This is great news, that General Bell plans on moving USFK bit by bit to Camp Humphreys:
Bell stressed that units will begin to move to Humphreys, as the facilities are ready.
“We’ve agreed ever since day one — and we’re going to execute this — whenever facilities are ready for a unit to move into, we’re going to move them,†he said. “So I would anticipate as soon as buildings … are completed and if we have room, we’ll begin to move units down there — small ones.â€
The plan isn’t to wait until the entire project is complete in five years, he said.
“So there’s not going to be a giant movement one afternoon of thousands of Americans to Pyeongtaek,†he said. “It will be a deliberate effort, and it will be gauged against the completion of appropriate facilities.â€
I said this back in January that if the Korean government is committed to delaying the USFK relocation than the command should begin moving units from either Yongsan or 2ID down to Camp Humphreys bit by bit just to show some kind of physical progress that the relocation is going to happen. Preferably I hope that General Bell gets the 2nd Infantry Division moved off the DMZ and to Camp Humphreys first. 2ID should be moved first so soldiers in the division can take advantage of the new family housing and facilities planned for the Camp Humphreys expansion. Yongsan already has some family housing and plenty of good facilities for soldiers. Moving 2ID first would overall increase the quality of life for USFK soldiers as a whole, not to mention removing 2ID from their vulnerable position on the DMZ to North Korean artillery.Â
Additionally like I have said before I will be amazed if all of Yongsan is turned into a city park after the relocation, and my prediction is becoming increasingly true:
“The original plan for the headquarters is clearly different now than it was two years ago,†he said. The original master plan called for the Combined Forces Command to move to Humphreys.
“Hundreds of Republic of Korea staff officers and commanders and leaders would have moved down there with that operation,†he said. “That is now not going to happen.â€
South Korea will form its own new headquarters with the transfer of OPCOM.
Bell said he assumes South Korea will build the headquarters in Seoul to house what he refers to as a “Republic of Korea Joint Forces Command.â€
"Build the headquarters in Seoul", any guesses what that quote means? As was pointed out at Nomad’s place, it appears Yongsan may have some new tenants after USFK moves out. The apartment developers are not going to like that.Â
Any guesses when the first unit will move down to Camp Humphreys? I say 2009, 2ID begins to move their first units there.Â
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2:04 am on March 20th, 2007 1
This is truely good news. I may not live long enough to see America leave Korea, but MABY I’ll live to see them depart Seoul and the Ujong-bu and Casey areas. I’ll be happy with that.
But I hope the contractors building the new housing are Americans or at least other than Koreans. This has nothing to do with race and ALL to do with cost and quality issues. My 2 cents!
5:28 am on March 20th, 2007 2
The contractors will be Koreans which means cheap housing. However, it will be a great day to see the first units of either 2ID or Yongsan move to Camp Humphreys.
11:39 am on March 20th, 2007 3
Seems to me it might make sense to move 2ID off peninsula, say Alaska or Fort Lewis. Don’t need ground troops once CFC is abolished….
1:37 pm on March 20th, 2007 4
John makes a good point about not needing ground troopers after CFC is a dead issue. Good by to the no smile zone, and welcome home for our troops there.
3:37 pm on March 20th, 2007 5
That would be nice to see 2ID get redeployed somewhere and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen if the ROK government tries to pull anymore delay tactics.
5:44 pm on March 20th, 2007 6
yeah units are driving out the gates as we speak
7:16 pm on March 20th, 2007 7
GI Korea, I have been in the housing units at Camp Humphreys and Osan AB and they are as good as, if not better than public housing in the US and quarters on army bases bases. The facilities being built for USFK are designed by US Architect-Engineer firms that have SOFA status in Korea. Much of the design is for a project is even sub-contracted to firms in Hawaii and California; US funded designs have to be done by US companies. For HN funds we sometimes bring in a local firm. But, I guarentee you that a US licenced professional engineer has looked at all the details, and then stamps them with his or here licence, to certify that the facilities are designed to meet US life-safety codes. If you ever get a look at some of the Camp Casey area as-built drawings, you will find my signature in the certification block. At Osan I sign all my designs and have signed construction drawings at the base as well.
7:52 pm on March 20th, 2007 8
I willing to bet though that Korean workers will be the one building the new facilities, not US workers. If if a building is designed well it doesn’t mean it won’t be built with the Korean bali, bali approach to building. I had experience with the Korean contractors when I was in Uijongbu and was less than impressed by the quality of the buildings after a few months of use. I had to get the contractors to come back to make multiple repairs, which was like pulling teeth to get them to do.
11:24 pm on March 20th, 2007 9
Lcgrant. I know of two barracks on camp Humphreys, likely before your time, because as of 2003 it was said to be condemned but still houseing troops. I don’t remember the number, but from the gate turn left at the church, another left at the “T” intersection, past the cleaners and the chow hall, follow the road as it goes right to the next bus stop. Get off the bus, ( as if you would ride a bus) and cross the street. The barracks set back behind the one at the road. It belongs to C co. 52nd AVN BN. It was falling apart in 2003, no reason to think it is any better now. That Battalion Co in 2003 didn’t give a damn and wouldn’t know a helicopter if it landed on him. The company commander was no better. Anyway, check out that barracks and the ones around it, for a good example of the manner in which these buildings hold up. Many designs look good on paper——–try living in them after four or five years.
7:18 am on March 21st, 2007 10
GIKorea’s point is that the koreans will build it as they do any thing they build
fast and with little concern for long term quality
even if a US architect looks everything over koreans are subcontracted to do all the work on US bases
7:25 am on March 21st, 2007 11
My point as well.
4:21 pm on March 21st, 2007 12
Koreans are not the only ones trying to build projects in a hurry. It happens in the US by general contractors all the time. By finishing early, they are able to maximize their profits. The quality of the facility is in direct proportion to the amount of supervision and administration of the construction contract - lots of S&A high quality; no S&A low quality. If you see lots of white hats on the project, there is a pretty good chance that the quality is high. Conversley, no white hats means no S&A and low quality.
11:24 pm on March 21st, 2007 13
lcgrant:
check out the barracks of the previous posting. Then tell C co. 52nd AVN’s CO that it will be torn down ASAP. Somebody in a position to do so, really needs too.