More Troop Families Move to SKorea

[unhappycamper]

More Troop Families Move to SKorea
December 16, 2009
Military.com|by Bryant Jordan

While a state of war officially remains between North and South Korea – a cease-fire that sometimes seems iffy given the north’s nuclear ambitions and missile tests – that’s not stopping the U.S. from moving a growing number of military spouses and children to what could become ground zero for World War III.

Regardless of risk, there are distinct benefits to the new policy, experts say, including cost savings and improved professional and cultural connections between Americans and Koreans. And besides, says the commander of U.S. forces in Korea, the two countries have developed a working plan to evacuate civilians from the peninsular if the shooting starts.

More than a year since Defense Secretary Robert Gates approved plans to turn historically one-year, unaccompanied Army and Air Force tours to South Korea into three years and permit families to go along, the number of troops serving in these assignments has risen from about 1,700 to 3,700. And that number should be up to about 4,900 a year from now, says Army Gen. Walter L. "Skip" Sharp, commander of United States Forces Korea.

Eventually, says Sharp, as schools and hospitals for dependants expand, he expects the number to grow to 14,000. The longer, accompanied tours are open to Soldiers and Airmen.

Sharp sees no problem with thousands of military spouses and kids living in what would be a combat theater in the event shooting started between the Koreas or if Korea seriously threatened Japan or any other American ally.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/more-troop-families-move-to-skorea.html