Key Resolve/Foal Eagle - 2015

Key Resolve, which began 02 March 2015, is an annual exercise that ensures the ROK-U.S. Alliance is prepared to defend the ROK, while training Alliance forces to respond to any potential event on the peninsula.

The Republic of Korea and Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force participated in Key Resolve 2015. Key Resolve will culminate for the Marines of both countries with the Combined Marine Component Command, Command Post Exercise (CMCC-CPX) 17-22 March 2015.

“Key Resolve strengthens the ROK-U.S. alliance and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to interoperability and the alliance,” said Lt. Gen. John Wissler, commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “This exercise provides an ideal opportunity to maintain high levels of interoperability by training alongside our ROK and United Nations Sending State partners. Exercises like Key Resolve maintain our combined ROK-US readiness and hone our ability to work closely with our allies and partners on any contingency in the region.”

The final event, CMCC CPX, offered U.S. and ROK Marines the opportunity to train together, strengthening relationships and refining interoperability. According to Wissler, “The command post exercise in Korea provides III MEF Marines and our ROK Marine partners a realistic opportunity to test the necessary command and control for employment of our combined Marine force.” He added that “working shoulder to shoulder with our ROK Marine brothers and sisters we gain crucial knowledge and experience that enhances our ability to fight as a seamless and cohesive team.”

Soldiers from 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives, or CBRNE, Command returned home following Exercise Key Resolve in South Korea, March 13. The 20th CBRNE Command participated in the two-week exercise that keeps U.S. and South Korean forces ready to deter aggression on the Korean Peninsula and maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Soldiers and civilians from 20th CBRNE train to counter the full range of CBRNE threats from improvised explosive devices to weapons of mass destruction. The only command of its kind in the Department of Defense, 20th CBRNE trains with joint, interagency and allied partners around the world.

The Combined Forces Command announced today that it has successfully completed its combined command defense exercise Key Resolve.

"Key Resolve is a critical exercise each year. It gives us the ability to train and rehearse with our Republic of Korea partners and United Nations Sending State Partners. It is important to maintain our high levels of proficiency on key tasks in different scenarios,” said Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea. “Training our Alliance forces is an important component to our readiness and is crucial to sustaining and strengthening the Alliance.”

This year’s training event involved computer simulations hosted at various sites across the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Key Resolve allowed senior leaders to exercise their decision-making capabilities and trained commanders from both nations in combined planning, military intelligence, logistics and command and control operations.

Service members and civilians from the Republic of Korea and augmentees United States took part in the exercise. Participants came from the Korean peninsula, the U.S., and around the globe. Five United Nations Command sending states also participated in the exercise: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, and Great Britain. Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission observers monitored the exercise to ensure it was is in compliance with the Armistice Agreement.

The United Nations Command informed the Korean People's Army in North Korea through their Panmunjom mission about Key Resolve dates and the non-provocative nature of this training.