nine, with the carrier serving as the exercise's maritime command-and-control node. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
and Essex Amphibious Ready Group
Task Force 76
Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN/Task Force 76 is a United States Navy task force. It is at one and the same time operationally a Task Force of the United States Seventh Fleet and administratively, the USN's only permanently forward-deployed Expeditionary Strike Group...
participated in assault climbing, live-fire ranges, urban combat training, community outreach efforts, and a combined amphibious landing with 3rd Regimental Landing Team, 1st ROK Marine Division
Republic of Korea Marine Corps
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Republic of Korea...
and the ROK Navy's Amphibious Squadron 53 (pictured). In addition to the rehearsed scenarios throughout RSOI/FE 06, the salvage ships and ROKS Pyeongtaek (ATS-27)
USS Beaufort (ATS-2)
USS Beaufort was an Edenton-class salvage and rescue ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1972 and maintained in service until struck in 1996...
conducted a real-world salvage operation for a U.S. Air Force F-16C fighter aircraft that crashed off South Korea’s coast on 14 March 2006 as part in the 21st combined diving and salvage exercise (SALVEX 06).
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007 (RSOI/FE 07)
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2006 took place between 25–31 March 2007, with its initial focused on initial operational flow of deployed forces to Korean theater of operations (KTO). This RSOI phase incorporated receiving military units in Korea (reception); connecting units with their equipment once in country (staging); moving them into their respective strategic position within the peninsula (onward movement) and integrating newly arrived forces with the forces that are already here (integration). The Foal Eagle phase included amphibious landing involving over 3,000 U.S. Marines and Sailors as well as 1,400 ROK Marines.
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle series
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008 (KR/FE 08)Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008 included the participation with U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group Eleven
Carrier Strike Group Eleven
Carrier Strike Group Eleven, abbreviated CSG-11 or CARSTRKGRU 11, is one of six U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. U.S...
, led by the carrier , and marked the first time that the RSOI phase would be known by its new resignation of Key Resolve. Key Resolve was now primarily a command-post exercise with computer-based simulations that focused on deploying troops and equipment to Korea in the event of an attack while Foal Eagle continued to be a series of field exercises. Both exercises have U.S. troops training with South Korean military personnel.
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009 (KR/FE 09)
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009 began on 28 February 2009. Key Resolve/Foal Eagle was held in the aftermath of the sinking
ROKS Cheonan sinking
The ROKS Cheonan sinking occurred on 26 March 2010, when the Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 personnel, sank off the country's west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 seamen...
of the ROK
Republic of Korea Navy
The Republic of Korea Navy or the ROK Navy is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization...
corvette Cheonan
ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772)
ROKS Cheonan was a South Korean Pohang-class corvette of the Republic of Korea Navy , commissioned in 1989. On 26 March 2010, it broke in two and sank near the sea border with North Korea...
and the shelling
Bombardment of Yeonpyeong
The bombardment of Yeonpyeong was an artillery engagement between the North Korean military and South Korean forces stationed on Yeonpyeong Island on November 23, 2010. Following a South Korean regular artillery exercise at waters in the south, North Korean forces fired around 170 artillery shells...
of Yeonpyeong Island by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
.
Approximately 12,800 U.S. and 200,000 South Korean troops participated in the exercise. Key Resolve was the computer-based simulation portion of the combined exercise, while Foal Eagle was the peninsula-wide training portion of the exercise. Key Resolve was scheduled to end March 10, and Foal Eagle on April 30. The major U.S. naval formation that participated in Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009 was Carrier Strike Group Three
Carrier Strike Group Three
Carrier Strike Group Three, abbreviated CSG-3 or CARSTRKGRU 3, is one of six U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. U.S...
(pictured}.
During the exercise, the aircraft carrier was overflown by two Russian Ilyushin Il-38
Ilyushin Il-38
|-See also:-References:*Lake, Jon. "Russia's Submarine Killer: Ilyushin IL-38 May". Air International, February 2005, Vol 68 No.2. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. pp. 30–36....
maritime patrol aircraft on 16 March and two Tupolev Tu-95
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the former Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040...
long-range bombers on 17 March. In both incidents, the intruders were intercepted and escorted by F/A-18 Hornets until the Russian aircraft left the exercise area.
Task Force Hawkins, an Army battalion, deployed from the United States, drawing equipment from Army Preposition Stock-4 at Camp Carol, Korea. The task force conducted live-fire exercises at Rodriguez Range. The task force also appears to have been designated TF HAwkins II, and included soldiers from 1-64 Armor and 2-5 FA. Special Operations Command Korea
Special Operations Command Korea
Special Operations Command Korea is a United States military organization in South Korea that provides special operations forces to United States Forces Korea, the United Nations Command, and the Combined Forces Command...
conducted airborne jumps with a helium blimp and gondola at the ROK Drop Zone prior to the official start of RSOI/FE 09.
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010 (KR/FE 10)
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010 took place between 8–18 March 2010, which included U.S. Seventh Air Force
Seventh Air Force
The Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
and Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12 is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at MCAS Iwakuni in Japan.-Mission:The...
participating in the Key Resolve phase of computer simulated exercise scenarios as well as physical military exercises during the Foal Eagle phase. The Combined Battle Simulation Center, collocated with the U.S.-Korea Battle Simulation Center, served as the exercise hub. The operational force was based at another simulation facility, the Warrior Training Center at Camp Casey, South Korea
Camp Casey, South Korea
Camp Casey is an American military camp in Dongducheon , South Korea, north of Seoul, South Korea. Camp Casey was named in 1952 after Major Hugh Boyd Casey, who was killed in an airplane crash near Camp Casey during the Korean War. Camp Casey is one of several U.S. Army bases in South Korea near...
. Other simulation organizations included the Korea Air Simulation Center on Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a number of tenant...
, South Korea’s Army Battle Command Training Program in Daejeon, and the III Marine Expeditionary Force’s
III Marine Expeditionary Force
The III Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to amphibious assault and high intensity combat. III...
Tactical Exercise Control Group, based at Camp Courtney
Camp Courtney
Camp Courtney is a United States Marine Base located in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the larger Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler and home to the III Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters as well as the 3rd Marine Division Headquarters. It is named after Major...
in Okinawa, Japan.
Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2011 (KR/FE 11)
The annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise started 28 February 2011, and employed almost 13,000 US troops and more than 200,000 South Korean troops, as well as a U.S. Navy carrier strike group
Carrier Strike Group Seven
Carrier Strike Group Seven also known as CSG-7, CARSTRKGRU 7, and Ronald Reagan Strike Group, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned the United States Pacific Fleet. CSG-7 is based at Naval Air Station North Island, and typically deploys as a command element aboard an...
led by the . Key Resolve involved computer-based military simulations that ran from 10 March 10, while Foal Eagle field training programs were completed by 31 March 2011.
Controversy & criticism
Team Spirit
Team Spirit was a joint military training exercise of United States Forces Korea and the Military of South Korea held between 1976 and 1993. The exercise was scheduled from 1994 to 1996 but cancelled in each year as part of diplomacy to encourage the Government of North Korea to disable the North...
exercises, Foal Eagle exercises have been a source of controversy with the government of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and domestic ROK critics. In response to the start of Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008, DPRK Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement via the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
Korean Central News Agency
The Korean Central News Agency is the state news agency of North Korea and has existed since December 5, 1946. KCNA is headquartered in the capital city of Pyongyang...
that read in part:
- Dialogue and confrontation, peace and war can never go together. We will sternly take self-defensive steps to defend peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.
Also, for Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010, KCNA quoted North Korea's military high command warning about the upcoming ROK-U.S. joint exercise as follows:
- The units of the three services of the KPA (Korean People’s Army) should keep themselves fully ready to go into action in order to blow up the citadel of aggressors once the order is issued.
For RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007, ROK domestic protesters stuck stickers on U.S. Marine vehicles as they landed on the Malipo Beach, a public beach. In response, for RSOI/Foal Eagle 2008, almost 800 South Korean combat police guarded Malipo Beach. Also, between 40 and 80 protesters demonstrated on a sidewalk overlooking Malipo Beach. During Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010, U.S. Forces Korea advised U.S. military personnel and dependents about announced protests by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is a national trade union centre officially established in 1995. Its predecessor was the National Council of Trade Unions , established in 1990 as an independent alternative to the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. With 682,418 members in 2007, the KCTU...
and a group known as Pyong Tong San around the Korean War Memorial.
Held in the aftermath of the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan
ROKS Cheonan sinking
The ROKS Cheonan sinking occurred on 26 March 2010, when the Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 personnel, sank off the country's west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 seamen...
and the live-fire shelling
Bombardment of Yeonpyeong
The bombardment of Yeonpyeong was an artillery engagement between the North Korean military and South Korean forces stationed on Yeonpyeong Island on November 23, 2010. Following a South Korean regular artillery exercise at waters in the south, North Korean forces fired around 170 artillery shells...
of Yeonpyeong Island during 2010 as well as the breakdown of bilateral military talks on February 11, 2011, RSOI/Foal Eagle 2011 was held during a period of heightened tension on the Korean peninsula. On February 28, 2011, a North Korean military's statement threatened a "merciless counteraction as engulfing Seoul in sea of flames" while the Korean Central News Agency
Korean Central News Agency
The Korean Central News Agency is the state news agency of North Korea and has existed since December 5, 1946. KCNA is headquartered in the capital city of Pyongyang...
urged "direct fire at sources of the anti-DPRK
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
psychological warfare to destroy them on the principle of self-defense." Also, on February 28, 2011, 30 South Korean activists demonstrated outside one of the military exercise control centers at Seongnam
Seongnam
Seongnam is the second largest city in South Korea's Gyeonggi province after Suwon and the 9th largest city in the country, with a population of nearly 1 million...
while issuing a press statement that "strongly urge South Korea and the U.S. to stop fooling Koreans and the world and to stop the exercise which aims to invade North Korea and to overturn the regime."
See also
- Team SpiritTeam SpiritTeam Spirit was a joint military training exercise of United States Forces Korea and the Military of South Korea held between 1976 and 1993. The exercise was scheduled from 1994 to 1996 but cancelled in each year as part of diplomacy to encourage the Government of North Korea to disable the North...
- Ulchi-Freedom GuardianUlchi-Freedom GuardianUlchi-Freedom Guardian is the new name of the military exercise previously known as Ulchi-Focus Lens, a combined military exercise between South Korea and the United States. The exercise is the world's largest computerized command and control implementation which mainly focuses on defending South...
External links
- Foal Eagle – GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...