Special Warfare Command
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Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command (ROKASWC, Korean: 대한민국 육군 특수전사령부) is the military command of the Republic of Korea Army responsible for their special operation forces. It consists of 7 brigades, and its main tasks include conducting reconnaissance and other tasks, mostly behind enemy lines.
Since 1993, the South Korean military has trained experts by sending officers to various PKO training institutions such as the Northern Europe United Nations Training Corps (UNTC), Poland, and Ireland. And since 1995, officers and related government officials have been sent to the Pearson Peacekeeping Center (PPC) in Canada. To lay the foundation for PKO education domestically, in 1995 the military designated the Joint Services Staff College to be the lead institution to educate officers to become military observers and staff. In May 1998, the PKO Department was officially inaugurated within the college. Moreover, the Special Warfare Command's Education Corps was designated as the institution solely responsible for unit-level education of PKO forces by providing solid education for infantry and engineer personnel.
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[edit] Evergreen unit
Peacekeeping soldiers of the Evergreen Unit are trained for security operations and take all the necessary precautions in case of riots and the use of armed force.
[edit] Somalia
The Evergreen unit (an engineer battalion, named for the hearty tree which is a Korean national favorite]) mission to Somalia was the first-ever South Korean military unit to take part in the UN-led peace keeping operations. Since its commencement in June 30, 1993, the battalion consisted of 504 men (annually rotated) and took part in repairing roads and assisting the residents of Somalia. During their deployment the Evergreen unit put committed 2,700 men and 1,300 pieces of equipment to a construction effort to repair the road linking Balad and Zohar. Additionally, the unit worked with the U.S. troops to construct the bypass road from Balad to Afgoa.
[edit] East Timor
On August 30, 1999, a UN-mandated referendum for independence in East Timor was held, in which 78.5 percent of the electorate opted for independence. However, militias who opposed East Timor's independence caused devastating violence. Accordingly, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to grant installation of the International Forces in East Timor (INTERFET), and the UN Secretary General together with the government of Australia officially requested the South Korean government's participation. In addition, the Indonesian government agreed to the deployment of the multinational forces and actively requested the participation of Asian nations.
To maintain security and restore order, the South Korean government formed the 419-member Evergreen Unit, composed of 201 infantry troops and support elements such as transportation, supply, communications, and medical personnel. The Evergreen Unit initiated operations on October 22, 1999 in Lospalos, East Timor. The Evergreen Unit, initially the 5th brigade, Special Warfare Command, operated in a district that covers 12% of East Timor's land area. On the Korean battalion's arrival in Lautem on 1 October 1999, the District was still reeling from the post-election violence, with 40 per cent of the public buildings destroyed, along with most markets and schools and housing. A population that was formerly 50,000 people had been reduced to 20,000 by forced and voluntary exile.
On 28 April 2000, the original 419 troops of the Korean battalion completed their six-month rotation and were replaced, after a two-week orientation over-lap. The battalion moved to the Oeucci enclave in February 2002. In April 2003 the 8th ROK BATT (Evergreen Unit) with 250 soldiers deployed for peace keeping missions for six months in Oecussi, East Timor. They have has also been engaged in public relations, and election related work including resident registration, particularly helping those who live in difficult terrain.
[edit] Order of Battle
- Special Warfare Training Group
- 1st Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) 'Eagle'
- 3rd Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) 'Flying Tiger'
- 5th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) 'Black Dragon'
- 7th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) 'Pegasus'
- 9th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) 'Ghost'
- 11th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) 'Golden Bat'
- 13th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) 'Black Panther'
- 707th Special Mission Battalion 'White Tiger'
[edit] See also
- Military of South Korea
- Republic of Korea Army
- Republic of Korea Marine Corps
- List of military equipment of Republic of Korea
- 707th Special Mission Battalion
