Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Overseas Operations
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Pennsylvania Soldiers hone skills at Operation Key Resolve in South Korea By Sgt. Zane G. Craig, 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
 YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - After two weeks of training, participants in the annual military training exercise Key Resolve have packed up their equipment and are homeward bound. Among those were nearly two dozen Soldiers assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard's 213th Regional Support Group. The Soldiers deployed from the United States to support the March 2-13 drill in South Korea. Joining in were members of the Pennsylvania Guard's 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. Key Resolve is a computer-based exercise, with scenarios presented to planners and operations specialists to work through and determine solutions. It specifically tests the ability of U.S. Forces Korea and the armed services of South Korea to deal with a variety of situations that could affect South Korea. Two main groups of 213th RSG Soldiers provided support to Eighth Army during the exercise. A modest group of Soldiers sent to support the training included transportation staff officers and noncommissioned officers from the unit's headquarters company to provide expertise in the areas of transportation and logistics. Cohesion of units can be a concern for some, but Soldiers of the 213th RSG learned to adapt and work as individual augmenters within a unit of personnel they did not know well. "We've been very flexible working with (Eighth Army) and, because we showed up with a variety of skill sets, (Eighth Army) were able to plug us into different positions," said Maj. Eric Turner, commander of the 28th Finance Battalion and chief of supply and services at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office. Turner said the exercise tested several of his core competencies as a transportation officer in a realistic simulation of potential operational scenarios on the Korean Peninsula. This included working within a framework previously unfamiliar to Turner. As the only 213th RSG augmenter experienced with sea, air, road and rail transport, the Eagleville, Pennsylvania, native was assigned to the Combined Transportation Movement Center in Seoul. "I got really lucky working with Maj. Turner because of his merchant marine background," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Razon, one of Turner's co-workers during the exercise. "Basically, it took me only a few minutes to explain to him what our duties were, and we spoke the same language, being mariners, and he was able to fall into the role automatically." A second group of Soldiers came from the 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment to support Eighth Army Public Affairs' simulation of a media operations center. The public affairs Soldiers also were required to learn during the training. While experienced through recent training in eastern Europe, the 109th MPAD was tested on its ability to support a mission on the Korean peninsula. "MPADs have a dual mission. The first part is to produce command information products and the second part is to augment media operations centers. In this mission, we were able to do both," said Maj. Angela King-Sweigart, commander of the 109th Public Affairs Detachment. The challenge of creating and sharing stories, called command information by those in Army public affairs, was one of the tasks assigned to Spc. Alexis Gonzales. Before joining the MPAD in late 2013, Gonzalez's military job was to fuel helicopters, but she decided to pursue a position in public affairs because she is studying communications in college. Gonzales said she thought the Key Resolve exercise was difficult, but rewarding. "The most challenging thing about being here is the fact that I haven't been to Defense Information School yet, to fully learn the job of broadcast specialist, but I've been lucky to have a lot of skilled NCOs in the 109th (MPAD) and in the Eighth Army PAO helping me out," she said. Both groups of Soldiers faced the challenge of having to adapt to a reality on the ground that differed from what their expectation of this training would be, and both groups overcame the challenge and learned valuable lessons for their military careers. "The mission here has been a success and my Soldiers have done very well and illustrated the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's interoperability with the active-duty component," said King-Sweigart.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 NY National Guard Strengthens Bonds with Allies in Morocco Overseas Operations • 6 days ago
 Alaska Guard Soldiers Honored Before Middle East Deployment Overseas Operations • 13 days ago
 29th Infantry Division HQ Heads Exercise Immediate Response Overseas Operations • 18 days ago
 134th Medical Company Joins Combined Resolve Exercise Overseas Operations • 19 days ago
 Guard Soldiers, Czech Partners Celebrate Victory in Europe Day Overseas Operations • 21 days ago
 2024 (24)  2023 (57)  2022 (71)  2021 (58)  2020 (41)  2019 (56)  2018 (55)  2017 (46)  2016 (31)  2015 (36)  2014 (48)  2013 (64)  2012 (134)  2011 (163)  2010 (179)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil