Dongducheon: A new U.S. rotational force operating the Stryker armored fighting vehicle officially began its nine-month deployment in South Korea with a transfer-of-authority command Thursday. The event held at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, just north of Seoul, marked the transition to the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division from the outgoing 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) had earlier stated in a post on X that the transition "supports an enduring presence in the ROK and reinforces readiness in the Indo-Pacific region," using the acronym of South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. The Stryker unit had drawn speculation last year about a potential withdrawal after a U.S. media report suggested the Pentagon was considering reducing the 28,500-strong USFK by about 4,500 troops. However, the Pentagon has dismissed the report.

When asked about such speculation, outgoing brigade commander Col. J. Clint Tisserand noted how his brigade has been sent to South Korea and was followed by another brigade to continue supporting the U.S.-South Korea alliance. He expressed pride in this commitment while mentioning he is not in a position to speak on U.S. policy. "We are very grateful for the opportunities we've had here in Korea ... we've been very proud to be a part of the U.S-ROK alliance," he told reporters.