Tour normalization coming to Korea

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Malinda Singleton
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  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.

According to a USFK press release that was sent out Thursday, the request for tour normalization in Korea was made by Gen. Walter Sharp, United States Forces Korea commander.

The approval was granted in a memorandum signed by Dr. David Chu, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Dec. 1 and will result in a change to the Joint Federal Travel Regulation. Each service branch is required to send an implementation plan to DoD by March 1.

With this directive, accompanied tours at Pyeongtaek, Osan, Daegu, Chinhae and Seoul will increase from 24 months to 36 months. Also two additional locations, Dongducheon and Uijongbu, will now start allowing 24 month accompanied tours.
Unaccompanied tours will remain 12 months at all seven locations and 24 months for key personnel.

"This was a huge step forward," stated General Sharp in the press release. "It was critical that this request was approved because it codifies the Department of Defense's commitment to tour normalization for Korea."

"We are going to do this right," he continued. "This means that we will increase the number of servicemembers coming over with their families on command sponsored tours as we are able to upgrade infrastructure and services. Our goal is to reach the point when the majority of U.S. servicemembers can bring their families to Korea and stay for normal three-year tours."

Servicemembers assigned to locations with limited facilities will be required to sign a memorandum acknowledging the exact services available at the installation prior to acceptance of command sponsorship.

Seventh Air Force is working closely with USFK and PACAF to address normalization at Osan Air Base, including making Korea a station of choice, addressing family member employment and identifying initiatives to support school-age children.

"We're in the early stages," said Lt. Gen. Jeff Remington, Seventh Air Force commander. "Our major tasks include confirming facts and assumptions. We're looking at implementation plans, construction, programmed funding and innovative ways to build quality housing for our families.

"We also have to evaluate any immediate impact for servicemembers serving accompanied and unaccompanied tours now and in the future," he added. "Our ultimate intent is to stabilize tours for Airmen and their families at the right time, with the right support infrastructure, while improving our ability to conduct air operations in the Republic of Korea and enhance the US-ROK alliance."