Navy Reserve Sailors Participate in Exercise Key Resolve 2013

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Navy Reserve Sailors assigned to Military Sealift Command participated in Republic of Korea defense exercise Key Resolve, March 14 - 21.

Key Resolve is one of two combined and joint command post exercises held each year and is designed to maintain the combat capabilities of up to 3,000 U.S. and 10,000 ROK military personnel in the defense of the Korean peninsula.

The computer-simulated exercise encompasses training in coordinating and executing the deployment of U.S. reinforcements.

The bulk of Key Resolve takes place at various sites throughout the Republic of Korea. There, MSC manages the simulated ocean transportation portion operations and Navy Reservists operate a 24-hour crisis action center.

"As Reserve Sailors, we have the unique opportunity to practice what we have trained for year-round at our reserve unit," said Navy Capt. Scott Ready, commanding officer of MSC Far East Reserve Unit 10.

During this year's exercise, 30 Navy Reservists from MSC affiliated units augment permanent staff members based in Singapore, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

Reserve personnel manage the simulated movement of MSC ships across the vast U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility, testing their abilities to respond to complex scenarios to ensure the safe passage of vital supplies to South Korea.

Dry cargo, fuel tankers and prepositioning ships from MSCs fleet are incorporated into the simulation. Staff members also train to respond to humanitarian crises.

Additional support is provided to the Japan Seaport Coordination Center (JSCC). There, Navy Reservists train alongside counterparts from the U.S. Army's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command in sealift operations, port services, cargo handling, communications, and reception, staging and port clearances.

"Being able to walk the piers and shake the hands of key personnel who manage and work the ports each day is invaluable," said EPU 112 executive officer Navy Cmdr. Jim Singleton.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, U.S. merchant mariner-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/MSC/.