Posted on Jan 8, 2014
SFC Psd
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Will 9 mouth unit rotation to Korea become the norm, and
what is your personal opinion to the deployments near the DMZ?



Posted in these groups: Korea KoreaImgres Deployment
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Responses: 11
1SG First Sergeant
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I recently attended a briefing with the Force Management SGM at the Pentagon, and this is going to be the new way that Korea is done. Equipment will remain in country, and units will rotate in and fall in on the equipment as they take over, and a HQ element remains in country if I remember correctly. 

While from a manpower standpoint this makes some sense, to me it leaves some problems on the table. When compared to other similar deployments where you fall in on equipment already on station, the problem I forsee is a matter of ownership and pride. Soldiers tend to take more pride in the maintenance and appearance of equipment that they consider their own. If they are just maintaining equipment on a rotational basis, where do you see the maintenance standards trending to?
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1SG Steven Stankovich
1SG Steven Stankovich
11 y
Great input SFC Busko.  O/R numbers are critical, especially with "theater equipment."  I see the O/R percentage taking a dip during the first few rotations.  Until the logistics establish and exercise a plan to keep up the equipment, regular maintenance will suffer.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
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If it's anything like a deployment to Kuwait then I pray I never have to go. At least in Kuwait we were supporting the drawdown and bounced all over Iraq. Nine months away from this beautiful country of ours just to sit in Korea? No thanks lol. 
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SFC Psd
SFC (Join to see)
11 y
I would rather go to Korea for 9 month than for 12. but I understand what you are saying.
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SGT Thomas Lucken
SGT Thomas Lucken
>1 y
Rather be in Korea before Kuwait!  But I spent a total of 13 years in Korea on 3 different tours and the climate and duty was harsher to, then it is now.  :-)
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CW2 Joseph Evans
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Seriously, we either need permanent units or we just need to get out all together. 
Iraq, 10 times, 1 year at a time
Afghanistan, 13 times, 1 year at a time
Korea, 60 times, 1 year at a time
It doesn't work.


Italy, 3 years
Germany, 3 years 
Japan, 3 years 
Governorships in the Philippines 1902-1912, 3 years 
It works.

History lessons learned. Why do we keep repeating the same mistakes. The drawdown is the time to really look at what has and hasn't worked and to stop throwing good money after bad.
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SFC Operations Supervisor
SFC (Join to see)
11 y
I think that would also have huge gains in the experience level of the troops assigned. Knowing the population, culture and such.
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