(2nd LD) USFK to begin 'normal' three-year tours in 2009: commander

(LEAD: MODIFIES lead paras; UPDATES with additional remarks, more details)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- U.S. troops serving in South Korea will begin
so-called "normal" three-year family accompanied tours in 2009, the chief of U.S.
Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday, a move that will significantly increase the
United States' commitment to the country.
Currently, over 80 percent of U.S. forces serving in Korea under a decades-old
joint defense pact are on one-year family-unaccompanied tours.
"We have asked for, and we have received approval from the office of Secretary of
Defense" for three-year command-sponsored tours to South Korea, Gen. Walter Sharp
told reporters in his first media roundtable since arriving here in June.
The USFK public affairs office later issued a press release saying, "The
Department of Defense has approved command sponsorship for two new locations and
an increase in tour lengths for accompanied servicemembers permanently assigned
to Korea."
Still, accompanied tours at frontline bases in Uijeongbu and Dongducheon will be
limited to 24 months instead of the normal 36 months, according to Sharp.
The change will begin to take place early next year, when the number of
family-accompanied servicemembers will increase to 4,350 from the current 2,100,
he said.
The total number of U.S. troops on what the U.S. general termed a "normal tour"
will eventually increase to 14,000. The number represents all married U.S.
servicemembers currently here.
About 28,500 U.S. soldiers are currently stationed here as part of a deterrent
against possible aggression from communist North Korea. South and North Korea
technically remain at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended only with a ceasefire,
not a peace agreement.
Sharp acknowledged the final phase of offering normal tours to all married U.S.
troops coming to Korea would take time, saying it depends on how fast South Korea
and the United States can work together to build additional facilities to
accommodate troops' family members.
"The 4,350 is our goal to complete by late 2009 and early 2010. The last phase as
we move toward 14,000, how quickly we will be able to do that will depend on how
the Republic of Korea and the U.S. can quickly work together to build the
additional schools, houses and medical facilities," Sharp said, referring to
South Korea by its official name.
The USFK commander said that tour normalization will help both South Korea and
the United States.
"It will be a win for the United States because more families will be here... It
will be a win for Korea as it will help maintain stability and show our
commitment to the defense of Korea and Northeast Asia," said Sharp. He added the
move would help draw investors to Korea as they would see that their investments
here are safe.
Coupled with the scheduled transfer of wartime operational control, or OPCON, of
South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul in 2012, the tour normalization will
not only strengthen the alliance, but will also help boost the countries' joint
wartime capabilities, he said.
"Stabilizing our warfighters on longer, accompanied tours directly enhances our
warfighting capability by enhancing continuity and mitigating against the
constant churn of mass annual rotations," Sharp said.
"It is an exciting time to be in Korea. This alliance already has a long history
and will only become stronger in the years ahead," he added.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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