The Units of Korea'95

The US Army

by Charles T. Kamps, Jr.


The Eighth US Army (EUSA), headquartered at Yong San, is the blanket command for Army units in Korea, including the 2nd Infantry Division, 17th Aviation Group, 2nd Engineer Group, and 19th Support Command. The 2nd Infantry Division,Mth headquarters at Camp Casey, Tongduchon-Ni, has a non-standard organization which has fluctuated more than most US Army organizations over the past decade. The division has two tank battalions Ust and 2nd Battalions 72nd Armor), two mechanized battalions Ost Battalion 5th Infantry, and 5th Battalion 20th Infantry), and two air assault infantry battalions (1st Battalion 503rd Infantry and 1st Battalion 506th Infantry).

Division Artillery is headquartered at Camp Stanley, Uijongbu, and consists of three direct support field artillery (FA) battalions with 24 x 155mm howitzers each: 8th Bn., 8th FA and 1st Bn., 15th FA with self-propelled pieces, and 1st Battalion 4th FA with towed pieces, and lst Bn., 4th FA. The division's general support unit is the 6th Bn, 37th FA, with 27 x Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS).

Division troops include the 2nd Engineer Bn and the 5th Bn, 5th Air Defense Artillery (Vulcan/Stinger). Divisional aviation assets include the 1st Attack Helicopter Bn of the 2nd Aviation Regiment, the 2nd Assault Helicopter Bn of the 2nd Avn Regt, and the 5th Squadron, 17th Cavalry (Air). These units consist of the following helicopters: 36 x AH- 64 and eight AH-1 attack types, 54 x OH-58 series scout and observation types, 3 x EH-60A electronic warfare versions, and 45 x UH-60 plus 6 x UH-1 utility types.

The division is supported by helicopters from the 17th Aviation Group, headquartered at Yong San. It has the 2/501st Aviation Bn. at Pyongtaek with 32 x CH-47 series medium helicopters, and the 1/501st Aviation Bn. at Yong San with some 30 x UH-60 assault helk!opters and other types for army liason support. The 4/501 and 5/501 Attack Helicopter Bns. bolster EUSA's aviation assets with 36 x AH-64s, 26 x OH-58s, and 6 x UH-60s.

The 2nd Division's two tank battalions are equipped with 58 x M-1 Abrams tanks each. Other equipment includes 6 x 4.2" SP mortars and about a dozen M-1 13 APCs. The two mechanized battalions have about 54 x M-2 Bradley IFV each. Each battalion also holds 12 x improved TOW Vehicles, 6 x M3-CFV, 6 x 4.2" SP mortars, 36 x Dragon ATGMs and an equal number of M-60 machineguns, 72 x squad automatic weapons, 72 x M-16 rifles with M-203 grenade launchers, and about 156 x M-16s in the hands of riflemen. About 36 of the riflemen will operate AT4 anti-tank launchers as these are issued as rounds of ammunition.

Each of the infantry battalions should have 20 x TOW launchers, 18 x Dragons, 4 x 81mm mortars, 9 x M-202 flame weapons, 18 x M-60 machineguns, 87 x M-16s with M-203 grenade launchers, 447 x M-16s, 58 x squad automatic weapons, and 6 x 60mm mortars. When issued, 27 of the riflemen would carry AT-4 launchers.

An integral part of EUSA is the KATUSA program, standing for Korean Augmentation to the US Army. This provides about 7,200 high- quality South Korean soldiers directly assigned to the US units, and another 3,000 in the Korean Services Corps. It would be difficult or impossible for EUSA to function without KATUSA assistance.

Although US training is good and there is motivation provided by the proximity of the North Koreans, Army units suffer from the fact that most GIs spend only one year assigned to Korea before rotation back to the States. This personnel turbulence works against unit cohesion. For several years the Army has been trying to correct this situation by deploying COHORT (Cohesion, Operational Readiness & Training) companies to Korea - men who stay together as a unit from training through an overseas tour, but full battalion rotation would probably be better.

Several divisions in the United States are earmarked for Korean contingencies, but have alternative deployment options elsewhere. These divisions, 7th Infantry (Light) from Fort Ord, California; and 25th Infantry (Light) from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, practice deployment to Korea during periodic "Team Spirit" exercises.

The two light infantry divisions are highly air transportable and are reputed to be able to deploy anywhere in the world within four days. The trade-off is that they must rely on "soldier power" (ranger training, etc.) instead of fire power. Each division has nine light infantry battalions, three 105mm howitzer battalions, a 155mm battery, an aviation brigade, and the usual engineer and air defense units.

Weapons in the hands of combat troops in each division would include: 3,754 x M-16 rifles, 582 x M16s with M-203 grenade launcher, 162 x Dragons, 224 x M-60 machineguns, 54 x 60mm mortars, 44 x TOWs, 36 x 81mm mortars, 8 x 155mm howitzers, 54 x 105mm howitzers, 18 x Vulcans, 40 x Stingers, 29 x AH-1s, 31 x OH-58s, and 50 x UH-60s.

US Army units have come a long way in the past decade. Training, equipment, and motivation are all vastly improved from the "hollow army" period. Most outfits in the States are now products of the One Station Unit Training (OSUT) and COHORT programs (company or battalion level) which make for truly professional units. Equipment is excellent and, barring simultaneous crises elsewhere, deployment can be rapid. The divisions slated to reinforce Korea in the short run, however, do have flaws.

The Units of Korea'95 The Next War in Korea

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