UFG '12 exercise wraps up in South Korea

  • Published
  • By 7 AF Public Affairs
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Exercise Ulchi Freedom-Guardian one of the largest Joint Staff directed theater exercises in the world involving more than 30,000 participants from the Republic of Korea the U.S. and other nations, came to an end Aug 30 following two weeks of training around the Korean Peninsula.

The annual computer-simulated, U.S. Combined Forces Command defense-oriented exercise provides valuable training designed to evaluate and improve combined and joint coordination, procedures, plans and systems necessary for the conduct of contingency operations in defense of Republic of Korea.

"We've wrapped up another year of successful training and planning. I am proud of the hard work and effort our service members and Korean allies have put forth," said Lt. Gen. Jan-Marc Jouas, Combined Air Component Commander and 7th Air Force Commander. "The ROK-U.S. Alliance is the strongest military alliance in the world, built on a foundation of more than 60 years of service and sacrifice, and exercises like Ulchi Freedom Guardian only make this alliance stronger."

Throughout UFG, participants engaged in a simulated conflict that exercised the Alliance's abilities to handle a variety of events and actions regarding current and future threats to the region. A number of realistic scenarios extending beyond defeating a conventional military attack were implemented during the ten-day exercise.

UFG, named after Ulchi Mindeok, a Korean military leader who repelled an invasion by China's Sui dynasty in the 7th century, highlights the longstanding and enduring partnership and friendship between both nations, and their combined commitment to the defense of the ROK while ensuring peace and security in the region. The exercise is conducted at CFC and ROK military installations throughout Korea, and is connected by communications networks, extending to U.S. military headquarters around the world.