The South Korean Army Special Warfare Command (SWC) hosted the 2024 Top-Team award ceremony on Tuesday under the direction of Commander Lieutenant General Kwak Jong Geun.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Top-Team competition, which took place from November 13 over an eight-night, nine-day period. The events were held at the Counter-Terrorism Training Center and the Comprehensive Training Ground in Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province. The competition is designed to simulate wartime missions to enhance company commanders’ tactical mission execution capabilities and promote realistic combat training.
For this year’s competition, the evaluation period was doubled compared to last year, and new combat assessment categories were added, including day and night shooting, single-rope climbing, battlefield circuit training, and a 5-kilometer ruck march. These changes aimed to increase fairness and effectiveness.
The six teams, representing their respective units and comprising over 60 elite SWC soldiers, competed using MILES (Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System) gear in a variety of special operations tasks, including infiltration into enemy rear areas, mission support zone activities, special reconnaissance, aerial firepower guidance, and contingency responses.
After fierce competition, the 13th Company of the Bihosabu Special Battalion earned the championship title.
The winning team received prize money, commemorative plaques, individual awards, leave of absence, and vouchers for accommodations in Jeju Island.
Captain Jeong Jong Hun, leader of the 13th Company, stated, “All team members were armed with a strong spirit of teamwork and elite mindset, which allowed us to overcome various scenarios and successfully accomplish our special operations missions. We will use this honor as a stepping stone to further enhance our capabilities, readiness, and resolve to dominate the enemy.”
Each year, the SWC selects the best team with the highest combat skills and tactical mission execution capabilities. The command plans to thoroughly analyze the outcomes of this year’s competition to apply them in next year’s Top-Team competition and in educational and training programs tailored for real battlefield conditions. Additionally, they aim to advance tactics, doctrine, and operational capabilities to strengthen their special operations execution abilities.
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