The South Korean and U.S. military authorities have agreed to conduct 22 field training exercises (FTX) during the first half of this year as part of the combined exercise "Freedom Shield" (FS).
Jang Doyoung, Director of Public Affairs at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Ryan Donald, Director of Public Affairs of the United States Forces Korea, held a joint briefing on the FS 2026 Exercise Plan at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 25th. Photo by Joint Press Corp.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on February 27, a total of 22 combined field training exercises will take place during this year's FS exercise period, consisting of 6 brigade-level or higher drills, 10 battalion-level drills, and 6 company-level drills.
This number represents about one-third of the field training exercises conducted in March last year. During the March 2025 FS period, there were 51 combined field training exercises at the battalion level or above, and 16 large-scale brigade-level combined exercises. This reduction appears to reflect the government’s policy of spreading field training exercises throughout the year rather than concentrating them during one period.
A Joint Chiefs of Staff official stated, "The South Korean and U.S. militaries have closely coordinated on the combined field training exercises. During the FS exercise period, the field training exercises will proceed as originally planned, with 22 exercises to be conducted."
A United States Forces Korea official also said, "Through close coordination between South Korea and the United States, the agreement was reached. By conducting 22 field maneuver exercises during the FS period, we will provide realistic training conditions for the troops."
Previously, the South Korean and U.S. military authorities announced on the 25th that the FS exercise is scheduled for March 9 to 19, with approximately 18,000 troops participating. However, at that time, they did not disclose the scale and frequency of the combined field training exercises, stating that further coordination was necessary. It has been reported that the South Korean side proposed further reducing the number of field training exercises during the FS period, but the U.S. side responded negatively, resulting in delayed coordination.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff official explained, "By spreading out field training exercises throughout the year, instead of concentrating them during the FS period, we aim to strengthen our constant combat readiness posture."
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