KOREA TRAINING CENTER — The 2nd Infantry Division’s 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team essentially went back in time Friday for an exercise more reminiscent of the buildup to the Korean War than anything going on today in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Maj. Brad Nadig said the day’s task of locating and engaging small groups of "enemy" soldiers — "to see and not be seen" — had similarities to the 1950 border skirmishes in the region just before the start of that war.

"For this fight … they’re not out looking for tanks and other vehicles," Maj. Reed Erickson said. "It’s a hard mission to find these small teams of enemy forces."

About 800 troops participated in the week’s Warrior Focus exercises at several locations in northern South Korea, including camps Casey and Hovey, and in Friday’s high-tech game of cat and mouse at the Korea Training Center, near Yongpyong, about 20 miles northeast of Camp Casey.

"We’ve got a lot of good soldiers, and we’ve got a lot of new soldiers … and this was good for the integration of the new soldiers," said Lt. Col. Ivan Beckman, the brigade’s deputy commander.

Erickson said the exercise would better prepare the troops "for what we would do if we were deployed, or if something happened right here."

After his 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment troops were airlifted to the center aboard two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, Sgt. William Hutt gave some simple instructions to his fellow company leaders: "The main objective here is to find the enemy and … destroy them."

Up the road, 4th Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry Cpl. Joseph Hendrix was leading his troops up a steep hill in search of enemy units, as the valley echoed with the sound of simulated artillery fire. He did so under the watchful eye of observer-controller Staff Sgt. Johnny Kim, who throughout the ascent was quick to offer up advice and direction.

For example, when the soldiers started their climb almost in single file, Kim told them to spread out to make it more difficult for any machine-gunner or rifleman or grenade thrower who might be waiting at the top of the hill.

He chided one soldier who missed a directive from Hendrix, saying, "You need to be paying attention."

Another was advised not to take off his Kevlar vest during a water break.

And when the unit made it to the top of the hill, Kim said he saw little value in staying there because it was difficult to see much from the earthen perch.

"If I see something wrong, I’ll correct it," Kim said, adding that part of his job as an observer is coaching up the new recruits.

Asked how the day was going, Hendrix said, "It’s been a learning experience."

Beckman said after the day’s events that a key to any successful exercise is not only to get everyone working together toward common objectives, but also "training our new soldiers to learn the basic combat skills."

"It was a tremendous training and learning experience," he said. "Our soldiers were really fired up and very motivated through the entire exercise, and now they are very tired."