Commanding Sgt. Major Dave Silva receives a detailed briefing on how the Republic of Korea’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Command is prepared to respond to potential weapons of mass destruction threats on the Korean Peninsula during of Exercise Freedom Shield 2023.
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SEOUL — The U.S. Army’s first all-hazards command deployed for Exercise Freedom Shield in South Korea, March 13-23.
U.S. soldiers and U.S. Army civilians from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Command trained with Eighth Army and Combined Force Command units during the exercise.
Based at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the U.S. Army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, as well as the 1st Area Medical laboratory, CBRNE analysis and remediation activity, five weapons of mass destruction coordination teams and three nuclear deactivation teams.
From 19 bases in 16 states, U.S. soldiers and U.S. Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command confront the world’s most dangerous dangers in support of joint, interagency, and allied operations.
Conducted to strengthen the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States, Freedom Shield is a routine, defensive exercise designed to enhance security on the Korean Peninsula and stability in Northeast Asia.
The annual exercise incorporated live training and constructive simulations that brought together South Korean, American and multinational sending states.
Major Steven M. Modugno, director of public affairs for 20th CBRNE Command, said the multifunctional, deployable 20th CBRNE Command trains regularly with forces from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Command of the Republic of Korea on the Korean Peninsula and at United States combat training centers
“The ROK-US Alliance is one of our oldest and strongest alliances,” said Modugno, a native of Santa Clarita, Calif., who previously served in the Korea-based 2nd Infantry Division. South as an officer in the Chemical Corps. “It was an honor to train with our Republic of Korea allies on Freedom’s Frontier.”