Stories have emerged of service members who voluntarily postponed their discharge to take part in the Korea Marine Exercise Program (KMEP), a South Korea-U.S. Marine Corps joint drill that ended after their discharge dates.
According to the Ministry of National Defense on Apr. 6, First Lt. Shin Eun-joo and Sgts. Kim Min-hyeok and Lee Sang-jun of the 1st Division, 2nd Brigade, and First Lt. Bu Jun-hyeok of the 2nd Division, 1st Brigade—four in total—attended the KMEP exercise that ran through Apr. 4, past their discharge dates.
First Lt. Shin Eun-joo and First Lt. Bu Jun-hyeok were scheduled to be discharged on Feb. 28, but extended their service by about one month until the end of the drill. Sgts. Kim Min-hyeok and Lee Sang-jun were also set to be discharged on Mar. 29 but extended their service by six days to join the exercise.
First Lt. Shin and First Lt. Bu took part in KMEP as platoon leaders, and Sgt. Kim and Sgt. Lee participated as interpreters.
This KMEP focused on strengthening the interoperability of the South Korea-U.S. Marine Corps and cultivating realistic combined operational capabilities. A new-concept unit included in the U.S. Marine Corps development strategy joined and worked in sync with Korea's forces. The two countries' Marine Corps tested the latest tactical doctrines in multiple ways, assuming the complex maritime and littoral environments of the Indo-Pacific region, and concentrated on securing agile operations and mobility for small, elite units.
The 1st Marine Division conducted combined infantry training in Pohang with a company-level unit from the U.S. 3rd Marine Division's Littoral Combat Team (LCT), and the 2nd Marine Division carried out combined infantry training at sites including the Mugeon-ri Training Area in Paju. The Marine Logistics Group Maintenance Battalion and the U.S. 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3d-MLG) also held a logistics combat element exercise at garrisons and training areas around Pohang, with more than 120 South Korea-U.S. Marine Corps personnel participating.
First Lt. Shin, who completed the drill even after delaying discharge, said, "As a loyal Marine who fulfills responsibilities, I will do my utmost to accomplish the mission until the final moment."
Sgt. Kim also said, "It is a great honor to conclude my military service by taking on interpreter duties and contributing to the steadfast alliance of the South Korea-U.S. Marine Corps," adding, "With a sense of responsibility for the honor of the proud Marine Corps, I will fulfill the mission given to me until the end."