USAG HUMPHREYS, South Korea – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Far East District strengthened readiness in Ulchi Freedom Shield 25 exercise (UFS25) from August 18-28, 2025, at Camp Humphreys and Camp Carroll in South Korea.
This bi-annual, defense-focused exercise brought together U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) forces, along with governmental agencies and several United Nations Command member states, to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional peace and security.
“This validated FED’s readiness to support theater-level operations and strengthened interoperability with critical partners throughout the Korean Peninsula,” said Col. Jeremiah Willis, Commander USACE FED.
UFS25 exercise integrated live, virtual and field-based training, with a primary objective of refining the combined, joint, multi-domain and interagency operating environment. It focused on preparing forces for contingency operations across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.
For FED, the exercise served as a critical platform to showcase its wartime support capabilities and engage with key stakeholders, ensuring that its operations are aligned with U.S. Forces Korea’s needs.
Through UFS25 exercise, FED refined its strategic plans, built upon lessons learned from previous exercises, and enhanced its collaboration with critical wartime customers. This exercise was especially important for fostering strong relationships, trust-building and maintaining open communication with USFK and other key partners. By strengthening these ties, FED ensured that its capabilities would be seamlessly integrated into the broader mission of peace and security in the region.
A significant component of FED’s involvement in UFS25 exercise was its engagement with the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC) and the ROK Army Second Operational Command (ROKA 2OC). These interactions provided valuable opportunities to demonstrate FED's readiness to support U.S. and ROK forces in wartime contingencies.
In addition to its strategic planning and collaborative efforts, FED also focused on internal operational preparedness such as Noncombatant Evacuation (NEO) Procedures and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense (CBRN defense) training.
“It’s vital that [emergency essential civilians] EECs, [mission essential civilians] MECs, and civilians engage in this training because emergencies don’t discriminate by job title. Everyone must be prepared to protect themselves and assist others,” said Sgt. 1st Class Carmine Moon, Eighth Army protection directorate CBRN non-commissioned officer in charge.
The district validated its NEO procedures to ensure accountability of personnel and family members.
During the exercise EEC and MEC personnel were required to maintain operational readiness by wearing standard Army Combat Uniforms (ACUs) and conducted CBRN defense training to simulate real-world crisis conditions. The CBRN training was conducted by Moon.
“[CBRN] training is more than just a procedural drill, it’s a critical readiness measure that ensures every individual, whether military or civilian, can respond swiftly and safely in a chemical threat scenario,” said Moon.
UFS25 exercise served as a critical training opportunity for EEC and MEC personnel to demonstrate their ability to provide uninterrupted engineering and construction support under high-stress conditions. Their readiness to deploy quickly and respond seamlessly to crisis scenarios was essential in reinforcing FED’s capacity to support USFK during emergencies.
By participating in UFS25 exercise, FED demonstrated its preparedness to support USFK’s operational requirements, solidifying its position as a key player in the ROK-U.S. military partnership and in the broader mission of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the greater Pacific region.
Through continued cooperation and preparedness, FED has proven its ability to respond to any contingency, reinforcing its critical role in the defense of the region.
Visit https://www.pof.usace.army.mil/ for more information on USACE – FED.