by Staff Sgt. Jason Lake, 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- Exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian, the world's largest command and control simulation exercise began Aug. 16 and continues through Aug. 26.
According to senior Combined Forces Command officials, the annual joint/combined command post exercise is designed to improve the Republic of Korea and U.S. alliance's ability to defend the Republic of Korea. The complex computer simulation exercise aims to train deployed and permanent party servicemembers while refining senior leaders' decision-making capabilities. In total, more than 27,000 U.S. joint forces and 500,000 ROK forces participate in the annual exercise throughout the peninsula.
Osan Air Base's Korea Air Simulation Center plays a critical role in simulating the air component portion of the exercise.
"The bottom line is that we're here to train the warfighter," said Lt. Col. Gary Denny, who serves as the Korea Air Simulation Center director. "There are many simulation centers here in Korea and the United States participating in this exercise, but we're the lead for the air model (simulations)."
Scott Lovelace, simulation manager within the KASC, said more than 40 U.S. simulation centers around the world make up the complex exercise network which also incorporates a similar ROK system.
"It's the largest simulation system in the world," he said. "There's no other type of exercise that creates this type of virtual battle space. Here, we are in a 'fight tonight' mindset and we can't afford to get this simulation wrong."
Col. Patrick Matthews, 7th Air Force director of programs and analyses, said exercises like UFG and Key Resolve/Foal Eagle provide critical readiness training at a base where most Airmen rotate in and out in a single year.
"I've been to the Warrior Preparation Center in Germany and seen its capabilities, but the system in place here has always been the gold standard," he said.
This year marks the 34th anniversary of the joint/combined exercise. In July 1976, ROK forces officials combined Exercise Ulchi with the United Nations Command and its U.S. allied forces Exercise Focus Lens. Exercise Ulchi-Focus Lens, as it was called until its name changed in 2008, was designed to enhance ROK-U.S. interoperability by training commanders and staff from both countries in wartime planning, command and control operations, intelligence, logistics and personnel procedures required for defending the Republic of Korea.
