The usual no drinking order for major USFK training exercises has been announced:
U.S. Forces Korea posted a no-alcohol policy this week for an upcoming exercise. According to the policy, alcohol consumption is “strictly forbidden” by participants during the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, which begins just after midnight Aug. 8 and ends on or about Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. Alcoholic beverages are banned from command posts, life support areas, exercise control centers, the Walker Center and all training ranges and facilities. The policy also states that troops must carry or secure their weapons while on duty, but may not carry them into the Dragon Hill Lodge, banks or places serving alcohol. Unloaded weapons are allowed in post or base exchanges, food courts, snack bars and other on-post commercial facilities. [Stars & Stripes]
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11:23 pm on August 9th, 2008 1
Uh … Stars and Stripes seems to have left off a digit. The actual policy (linked here) says the no alcohol begins NLT 180001 AUG 08 - 18 Aug, not 8 Aug. For early deployers, it begins as soon as they occupy their CAX place of duty.
1:47 am on August 10th, 2008 2
“…Alcoholic beverages are banned from command posts, life support areas, exercise control centers, the Walker Center and all training ranges and facilities.”
Gee, did you GIs have alcoholic beverages there before?
12:44 pm on August 10th, 2008 3
The Emasculation of the U.S. Military!
It was just a matter of time before the B/S policies from Iraq spilled over to other countries…even if they are ridiculous in nature (who drinks in the places outlined anyway), but look out, the PC Brass will eventually include “No Alcohol Anytime, Anywhere” in the future.
It is all a big setup for the major fall that is coming for the U.S. military. Afterall…they ARE Americans & you can only push the All Volunteer Force so far before there is some eventual public backlash.
Our military leadership has become a bunch of teetotaling pantywaist that are only fooling themselves if they continue to think the military today will continue to keep stepping up to the line to fight wars that U.S. policy, not the American people, have no intention of seeing them through to the end…when their very own rights are being degraded on a continuous basis.
…and they have the gall to call theirselves Warriors? Not even close.
12:46 pm on August 10th, 2008 4
“they continue to think the military today will continue to keep stepping up to the line to fight wars that U.S. policy, not the American people, have no intention of seeing them through to the end…when their very own rights are being degraded on a continuous basis.”
Should read “NOR” the American people…
2:23 am on August 11th, 2008 5
Commanders set up “no-alcohol” policies because they can. Nothing says “weak leader” and “risk averse” like these alcohol policies and curfews.
1:04 pm on August 11th, 2008 6
This is a very good policy as long as everyone in CFC obey it which includes ROKs. But I always run into couple of ROKA LNOs whom I worked with violating alocohol policy at KATUSA snack bar and off post during the exercise. They even offer a drinks to me and when I refused, they said, “CPT Kim, you are more American than Korean. You actually followed the no alcohol policy.”
9:06 am on August 12th, 2008 7
It doesn’t mention tokin’ or sex trade workers, so maybe you’ll be able to fill those empty hours in the OP still.
2:55 pm on August 13th, 2008 8
ha, you don’t have to worry about a whiz quiz during the exercise, lol.
Anyway, this general order won’t stop the real dedicated alkies from drinking during the exercise. Doesn’t stop guys in Iraq either.
5:56 pm on August 29th, 2008 9
To my understanding, this policy has been in place for every exercise in recent history… or atleast the last two.
The big change that most soldiers were excited about was that for this exercise, soldiers not participating were exempt from the alcohol ban. On USAG Yongsan I noticed many soldiers that were obviously not participating, by wearing garrison berets and out in Itaewon drinking. The policy is only restrictive to those participating, and as far as I know it has aways been that way.
2:22 pm on September 25th, 2008 10
Let me get this straight, no drinking during an exercise?
When I was a security policeman, the only way you were going to get some sleep was to have a few beers after your 26 hour shift. This was because you consumed so many cups of coffee that you were running on caffiene. Add to the fact you had to be back to work within 12 to 15 hours.
My God, treat the freaking troops like adults not like kids. Telling troops not to drink when its readily available is stupid. As long as they are not on duty, troops should be able to do as they damn well please. If you want to keep them on base during an exercise, fine that’s the commanders perview. It’s bad enough having to work ungodly hours for weeks at a time and not getting enough sleep. Now they want to ban drinking during an exercise??
7:07 pm on September 25th, 2008 11
What was the name of the 3 star General that started this policy. If I remember correctly this policy has been around since the mid eighties.
5:55 pm on October 7th, 2008 12
I was here on pen during the 80’s (1987-89) and I don’t believe there was an alcohol ban at the time. I recall going bar-hopping during exercises. Even if we were “in the field”, sleeping in tents. I remember being at CP TANGO many times. We’d come back to Yongsan for shower/laundry runs. I’d hit the steam-and-cream for a good scrubdown, then out to Itaewon for some partying. I was in my 20’s then–didn’t need much sleep
8:25 pm on October 7th, 2008 13
In 2ID there was one, but it was BN wide, not USFK wide.
If the BN was in the field you were on Lock down. No ville runnin, juicy chasin or alchohol
and this was in 89.