Foal Eagle exercise: South Korean army trains with U.S. Navy to build bridge

SEOUL — A two-foot-deep depression in the mud near the Han River may not seem like much of an obstacle, but it provided a great training opportunity to a group of U.S. and South Korean troops.

South Korean soldiers with the 1175th Korea Bridge Construction Company counted off in English while Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 chanted South Korean safety slogans as the groups worked in unison to construct a mobile girder bridge across the 40-foot expanse.

The bridge-raising presented a rare opportunity for the sailors during the fifth day of the Foal Eagle training exercises.

The mobile bridge has a maximum span of 80 feet and can support up to 60 tons after construction is complete. The average time to complete building one is one hour and twenty minutes.