8th Army Commander General Valcourt answered a number of questions during a recent question and answer period during an AFAP conference held at the Dragon Hill Lodge in Yongsan.  You know it must be Yongsan when soldiers are asking him questions like this:

Issue: The use of umbrellas while in uniform in garrison.

Suggestion: Re-evaluate the regulation forbidding the use of umbrellas in uniform.

Valcourt: Laughed, saying there was a lot of pride in being able to get rained on and still accomplish the mission.

You don’t need an umbrella, that is what your rain jacket is for.  Fortunately General Valcourt was given some more pertinent questions such as this:

Issue: Family members are not given priority employment preference on base, resulting in financial hardships for military families.

Suggestion: Re-evaluate the USFK regulations and SOFA agreement to see if changes are possible.

Valcourt: Called this issue another contentious one, but stressed it isn’t impossible to address.

I have to assume the person asking this question probably already knew the answer, but to give family members more jobs on post would mean less jobs for Koreans and that is what makes it contentious.  I really don’t see much change coming on this issue especially with Koreans already losing jobs due to camp closures and funding cuts.