October 2012 � ARMY 95

The 2012 U.S. defense strategy reaffirmed the na-tion’s commitment to Asia and the Pacific. Thisreaffirmation was welcomed by the more than28,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and De-partment of Defense civilians serving in Korea.

Every day, the warriors serving in the United NationsCommand, Combined Forces Command and U.S.Forces Korea maintain readiness to deter aggression,to defend the Republic of Korea (ROK) and to con-tribute to the stability of the region.The U.S.-ROK alliance maintains peace and stabil-

ity in the strategic terrainof Northeast Asia, a re-gion of global impor-tance. This region gener-ates more than onetrillion dollars a year inglobal trade. U.S. tradewith the region amountsto more than $750 billiona year, with an additional

By GEN James D. ThurmanCommander, U.N. Command,Combined Forces Command

andU.S. Forces Korea

U.S. Forces Korea

The Pacific Focus of the NationalSecurity Strategy in Action

$250 billion in direct U.S. economic in-vestment. In addition to economicpower, the countries of this regionpossess significant military capabili-ties with some of the largest militariesin the world calling the region home.Some of these countries possess nu-clear capabilities.In stark contrast, North Korea is an exception to the suc-

cess of the other nations in this region. North Korea is eco-nomically backwards and operates in an unpredictable man-

ner outside accepted internationalnorms. The recent leadership transitionand the failed long-range missile testraised uncertainty on the peninsula.North Korea does maintain a large mil-itary capability, however, like other na-tions in the region. In addition to hav-ing ample conventional capabilities, itcontinues to pursue asymmetric capabil-ities in the areas of ballistic missile devel-opment, cyber warfare and weapons ofmass destruction, including a nuclearweapons program. The regime’s unpre-dictable nature coupled with its signifi-cant military capabilities make NorthKorea a dangerous threat, which thiscommand closely monitors.The U.S.-ROK alliance and the mem-

bers of United Nations Command

stand ready to face any challenges presented by North Ko-rea. Born of blood and shared sacrifice on the battlefields ofthe Korean War, the U.S.-ROK alliance has successfully de-terred aggression and become the strongest alliance in theworld. The enduring U.S. military presence in the Republicof Korea deters aggression, demonstrates our commitmentto a stalwart ally and enables regional stability.The forward-stationed U.S. military and the 16 sending-

state members of the United Nations Command maintainthe armistice and assist in providing stability. The partici-pation of the sending states in the Republic of Korea andtheir investigation of alleged armistice violations demon-strate the commitment of the international community topeace and stability on the Korean peninsula. Their commit-ment also enables regional and global prosperity.The Republic of Korea demonstrates the prosperity and

political growth that U.S. and U.N. sending-state presencehas enabled. The republic is a free and open democracy

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GEN James D. Thurman is commander,U.N. Command, Combined Forces Com-mand and U.S. Forces Korea. Previouslyhe served as commander of U.S. ArmyForces Command. Other assignments in-clude commanding general, U.S. Army VCorps; commander, 4th Infantry Division(Mechanized), Fort Hood, Texas; and com-mander, Multi-National Division-Bagh-

dad, Iraq, 2006. He also served in Operations Desert Shield/Storm, 1990–91; Kosovo, 1999–2000; and the invasion of Iraq,2002–03. GEN Thurman has a master’s degree in managementfrom Webster University.

Above, delegates to the Korean Wararmistice negotiations in July 1951

included then-Maj. Gen. Paik Sun-yup(third from left) of the Republic of

Korea (ROK) Army, and GEN MatthewB. Ridgeway (center), commander ofU.N. Command. Right, GEN James D.Thurman and retired Gen. Paik Sun-yup discuss the Korean War in 2011.

U.S. N

avy

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and the 13th largest economy in the world. It is a signifi-cant U.S. trading partner, with whom we recently ratified afree trade agreement. The ROK military is a professional,modern, well-trained and well-led force that has grownover the years from one focused solely on the security chal-lenges on the Korean peninsula to meeting the challengesthat we all face around the world, from the Horn of Africato Afghanistan to U.N. peacekeeping operations in Haitiand the Middle East.The United Nations Command, Combined Forces Com-

mand and U.S. Forces Korea mission is critical to the con-tinued stability in Northeast Asia. This stability enabledmany countries in the region, including the Republic ofKorea, to grow and develop into constructive members ofthe global economic, political and security community. Myfour command priorities—Deter and Defend, Sustain andStrengthen the Alliance, Transform and operational control(OPCON) Transition, and Teamwork and Katchi Kapshida—direct this command in the accomplishment of its mission.

Deter and DefendOur ability to deter aggression and defend the Republic

of Korea depends on maintaining the very best readiness.Our servicemembers in Korea execute tough, realistictraining across the entire spectrum of operations, which re-quires well-equipped and well-manned formations. Thecommand possesses state-of-the-art simulation facilitiesthat enable our warriors to train on tasks from individualto high-level unit collective training. Our servicemembersalso enjoy high-quality, live-fire ranges and training areasthat enable them to train their wartime tasks in a variety ofterrain and environments. The Army has equipped our sol-

diers with the most modern equipment in the inventory.This past fiscal year, the 2nd Infantry Division completedits transition from UH-60A to UH-60L Black Hawk heli-copters and fielded the M1A2 Abrams System Enhance-ment Package and M2A3/M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehi-cles. Recent Army manning decisions regarding the 2ndInfantry Division and 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigadefurther increase our readiness. Our soldiers, sailors, airmenand marines are ready to fight tonight.

Sustain and Strengthen the AllianceUnited Nations Command, Combined Forces Command

and U.S. Forces Korea, along with ROK and multinationalforces, execute two major theater-combined exercises everyyear: Key Resolve and Ulchi Freedom Guardian. In addi-tion, subordinate units execute combined training at alllevels from platoon to battalion with their ROK partners.These exercises increase our interoperability and continueto build the mutual trust that makes our alliance thestrongest in the world. They also provide the opportunityto validate the alliance’s war plans and identify areas forfurther refinement. Furthermore, the command utilizes ourexercise program to further develop whole-of-governmentapproaches to meeting current and future security chal-lenges. Leaders at all levels conduct frequent engagementswith their ROK counterparts. The long history and greatstrength of this alliance enable U.S. and ROK leaders tohave open, frank discussions about issues pertaining toour respective nations and the alliance. These leader ac-tions coupled with our robust exercise program providethe opportunity for our alliance to continue being best pre-pared to meet the security challenges of the future.

A combined team ofROK and U.S. Armysoldiers and Korean

Augmentees to the U.S.Army compete duringan event at RodriguezLive Fire Complex nearPocheon, South Korea.

October 2012 � ARMY 99

Transform and OPCON TransitionThe U.S.-ROK alliance is transform-

ing to meet the security challenges oftoday and tomorrow. An importantinitiative is assisting with ROK de-fense reform and modernization. Thisinitiative incorporates a joint focus toimproving command and control andeventually certifying the transition in2015 to an ROK-led defense. We useour exercise program to help validateour milestones and ensure that wewill have appropriate interoperabilityto execute our wartime mission.Concurrently, U.S. Forces Korea con-

tinues to transform its posture on thepeninsula. We are refining our reloca-tion initiatives: the Land PartnershipPlan, which relocates the 2nd InfantryDivision from north of Seoul to a consolidated footprint atCamp Humphries, and the Yongsan Relocation Plan, whichmoves U.S. forces out of Seoul to ensure that they are opera-tionally focused. Our forces will be consolidated in two en-during base clusters around Daegu and Pyeongtaek. Ourwarriors will live in modern facilities similar to what theyenjoy at continental United States installations, improvingtheir quality of life. Furthermore, these initiatives provideour units with modern command and maintenance facilitiesthat better enable them to accomplish their wartime mis-sion. This will enhance our flexibility and better position ourforces to meet future security challenges. Our force posturetransformation also enables U.S. Forces Korea to better sup-port the combatant commander throughout the U.S. PacificCommand area of responsibility.

Teamwork and Katchi KapshidaKatchi Kapshida, our alliance motto, means “we go to-

gether.” We practice coalition operations daily and arecombined in everything we do. Coalitions succeed be-

cause of well-trained and well-disciplined forces workingtogether as a team. There is tremendous teamwork be-tween the ROK and U.S. militaries. Programs like the Ko-rean Augmentation to the U.S. Army, which dates back tothe Korean War, place more than 3,300 ROK soldiers inU.S. units and enable the outstanding soldiers from ourtwo nations to learn from one another by working side-by-side every day. Similar programs enable our service-members to learn about Korea and its people in a peer-to-peer relationship and to serve as excellent ambassadorsfor America and its citizens. Our servicemembers volun-teer to support charitable causes in their local areas, en-abling the Korean people to continue to learn about ourcountry and its people, and enabling people from bothcultures to better treat each other with dignity and re-spect. Our servicemembers are proud to serve in Korea.They strive to be the best representatives of the UnitedStates and its people on and off duty.The Republic of Korea is a great place to soldier. The

threat posed by North Korea requires United Nations Com-mand, Combined Forces Commandand U.S. Forces Korea to be welltrained, well equipped and ready. TheU.S.-ROK alliance is the strongest bi-lateral alliance in the world. Serving inKorea provides soldiers an opportu-nity to be part of this great alliance, tobe well trained on their wartime tasksacross the full spectrum of conflict,and to learn about the Korean peopleand their culture. I look forward toseeing you over here. �

Stryker vehicles are off loaded in South Korea during Exercise Foal Eagle2012. The annual field training exercise allows Eighth Army to train side-by-sidewith its ROK allies, subordinate commands and units from around the world.

As part of Foal Eagle 2012, U.S. andROK SEALs fast-rope off an MH-47Chinook helicopter and perform avisit, board, search and seizure drill.