Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carolyn Hart | Staff Sgt. Jessica Belcher, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense...... read more read more
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Camp Humphreys, South Korea – Soldiers of the 8th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team “Black Jack” Brigade supported the Republic of Korea Army Reserve for Korean Augmentation to the United States Army refresher training program at the ROKA 73rd Mobilized Reserve Division Training Center 14 September.
The KATUSA program began more than 60 years ago through an informal agreement between then Republic of Korea President, Rhee Syng-man and U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur which allowed South Korean Soldiers to serve alongside U.S. Soldiers.
KATUSA Soldiers serve a 21-month active-duty service commitment, which upon completion is followed by each Soldier serving in reserve status for six years, which entails completing three days of annual military training.
“This training is essential,” said Maj. Jung Hung Han, ROK Army staff officer in charge. “The reserve components supplement the active duty and must train diligently in order to maintain readiness.”
This year, the ROK Army enlisted the help of noncommissioned officers from 2ABCT Black Jack, to assist in the three-day training, which included first aid, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense (CBRN), map reading, U.S. military terminology and U.S. military equipment.
“Continuing to build the KATUSA’s knowledge, not only technical but tactical as well, is the objective,” said Staff Sgt. Jessica Belcher, CBRN NCO with Headquarters and Headquarters Company 8th Engineer Battalion, 2ABCT. “Ensuring that our joint operations continue to run smoothly is the overall goal.”
Every Korean male must serve in the Korean military for at least 21 months, but only about 3,600 Koreans are able to serve with the U.S. Army as a KATUSA. For those that pass the application process and are accepted into the KATUSA program, they become an invaluable asset to the military.
“The KATUSA is the most important Soldier in the US Army and ROKA partnership,” said Sgt. Tiffany Payne, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 2ABCT. “They bridge the cultural and language gap between both forces and without them we would not be ready to ‘Fight Tonight’ and ensure mission success.”
After this training the KATUSA will go back to their day to day lives outside of the military, with the knowledge that if the efforts to deter aggression from North Korea are not successful, they will be called upon.
“I implore Soldiers to take advantage of this training and learn everything that they can while they’re here,” said Han. “We require 100 percent participation and motivation because if war breaks out, they will be ready and able to fight.”
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2017 06:18 |
| Story ID: | 252238 |
| Location: | CAMP HUMPHREYS, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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