Military in Korea Expands Use of Simulations in War Games

National Defense Magazine ^ | 1/9/2009 | Jude Shea, Lt. Col. Don Willadsen and J. David Lashlee

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

More so than in most other places, modeling and simulation are critical to training in Korea. Units in Korea do not have access to live combat training centers such as those found in the United States and Europe. Large-scale maneuver training areas, for example, are limited. Environmental and political restrictions severely limit training and traffic congestion curtails the ability of units to get to training areas.

Modeling and simulations are a cost-effective means of overcoming these obstacles.

Exercise Key Resolve is an annual training event that is designed to ensure that the Combined Forces Command (CFC) is ready to defend the Republic of Korea (ROK) if required. “These exercises are designed to help teach, coach, and mentor military members from both the ROK and U.S. while exercising senior leaders’ decision-making capabilities,” said Gen. Walter Sharp, CFC commander and Key Resolve 2009 exercise director.

Key Resolve 2009 took place in March 2009 at locations throughout the ROK, Japan, Hawaii, and Ft. Hood, Texas. The first part was defensive in nature and included non-combatant evacuation operations. The second piece simulated full combat operations in a mature theater.

The primary training audience was commanders and their staffs who were located in command posts and operating in as realistic a manner as possible.

Other participants included gamers, who were located in simulation centers to interact with models. Gamers represented all echelons below the training audience by translating operational plans and orders into simulation inputs and providing simulated battlefield information, such as movement and disposition of forces, as well as the results of combat, including casualties and battle damage. Observers were located with the training audience, and provided feedback to assist in preparation of after-action reviews.