In Minus 30-Degree Cold, Army Special Warfare Command Conducts Extreme Cold Weather Training

The Army announced on January 22 that the Special Warfare Command is conducting the "Extreme Cold Weather Training" at the Hwangbyeongsan winter training grounds in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province, with each unit participating in an 11-night, 12-day schedule through February.

The Extreme Cold Weather Training is a harsh winter exercise conducted by the Special Warfare Command during January and February, when the cold reaches its peak. It is designed to cultivate winter special operations capabilities in the mountainous terrain and severe cold of Gangwon Province.

This training, which began this month, is taking place at an altitude of 1,407 meters in rugged mountainous terrain, where the wind chill can drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius. Currently, soldiers from the Invincible Typhoon Battalion of the Special Warfare Command’s Biho Unit have been participating in the exercise since January 12.

The training was conducted with high intensity, beginning with infiltration into enemy rear areas, followed by hideout operations, special reconnaissance and aerial firepower guidance, strike operations, evasion and escape, and tactical ski maneuvering. In particular, this training enhanced realism by having veteran special forces members serve as opposing forces in all day and night exercises.

During the evasion and escape training, where participants return to friendly territory after completing their missions in enemy areas, the special forces soldiers traversed an escape route of approximately 20 kilometers. In wind chills reaching minus 30 degrees Celsius, they carried military gear weighing up to 40 kilograms and traveled for 12 hours, mastering procedures to enhance survivability.

Lieutenant Colonel Park Kigeun, commander of the Invincible Typhoon Battalion, stated, "Despite the extreme weather conditions, the passion of our special forces soldiers made the training grounds hotter than anywhere else. We will continue to dedicate ourselves to fulfilling our mission as the nation’s and people’s loyal and devoted military, remaining the world’s best and irreplaceable special forces."