MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- In an effort to maintain the solidarity that the Republic of Korea Marine Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps have shared for years, the doors to Camp Pendleton’s most advanced facilities were opened for the ROK Marines’ top enlisted leader.
Republic of Korea Marine Sgt. Maj. Gihwi Seo visited base for the first time and spent several days touring various training and billeting facilities.
Two days of his visit included a tour of the School of Infantry, Jan. 25 and 26. Seo’s tour of the school was in efforts to get a better understanding of what it takes to successfully prepare U.S. Marines for conflicts abroad.
The School of Infantry’s mission is to ensure every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman.
Seo got an up-close look at Marines in action during his stop at the Infantry Immersion Trainer, one of the most advanced training tools on base.
The Infantry Immersion Trainer is a revolutionary training facility that uses virtual reality to re-create foreign urban scenes – right down to the sounds and smells.
Seo said that this facility has some of the most impressive training equipment he has ever seen.
After completing the IIT tour, Seo was taken to the newly built barracks at Camp Horno, and several of base’s top enlisted leaders were there to greet him, including Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Dixon, Marine Corps Installations West sergeant major, and Sgt. Maj. Ramona Cook, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton sergeant major.
Marines here at Camp Pendleton are very well taken care of and all the facilities provided are very remarkable, said Seo.
Seo also visited the Staff Non Commissioned Officer Academy and the base’s division schools.
“It’s so important that we continue to maintain the high level of camaraderie both our countries share with one another,” said Cook. “What better way is there than by opening our doors to Seo so that he may see how we train?”
At the conclusion of his SOI visit, Seo was introduced to the Combat Convoy Simulator.
The simulator provides service members, preparing for deployment, with an immersive training environment for a variety of military vehicles. It also helps Marines become familiar with various convoy operation scenarios.
Seo’s next stop on his tour of Marine Corps installations will be Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.