The U.S. and the Republic of Korea (ROK) navies are conducting combined mine countermeasures training during exercise Foal Eagle 2017.

The combined training, scheduled March 19-29, is designed to increase readiness and interoperability in mine countermeasures operations and enhance theater security cooperation between the two navies.

"Mine warfare is a very real and incredibly serious threat that requires extensive training to be ready to counter if called upon," said Lt. Cmdr. Bill Carroll, commanding officer of mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM 10). "My crew and I are looking forward to this exercise, so we can train as one integrated MCM force and further hone our tactical and technical skills [to be] ready when called upon to execute real-world operations."

During the exercise, U.S. and ROK sailors, including explosive ordnance disposal divers, will work together to practice clearing shipping routes and to conduct training surveys.

Foal Eagle is a series of joint and combined field training exercises, conducted by the Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea component commands, which enhances the combat readiness, flexibility, and capabilities of the ROK and U.S. alliance.

Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7, commanded by Capt. James Miller, is a combined readiness and tactical staff responsible for mine countermeasures in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. The squadron consists of four Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, and a helicopter mine countermeasures detachment in Pohang, ROK.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/ctf76/.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visit www.navy.mil/.