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Key Resolve optimizes communication

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Aileen Carter
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE. Republic of Korea --  The key to success in Key Resolve/Foal Eagle, a peninsula-wide exercise, is communications.

Despite some language barriers, the key players conduct the air and space portion of KR/FE smoothly from the Hardened Tactical Air Command Center (HTACC) at Osan Air Base, Korea.

"We may have all the technology in the world, but without communication and a focused mission - nothing will get accomplished," said Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Remington, 7th Air Force commander. "Our objectives must become one when defending the Republic of Korea. We train together, how we fight together."

With more than two thousand Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors participating jointly with ROK air force, communication has to be clear and centralized across the spectrum of air and space power.

A quick glance inside the HTACC, the heart of air operations during KR/FE, will show how communication is achieved from one Airmen working side-by-side with a ROKAF airmen or counterpart.

On the strategic level, the U.S. and ROK servicemembers play their roles using a state of the art classified network shared by both countries.

Not all of these air staff members, with roles ranging from manning and personnel to medical support, are proficient in both English and Hangul. Communication barriers become apparent through face-to-face interaction at the strategic and tactical levels.

But, the U.S. and ROK servicemembers are not fazed by this language barrier.

Col. Debora Esque, a reservist assigned to the 51st Medical Group and 7th Air Force surgeon general during KR/FE, had minutes to respond to an exercise scenario involving a helicopter crashing into a medical facility during the second week of KR/FE, she said.

She worked closely with Lt. Col. Baek, Yong Joo, her counterpart and the Air Force Operations Command ROKAF surgeon general, to allocate the medical logistics and support needed to evacuate and care for survivors of the incident.

In this U.S. and ROK partnership, the assets of both countries become one and support both countries indiscriminately, she said.

Colonel Esque does not speak Hangul and Colonel Baek does not speak English. But both Airmen were able to work together by writing out their responses in English.

"I discovered that he can understand and respond to English better when it is written," said Colonel Esque. 

In cases where there are more technicalities - Colonel Esque said she resorts to pictures and diagrams.

So far, she has only asked for translation help four times during this exercise, she said.

Besides the language barrier, the difference in the meaning of words also presents some challenges, Colonel Esque said. When used by Airmen, the term "urgent" means medical care is needed right away, but when used by the ROKAF - it denotes a mobilization priority. However, these subtle meaning differences have been overcome by working closely together.

"We communicate really well," Colonel Esque said.

The exercise permits a constant interface where communication can be practiced and optimized by permanent party and exercise augmentees, said Colonel Esque.

"Key Resolve provides the opportunity to strengthen the alliance and air warfare support between the United States and ROKAF," said General Remington. "It's focused on maintaining and improving readiness of the Combined Forces Command staff and components."