Special Reconnaissance Battalion conducts joint training with U.S. III Marine Expeditionary Force
Focus on sharing operational procedures and enhancing combat capabilities
Live-fire and close quarter battle drills improve interoperability
The Marine Corps announced on the 28th that the Special Reconnaissance Battalion will conduct a joint reconnaissance training exercise with the U.S. Marine Corps III Marine Expeditionary Force (III-MEF) reconnaissance unit at training grounds around Paju and Dongducheon until March 7 as part of the Korea Marine Exercise Program (KMEP).
With over 70 personnel from the South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps special reconnaissance units participating, this training focused on sharing mutual operational procedures to enhance wartime mission capabilities and emphasized realistic unit-level combat training. Specifically, the training was divided into close quarter battle (C.Q.B.) mastery drills, comprehensive tactical exercises, and live-fire training. By dividing the training tasks led by both South Korea and the U.S., opportunities for combat skill exchange were expanded.
The close quarter battle mastery training, led by the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, was conducted at an urban combat training facility. Mixed teams of Marines from both countries began with tactical discussions, overcame hallways and staircases, then swiftly entered compartments and cleared the interiors.
The U.S. Marine Corps-led tactical training was conducted continuously for three days, day and night. Participating personnel shared reconnaissance surveillance and intelligence reporting techniques while ensuring survivability, and mastered procedures from precise strikes on designated key facilities in the training scenario to rapid withdrawal.
The live-fire training included rifle and close-range pistol shooting by the South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps reconnaissance units, as well as exchange firing using each other’s weapons, sniper, and grenade launcher firing, enhancing wartime joint operation capabilities and interoperability.
Captain Choi Kwang-ho, company commander of the Special Reconnaissance Battalion, stated, “It was a meaningful time to share mutual training and real combat experience with the U.S. Marines and to build camaraderie.” He added, “Through realistic training, we will maintain combat readiness to perform missions at any time and become a strong Marine Corps that the public can always trust.”
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps plans to continue conducting KMEP joint training in various fields including infantry, artillery, intelligence, air defense, medical, engineering, and public affairs.
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