ALONG THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE, Korea — As frigid winter weather begins to grip the rugged mountain terrain in the central sector of Korea's famed "no-mans land," members of the 15th Republic of Korea Army must guard against the bitter cold as well as the enemy.

When the temperature drops to 20 or 30 degrees below zero, these tough ROK troops can stand guard only 15 to 30 minutes at a time.

The 15th ROK Div. mans guard posts and trenches, spaced about every 50 yards along the central sector line. But the positions are often changed, when heavy drifting snows, over five feet deep, force the men to relocate in near-by foxholes.

Part of their preparation for the long, hard winter is a week-long field exercise, including a 50-mile march in full field gear, practice on firing ranges and mountain training.

Other preparations include laying in enough supplies for the guard and observation posts to last four months. Wells supply water for the troops, but it must be carried in five-gallon drums to some mountaintop posts.

The division may not have all the comforts of home, but they do boast modern weaponry, such as M16 rifles and Starlight scopes, used to detect movement at night.

Although the weather plays a big part in the lives of these DMZ troops, especially in the winter, it doesn't stop them from enjoying recreation, such as volleyball. The men simply clear away the snow and set up their game.

Others find off-duty hours a good time to do some reading or attend movies.

Commenting on the hardships of ROK troops stationed on the DMZ in winter, Brig. Gen. Lee Nam Koo, commander of the 15th ROK Div., says simply, "They are both patriots and frontiersmen."