The United States and the Republic of Korea today concluded Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield 24, building combined readiness and strengthening the combined defense posture.

Conducted from Aug. 19-29, UFS 24 reflected a range of realistic threats across all domains, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s missile capabilities, GPS jamming, and cyber-attacks, along with lessons learned from recent conflicts. By executing multi-domain operations, the exercise met its objectives.

Throughout UFS 24, ROK and U.S. forces conducted combined field training exercises that demonstrated the Alliance’s combined capabilities and enhanced interoperability across all levels of command.

This year’s exercise featured live, virtual, constructive, and field-based training, involving personnel from all military services and other federal agencies.This training enhanced the Alliance’s readiness and ability to respond to a broad range of security challenges.

On the ground, in the air, and at sea, combined training with ROK forces took place across training ranges and within combined operations centers throughout the Korean Peninsula.

Eighth Army, the ground component of U.S. Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command, fully participated with its six major subordinate commands. This included extensive combined training with the ROK Army, featuring two mobilization exercises with ROK Army reservists, field medical operations such as mass casualty treatment drills, and logistics operations conducted jointly with the ROK Army and U.S. Marine Corps.

Additionally, the exercise featured the integration of the 51st and 8th Fighter Wings, which enabled the U.S. Air Force to conduct local flying operations and agile combat employment at forward locations with ROK counterparts. U.S. Space Forces-Korea provided critical support in monitoring and defending against potential space-based threats, further ensuring the security of combined and joint operations.

Demonstrating their ability to plan and execute operations across multiple domains, joint U.S. and ROK special operations forces conducted real-world and command post-based training, maintaining their combined proficiency. Activities included combined day and night special reconnaissance, terminal guidance operations training with U.S. Marine Corps aircraft conducting simulated air strikes, and joint missions planned and executed over several days and nights in the challenging terrain of the Korean mountains.

United Nations Command supported the ROK’s Whole of Government defense efforts by coordinating contributions from UNC Member States. 

UFS 24 underscores the enduring military partnership between the ROK and the U.S. and is implemented in the spirit of the Oct. 1, 1953, ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty and in support of the Armistice Agreement. It reinforces the role of the alliance as a cornerstone for regional peace and security, reaffirming the ironclad commitment between the U.S. and ROK to defend their homelands.

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