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RODRIGUEZ LIVE FIRE COMPLEX, South Korea – The thumping in the
air grows louder as the small dots in the sky begin to take form. As
the aircraft approach the mountainous terrain ahead, the roar of
their engines reminds anyone in their way to seek cover. Suddenly,
the radio crackles as the pilot says, “On target!” Without
hesitation the observer responds, “Cleared hot!” The scream of the
rockets shatter the early morning silence as missile after missile
rips through the lingering haze, only to impact on the mountainside
moments later.
Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines coordinated
a constant flow of live-fire attacks on the high-explosives impact
zone at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex Oct. 8, 2014 during Korean
Marine Exchange Program 14-13.
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U.S. Marines watch the sky for aircraft Oct. 8,
2014 at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex during Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13. KMEP 14-13 is one iteration in a series of continuous combined-training exercises designed to enhance the Republic of Korea and U.S. alliance, promote stability on the Korean Peninsula and strengthen ROK-U.S. military capabilities and interoperability. The U.S. Marines are with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen D. Himes)
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“Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company is here to partner
with the ROK Marine Corps,” said U.S Marine Capt. Joseph
Mozzi, a supporting arms liaison team leader with 5th
ANGLICO, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group,
III MEF. “With operations the Marine Corps conducts, it
needs to have an ability to extend its combat power when
working with non-U.S. forces and non-U.S. Marine Corps
forces.”
Often times, ANGLICO units will be
completely separated from U.S. Marine units in real-world
operations, according to Mozzi, from Dalton, Massachusetts.
Training with the ROK Marines has allowed the U.S. service
members to learn how their counterparts employ close air
support and indirect fire. It has also allowed each unit to
learn how to work together through the language barrier and
the difference in tactics, techniques and procedures.
“Working with the U.S. Marines from 5th ANGLICO, we are
learning how to coordinate together to improve the use of
our air assets,” said ROK Marine 1st Lt. Kim Young-Jin,
commanding officer of Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th
Brigade, 2nd ROK Marine Division.
The Marines
observed the target from an outpost overlooking the
simulated battlefield as rounds came in from different
locations and in different forms. Artillery and mortars
provided the initial indirect fire barrage while an
assortment of rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft completed
direct live-fire close air support attacks.
This
training is critical to battlefield success, providing
accurate and timely ordnance on specific targets can be the
difference between life and death for friendly ground units
in the area.
Combat proficiency is invariably
increased when controlling aircraft in coordination with
ground based units and foreign militaries, according to
Mozzi. The more repetitions the Marines get with talking to
a live pilot, the better they become at guiding the aircraft
to engage the target.
With recent conflicts relying
on more joint-allied and coalition-based operations,
training with partner nations establishes good relationships
and educates both countries on how to provide appropriate
support faster.
“Since we work more with other
branches and nations, training with the ROK observers is
exponentially beneficial,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. Viktor
Cadiente, a joint fires observer with 5th ANGLICO. “Talking
to their artillery batteries and mortar teams, as well as
having their observers talk to American pilots, lets both of
our nations improve our communication skills and teamwork.”
Arranging all of the assets to arrive at the proper time
is a very precise technique, according to Cadiente, from
Honolulu, Hawaii. There are multiple people talking on
multiple channels with two different languages. This is the
kind of training that has become more and more necessary
over the past decade.
Getting face time with the ROK
Marines and training alongside them is our biggest goal,
according to Mozzi. The training is important, but building
a better relationship is vital and the key to future
success.
“This is my first time working with U.S.
Marines,” said Young-Jin. “I want to have a successful
training evolution, but more than that, I want to improve
our personal relationship. It has been great working with
them, and I look forward to any future opportunities my unit
and I have to train with them.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Stephen D. Himes
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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