Army Chemical Review presents professional information about Chemical Corps functions related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, smoke, flame, and civil support operations.
Issue link: https://chemical.epubxp.com/i/68692
By Major Kimberly A. Bates-Wallace A t 4 a.m. on Sunday, 25 June 1950, North Korean forces crossed the 38th Parallel (known as the "Mili- . mission command of its subordinate battalions in support of efforts to eliminate North Korea's WMD. tary Demarcation Line" in that part of the world) and launched a full-scale invasion of South Korea. Four days later, Seoul (the capital of South Korea) fell. After 3 years of combat operations in places such as the Chosin Reservoir and Heart- break Ridge, an armistice was signed in July 1953. Nearly 60 years later, the 48th Chemical Brigade "Spar- tans" from Fort Hood, Texas—along with elements of the 23d Chemical Battalion "Lions" and the 110th Chemical Bat- talion (Technical Escort) "Iron Dragons" from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington—deployed to the Republic of Korea (ROK) to join the 2d Infantry Division (2ID), the 20th Support Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosives [CBRNE]), and the ROK $UPHG )RUFHV LQ :DUSDWK ,,,²WKH ¿UVW HYHU GLYLVLRQ OHYHO weapons of mass destruction–elimination (WMD-E), full spec- trum exercise. The 48th Chemical Brigade Warpath III mission set includ- ed deploying to the ROK in support of 2ID to combat weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and to counter improvised explo- sive device fusion cell operations. The brigade also executed Summer 2012 Not only did the Spartans complete their mission, they con- ducted the largest strategic movement, deployment, and opera- tion since their inception—and they did it without incident or injury. In addition, they conducted mission command across the entire Korean theater of operations. The leaders and Sol- diers demonstrated that, when resourced, the 48th Chemical Brigade is capable of adapting to the diverse needs of full spec- WUXP RSHUDWLRQV DQG XQL¿HG ODQG Rperations, integrating vari- ous required enablers—including explosive ordnance disposal and ROK forces as well as other technical WMD operations experts—and employing units within an austere operational environment. The exercise underscored the importance of WUDLQLQJ XQLWV WR EH SUR¿FLHQW LQ WKHLU WHFKQLFDO FRUH FRPSH- tencies and tactical warrior tasks and reinforced the necessity of exercising units in unfamiliar environments to rapidly im- prove their readiness for combat and other contingency mis- sions. It also highlighted the need to establish a common op- erational picture to effectively integrate U.S. forces, our ROK partners, and interagency personnel involved in WMD opera- tions. The staff of III Corps and the support of the 20th Support 25