Comments on: General Bell: Korea, “Not a Combat Zone” http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/ Serving on the Forgotten Frontier Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:14:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: April http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-185239 April Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:07:05 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-185239 My husband told me that even after being in Iraq twice, being in Korea without the kids and me was the hardest thing he's ever experienced. I think it is because it is mostly a regular assignment and it isn't like being deployed at all. Yes, there are inconveniences and unfriendly people to deal with but it is definitely not a deployment. So, with our own money, I flew out here with four children to stay here as non-command sponsored. We will have to pay to fly the children and me home as well. My husband AIP'd so we will be here a while anyway. I think making it a family tour would help with any of the legitimate behavior complaints and it would certainly be better for the servicemembers' physical and mental health (will keep them out of the bars). My husband told me that even after being in Iraq twice, being in Korea without the kids and me was the hardest thing he’s ever experienced. I think it is because it is mostly a regular assignment and it isn’t like being deployed at all. Yes, there are inconveniences and unfriendly people to deal with but it is definitely not a deployment.

So, with our own money, I flew out here with four children to stay here as non-command sponsored. We will have to pay to fly the children and me home as well. My husband AIP’d so we will be here a while anyway. I think making it a family tour would help with any of the legitimate behavior complaints and it would certainly be better for the servicemembers’ physical and mental health (will keep them out of the bars).

]]> By: General Bell: Korea, “Not a Combat Zone” - ROK Drop via MySpace News http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-167939 General Bell: Korea, “Not a Combat Zone” - ROK Drop via MySpace News Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:43:35 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-167939 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] Click here to read more. Click here to return to Korea Click here to return to MySpace News. [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] Click here to read more. Click here to return to Korea Click here to return to MySpace News. [...]

]]> By: is korea an army combat zones - Dogpile Web Search http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-155878 is korea an army combat zones - Dogpile Web Search Fri, 02 May 2008 12:42:30 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-155878 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] that ... www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1854585,00.htm... &#149 Found on Ask.com General Bell: Korea, ?Not a Combat Zone? Jan 19, 2008 ... Instead, troops should serve in South Korea for three years with their families, [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] that … http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1854585,00.htm... &#149 Found on Ask.com General Bell: Korea, ?Not a Combat Zone? Jan 19, 2008 … Instead, troops should serve in South Korea for three years with their families, [...]

]]> By: Jax http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-120076 Jax Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:44:15 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-120076 Checking in from Iraq ... As I was thinking about seeing my LES this month, it suddenly dawned upon me why Korea is not a combat zone: - no Combat Zone Tax Exclusion - no Hostile Fire Pay If DoD, Congress, and the ROK government want to put their money where their mouth is, then start paying these entitlements to all troops in Korea (ROK and US). I won't be holding my breath. Otherwise, let GEN Bell (who is the Commander on the ground) make the call. Afterall, that same priviledge has been consistently afforded to GEN Petraeus. Checking in from Iraq …

As I was thinking about seeing my LES this month, it suddenly dawned upon me why Korea is not a combat zone:

- no Combat Zone Tax Exclusion

- no Hostile Fire Pay

If DoD, Congress, and the ROK government want to put their money where their mouth is, then start paying these entitlements to all troops in Korea (ROK and US). I won’t be holding my breath.

Otherwise, let GEN Bell (who is the Commander on the ground) make the call. Afterall, that same priviledge has been consistently afforded to GEN Petraeus.

]]> By: GI Korea http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119889 GI Korea Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:28:50 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119889 Korea last year spent $780 million on funding USFK with the vast majority of their money funding building construction and paying base workers. A big chunk of that budget is going towards paying for the construction of new buildings on Camp Humphreys. Who is building all these buildings and working on base? Koreans of course, so basically the Korean government's money goes to subsidizing Korean jobs. http://rokdrop.com/2006/12/06/us-rok-cost-sharing-agreement-reached/ What do they get in return? Extremely advanced communications, C2, and intel along with about 1/12th of the world's most powerful military's combat power sitting on the peninsula. Sounds like a very good trade off for the ROKs. The US economy is not benefiting from the current US presence in Korea. They won't sign a fair free trade agreement or even let US beef producers sell beef fairly in Korea. Though I suspect this may change with Lee Myung-bak taking office. The only valid argument for a continuing US presence in Korea is regional stability which I think is still valid, but that doesn't mean the US needs to keep the current troop levels in place. Korea last year spent $780 million on funding USFK with the vast majority of their money funding building construction and paying base workers. A big chunk of that budget is going towards paying for the construction of new buildings on Camp Humphreys. Who is building all these buildings and working on base? Koreans of course, so basically the Korean government’s money goes to subsidizing Korean jobs.

http://rokdrop.com/2006/12/06/us-rok-cost-sharing-agreement-reached/

What do they get in return? Extremely advanced communications, C2, and intel along with about 1/12th of the world’s most powerful military’s combat power sitting on the peninsula. Sounds like a very good trade off for the ROKs.

The US economy is not benefiting from the current US presence in Korea. They won’t sign a fair free trade agreement or even let US beef producers sell beef fairly in Korea. Though I suspect this may change with Lee Myung-bak taking office.

The only valid argument for a continuing US presence in Korea is regional stability which I think is still valid, but that doesn’t mean the US needs to keep the current troop levels in place.

]]> By: Pete http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119737 Pete Mon, 21 Jan 2008 07:33:36 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119737 Actually Korea (as do most countries where US troops are stationed) pays a percent of the cost to keep US troops here. In addition, by having US forces here we have a better chance of selling US weapons to their military (again, same as in other countries where US forces are stationed). Additionally, we build up trading partners and contribute to regional stability. Consequently, the US economy benefits from Soldiers serving overseas. The current trend to redeploy US forces back to the US may have long term negative economic effects. Bottom line – if the US forces were not in Korea, more than likely, soldiers from another country (probably communist) would be here. (Look at our plans to move into the old Eastern European Block nations.) Actually Korea (as do most countries where US troops are stationed) pays a percent of the cost to keep US troops here. In addition, by having US forces here we have a better chance of selling US weapons to their military (again, same as in other countries where US forces are stationed). Additionally, we build up trading partners and contribute to regional stability. Consequently, the US economy benefits from Soldiers serving overseas. The current trend to redeploy US forces back to the US may have long term negative economic effects. Bottom line – if the US forces were not in Korea, more than likely, soldiers from another country (probably communist) would be here. (Look at our plans to move into the old Eastern European Block nations.)

]]> By: Beatinzone http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119629 Beatinzone Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:24:14 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119629 I was hanging out with some (about 8 actually) of my buddies this past weekend, all of whom are garrisoned at Camp Walker, when we got on the subject of being posted in Korea. Guess what? NOT ONE PERSON wanted to be here or really liked it here! Again, let's get the military out of this ungrateful country. They are bleeding the US, plain and simple. If they haven't learned to fight for themselves after 55 years, that's their problem. They don't want any non-Koreans in their country anyway so let's goodbye. I was hanging out with some (about 8 actually) of my buddies this past weekend, all of whom are garrisoned at Camp Walker, when we got on the subject of being posted in Korea. Guess what? NOT ONE PERSON wanted to be here or really liked it here!

Again, let’s get the military out of this ungrateful country. They are bleeding the US, plain and simple. If they haven’t learned to fight for themselves after 55 years, that’s their problem. They don’t want any non-Koreans in their country anyway so let’s goodbye.

]]> By: Kingkitty http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119361 Kingkitty Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:09:55 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119361 yep well I have found for the younger Soldiers, if they stay past one year they typically leave with less rank yep well I have found for the younger Soldiers, if they stay past one year they typically leave with less rank

]]> By: The Florida Masochist http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119249 The Florida Masochist Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:17:29 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119249 GI, Congress isn't well informed about issues close to home Look at Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. She mixed up the Fed Chair and the Sec. of the Treasury. How do you expect them to know what goes on in Korea? Cheers, Bill GI,

Congress isn’t well informed about issues close to home Look at Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. She mixed up the Fed Chair and the Sec. of the Treasury. How do you expect them to know what goes on in Korea?

Cheers,

Bill

]]> By: ZenKimchi http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119237 ZenKimchi Sat, 19 Jan 2008 12:12:51 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/19/general-bell-korea-not-a-combat-zone/#comment-119237 When I lived in Germany and worked for AAFES in Heidelberg, I remember repeatedly hearing how Korea (in 1992) was the worst assignment to get. Still, though not nearly as bad as Iraq and Afghanistan, I truly feel for the GIs who have to do a year here without their families. When I lived in Germany and worked for AAFES in Heidelberg, I remember repeatedly hearing how Korea (in 1992) was the worst assignment to get. Still, though not nearly as bad as Iraq and Afghanistan, I truly feel for the GIs who have to do a year here without their families.

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