New policy bridges Korea tour normalization

  • Published
  • By Donna Miles
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The top U.S. commander in South Korea has introduced a new policy prioritizing what positions qualify for highly sought-after command sponsorships for family members.

Army Gen. Walter L. Sharp, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, announced the new system this week to control the flow of command-sponsored military families to ensure infrastructure improvements underway are prepared to accommodate them.

The policy reflects the huge popularity of tour normalization in South Korea, said Lt. Col. Angela Billings, the command's deputy public affairs officer.

With full tour normalization, assignments to South Korea will be more like assignments to Germany, Japan or other overseas installations. Single servicemembers typically will serve two-year tours, and troops who bring their families will stay for three years.

"We were overwhelmingly successful with our tour normalization efforts and had the wait list to show it," Colonel Billings said. "With over 900 (families) on the wait list, the commander wanted a better, more transparent way for servicemembers and their families to make decisions affecting their lives."

The new policy is designed to reduce uncertainty for these families as the command works to expand command-sponsorship opportunities as quickly as possible, she said.

U.S. Forces Korea currently can accommodate 4,600 families, but General Sharp hopes to allow as many of the estimated 14,000 married troops currently in South Korea to bring their families as more housing, schools and other facilities become available. He promised to pursue the funding and infrastructure initiatives needed to expand command sponsorships as quickly as possible.

"Because of the great quality of life, and a desire for families to remain together at a time when many have been separated, more and more servicemembers want to come to Korea and more and more families want to accompany them," General Sharp said. "I appreciate your continued patience during this transition as we implement the revised (command-sponsorship program) policy on our way to full tour normalization in Korea."

"We simply had to take a more deliberate, graduated approach" to command sponsorships for the near term, Colonel Billings said. "The commander was clear. He didn't want to take on more than the infrastructure and facilities could manage in order to keep the quality of life (at an acceptable level) for the families who are here."

Under the new policy, top priority for command sponsorships will go to servicemembers assigned to key billets considered so vital to the mission that they mandate 24-month tours, regardless of whether the servicemembers bring their families, General Sharp said.

U.S. Forces Korea officials established a new second-priority category for troops assigned to military jobs determined to provide commanders the greatest benefit when served in 24- and 36-month tours. These positions typically will be key leadership positions that require lengthy pre- or post-arrival training or certifications, or jobs involving low density and hard-to-fill skill sets, General Sharp explained. Unit commanders will recommend what positions qualify for "Priority 2" status, subject to component commander approval, and they will vary by service, location and unit, he said.

The new policy gives commanders flexibility in filling the remaining "Priority 3" positions. Factors likely to be considered are recent deployments, consecutive overseas tours, dual military or single military family status and junior servicemember opportunities, General Sharp said.

He noted that Navy and Marine Corps command sponsorship opportunities are aligned to specific positions, which are centrally managed by their respective service centers and are based on available allocations by location.

Commanders in South Korea will conduct town hall meetings and commander's calls over the next 10 days to explain the revised policy, answer questions and provide detailed information about the three command-sponsorship priority categories, General Sharp said.

In addition, he has directed the chain of command officials to contact all servicemembers already on a waiting list for command sponsorship to explain how the new policy affects them and the options available to them and their families.

Since General Sharp took command of U.S. Forces Korea in 2008, he has advocated longer tours to benefit U.S. military families, cut down on moves and reduce disruption within the command.

The majority of U.S. troops in South Korea historically have served one-year, unaccompanied tours, so the normalization policy is ushering in big changes.

"This reduces stress on the military," General Sharp said. "With families already separated by deployments, why have an unaccompanied tour if you don't have to?"

He said it also improves U.S. capability by reducing the turmoil of permanent changes of station, and it underscores the enduring U.S. commitment to South Korea.

"To allow servicemembers to be here two and three years rather than just one year at a time has hugely increased capability," he General Sharp said. "It strengthens the alliance and sends a huge deterrent message to North Korea."