The three-day lengthy symposium was designed to reinforce mine countermeasure coordination, coaching, cooperation and enhance capabilities in mine countermeasures operations. The symposium’s theme for 2023 was Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) in mine warfare and included displays from collaborating militaries and trade specialists on autonomous mine detection and clearance applied sciences.
“The 2023 Mine Countermeasures Symposium had the best participation to this point and is the primary time since 2014 that U.S. Naval Forces Korea has expanded participation to allies and companions exterior of the United Nations Command,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Natalia Widulinski, a Overseas Space Officer assigned to Naval Forces Korea. “The enlargement of the symposium highlights the significance of mine warfare as a mission space, and focuses on bettering interoperability between the ROK, U.S., UNC member states, and allies and companions.”
Nations collaborating within the symposium embody Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the USA.
Symposium attendees additionally participated in a wreath laying ceremony on the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, honoring those that had given their lives in Protection of Korea and reaffirming their dedication to sustaining peace and safety within the area.
MNMIWEX 23 is a part of an annual collection of workouts hosted by Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) designed to extend proficiency in mine countermeasure operations between quite a few naval forces. Throughout the train, individuals labored collectively to clear a route for ships via a simulated minefield utilizing unit-level mine warfare ways to incorporate mine looking, detection and neutralization.
Capt. Michael O’Neill, commodore of Mine Countermeasures Squadron Seven, stated, “The train offered an important alternative to function in a difficult, multilateral maritime atmosphere, and afforded us the chance to construct on our already robust relationship with the Republic of Korea and worldwide companions.”
The multinational mine warfare drive labored collectively all through the train to conduct mine countermeasure operations. This coaching allowed all of the items to apply speaking and working in a mixed atmosphere and supply elevated mine countermeasures interoperability and readiness to answer a contingency on the Korean peninsula.
Taking part nations contributing forces for the train embody Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and the USA.
Taking part U.S. forces embody employees from Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 7, Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 15 Detachment 3A, USS Chief (MCM 14), USS Warrior (MCM 10), and USS Pioneer (MCM 9).
This yr marks the seventieth anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Protection Treaty, which serves as the muse of our alliance and a drive for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.
MCMRON 7, ahead deployed to Sasebo, Japan, is liable for conducting built-in mine countermeasure operations utilizing air, floor, and explosive ordnance disposal belongings in each train and regional battle situations all through the U.S. Seventh Fleet space of accountability.
