Home : What We Do : Exercises : Freedom Shield
Freedom Shield

An exercise set to reflect the Korea Theater of Operations – a combined, joint, all-domain, and interagency operating environment. This annual exercise aims to build understanding between Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea, the United Nations Command, and ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), ensuring their ability to fortify the combined defense posture and enhance Alliance response capabilities against a spectrum of security threats. It will feature live, virtual, constructive and field-based training, engaging personnel from the various military services.

Videos
Video by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Taranto
Lou Conter Memorial Production
DMA Pacific - Hawaii Media Bureau
April 23, 2024 | 3:18
PEARL HARBOR -- The National Parks Service and Pacific Fleet came together to pay tribute to Louis "Lou" Conter, the last USS Arizona survivor, who passed away April 1st , 2024, at 103-years-old.

After surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lou went on to serve throughout World War II, and later commissioned and became the Navy's very first SERE (survival evasion resistance and escape) officer. He served in the Korean War, and retired as a Lieutenant Commander after 28 years of service.

Lou continued to inspire and educate the communities around him for the rest of his life, and returned to Pearl Harbor for the annual memorial ceremony as often as he could.

In his final appearance at the Pear Harbor Memorial Ceremony of 2023, Lou sent a video message to the audience saying, "There is one thing you've got to remember, and that is to remember Pearl Harbor."

National Parks Service and Pacific Fleet held the memorial service the morning of April 23rd, 2024. Side Boys released a dove, and visitors paid respects by spreading flower petals across the water. Bagpipers volunteered to play at the ceremony and throughout the day on the shore of Ford Island, and National Parks Service rangers raised the flag from half mass for visitors to witness in the afternoon.

Produced by: SSgt Elizabeth Taranto
Video Footage taken by:
MC1 Brandon Williams-Church
SSgt Elizabeth Taranto
IC2 Jessy Adamec
SrA Caroline Strickland
More
Slide show
Press Information

Freedom Shield 25 successfully concludes

Press Release
Mar. 20, 2025

Freedom Shield 25 successfully concludes
Read More
A combined assault force of U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) special operations personnel conduct a direct action raid on a time sensitive target in an underground facility during a multiday training event associated with exercise Freedom Shield 25 at a training site located east of Seoul, on March 17, 2025. The training event served as a capstone to two-weeks of various training that maintained the combined readiness and lethality of U.S. and ROK special operators. The routine training enables a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region through a strong deterrent force. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Taylor Zacherl)

U.S. and ROK special operations forces conduct r...

News
Mar. 19, 2025

U.S. and ROK special operations forces conduct routine combined training during exercise Freedom Shield 2025
Read More
Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, Commanding General of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea, and the Acting President of the Republic of Korea, Sang-Mok Choi, take a group photo at Command Post Theater Air Naval Ground Operations, March 18. The acting-ROK President’s visit focused on discussing the importance and progress of Freedom Shield 2025 and the future of joint ROK-U.S. operations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Ian Vega-Cerezo, USFK Public Affairs)

ROK Acting President Choi Sang-Mok Visits CP TAN...

News
Mar. 18, 2025

ROK Acting President Choi Sang-Mok Visits CP TANGO During FS 25
Read More
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, U.S. Air Force, and the Republic of Korea Air Force train during Exercise Freedom Shield 25, a defense-oriented, annual exercise featuring live, virtual and field-based training that engages alliance forces and governmental agencies.

Republic of Korea Air Force, US Air Force, US Na...

News
Mar. 15, 2025

Republic of Korea Air Force, US Air Force, US Navy Conduct F-35 Air Integration Training during Freedom Shield...
Read More
F-35 Lightning IIs from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Republic of Korea Air Force flight in formation over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during integration training for Freedom Shield 25, March 13, 2025.

USAF, ROKAF and USN F-35s integrate during FS25

News
Mar. 14, 2025

USAF, ROKAF and USN F-35s integrate during FS25
Read More
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lighting II with the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, takes-off from Cheongju Air Base, Republic of Korea, March 12, 2025. The full-scale rehearsal of Republic of Korea Air Force and Seventh Air Force capabilities at the tactical and operational levels guarantees the strength of the combined air component to defend and defeat any threat to the Alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Noah J. Tancer)

USAF F-35s deploy to ROK for Freedom Shield 25

News
Mar. 13, 2025

USAF F-35s deploy to ROK for Freedom Shield 25
Read More

Space Forces Korea launches into Freedom Shield 25

News
Mar. 12, 2025

Space Forces Korea launches into Freedom Shield 25
Read More

Seventh Air Force begins air component operation...

News
Mar. 10, 2025

Seventh Air Force begins air component operations in Freedom Shield 25
Read More
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Robert "Todd" Brown, 2nd Infantry Division, ROK-US Combined Division, deputy commanding general, learns the control interface of a commercial aquatic drone during Freedom Shield 25 at a training area near the Imjin River in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, March 11, 2025. The demonstration showcases the capabilities of cutting-edge underwater vehicles to enhance operational readiness. Freedom Shield 2025 is a multi-domain military training program that integrates ground, air, naval, space and cyberspace elements, enhancing readiness through realistic combat situations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Kestner)

2ID engineers observe capabilities of underwater...

News
Mar. 11, 2025

2ID engineers observe capabilities of underwater drone for Freedom Shield 25
Read More
ROK Soldiers assigned to the 5th Corps Engineering Brigade River Crossing Company and Soldiers assigned to the 11th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division ROK/U.S. Combined Division, complete construction on a joint bridge, during a combined wet gap crossing exercise, near the Imjin River in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do from March 11-20, 2024. ROK and U.S. Army units utilized aviation, armor, air defense, chemical, biological and defense capabilities to train the security and protection of the site during the exercise that was designed to verify interoperability through the construction of a joint pontoon bridge. (U.S. Army photo by Pak, Chin-U)

Eighth Army begins annual exercise Freedom Shiel...

News
Mar. 10, 2025

Eighth Army begins annual exercise Freedom Shield 2025
Read More

The Republic of Korea and United States announce...

Press Release
Mar. 06, 2025

The Republic of Korea and United States announce Freedom Shield 25 exercise
Read More

COL Ryan Donald’s Joint US-ROK Press Conference ...

Press Release
Mar. 06, 2025

COL Ryan Donald’s Joint US-ROK Press Conference for Exercise Freedom Shield 25
Read More