By Remember President Bush’s promise to halt further USFK reductions? Well I guess he didn’t mean it:
The Secretary of Defense has approved the restationing of one of the two Apache reconnaissance battalions currently stationed in the Republic of Korea, the 1-2 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, in order to make the unit available for rotational deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The helicopter battalion is being restationed to Fort Carson, Colorado. [USFK Press Release]
To replace the combat capabilities lost by the departed battalion of Apache helicopters 12 Air Force A-10′s will be temporarily deployed to Korea. The slow motion withdrawal of USFK from Korea continues.
9:27 am on November 16th, 2008 1
This is why we just offered to sell the ROKA around 40 (IIRC) used Apaches upgraded to Longbow standard.
10:50 am on November 16th, 2008 2
Its time we let the snappers do there own snappin and we start regrouping for other things that WE need TO direct more attention to then THE LAND OF SNAPPERS and DAKS.
12:55 pm on November 16th, 2008 3
I looked it up, and apparently there are about 28,500 troops in Korea currently. The 24 Apaches will reduce the US number of Apaches by 50% and approximately 500 troops, bringing the permanent troops stationed in Korea to around 28,000. 2ID makes up the bulk of the rest with around 8,000 Airforce.
3:44 pm on November 16th, 2008 4
NOT good news from a strictly military point of view in a defensive situation…these attack choppers can deliver a deadly blow to an advancing force, RTB and do it again & again.
But then again…the US might just be telling the ROK that it is time to get off their arse & start pulling their own weight.
7:01 pm on November 16th, 2008 5
Curious as to what the troops levels are now.(permanent) I believe they were estimated at 25-30,000 a year ago. Its not really alot to begin with, but any reduction can only be positive.
7:34 pm on November 16th, 2008 6
I agree with Gerry %100… Its time to use the assets there in other places than DAK land. I am sure they could use them in Iraq or Afganistan. In Korea they just waist tax dollars flying training missions daily.
Pull um out!!!
Mike
10:29 pm on November 16th, 2008 7
USFK is still sending mixed signals – get rid of the Apaches and bring in the families.
2:14 am on November 17th, 2008 8
Could someone in the military answer this questikon. A few months I was a midewestern airport that evidently was used by the National Guard. I saw row upon row of planes (transports) and Blackhawks.
I have read that the Military is hard pressed to keep certain aircraft in the field due to over use.
Those aircarft that are assigned to the National Guard, are they permitted to be deployed as replacement aircraft to units in the field?
I am ASSUMING that the Natiuonal Guard aircraft have less use?
2:42 am on November 17th, 2008 9
#8
I don't know how true it is today, but in general the Guard and Reserves had older model equipments than the active forces. Especially in today's emphasis on network centric warfare, the current model may not be just the chassis and motor but more about the electronic packages.
Maybe the equipment you saw was not up to what they need in the field right now. That probably doesn't apply to the transports but maybe to the blackhawks.
2:49 am on November 17th, 2008 10
RICHARD, I'll try to answer the question and hope others might be able to further elaborate.
It has been practice to send helocopters and aircraft to Iraq and Afganistan and keep them there while only rotating the troops and units who use them. So yes, many assets 'in theatre' do get used heavily and wear out. When that happens they are sent to major repair and maintenence facilities within theatre. When they wear beyond servicability or are no longer flyable they are replaced by assets in the US.
While it is possible to find new helocopters or others assigned to units in the States, it is not practible or economically wise to continue to rotate the aircraft in and out of theatre.
Considering the large numbers of cargo aircraft and helocopters in Iraq and Afganistan and their high usage it is understandible that they would be wearing out faster.
Many National Guard units have had their assets transfered to Iraq and Afganistan when they first deloyed several years ago. Some units were stripped bare as the aircraft remained in theatre while the troops later rotated home.
The aircraft you saw could have been new aircraft or aircraft being shuffled around in the states to reconstitute a unit.
7:57 pm on November 17th, 2008 11
You said it all Gerry…case closed.