By Here is an update on the USFK contractor issue:
A new Army Audit Agency report says officers responsible for deciding whether civilian contractors qualified for status of forces agreement visas in South Korea were sometimes not properly trained to make those decisions.Many contractors who thought they were working in the country legally have lost their jobs in recent months when officials began looking into SOFA discrepancies.
The report also said that decision-makers wrongly assumed that contractors qualified for SOFA status if they were U.S. citizens.
“USFK (U.S. Forces Korea) didn’t meet its SOFA-defined responsibility to prevent abuse of privileges the agreement granted to USFK and its personnel,” said the report, released in June. [Ashley Rowland - Stars & Stripes]
What I am wondering is whether or not the officers that made these decisions will face any consequences for the mess they made that has affected the lives of dozens of people and their families?
You can read more about this issue at the USFKSOFA.com webpage and I have also set up a special Forum over at the ROK Drop Forums as well to discuss the USFK contractor issue.
11:00 am on July 3rd, 2009 1
“What I am wondering is whether or not the officers that made these decisions will face any consequences for the mess they made that has affected the lives of dozens of people and their families?”
Well.. no. They are not to blame. They were not trained. And the “tainers” din’t now they were supposed to train them in that way.
Obviously, the System failed… so the System, and not people, is to blame.
So, there will be stand-downs, additional training and a re-restrospective post-incident effort-redoubling investigative evaluation to ensure that it is clear that these systemic problems are taken seriously.
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2:49 am on July 4th, 2009 2
Oh, those officers are not here anymore–don’t you know the person who just left is always the one to blame–
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7:26 am on August 23rd, 2009 3
I heard Scott Boner made it out of Korea in one piece.
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6:45 pm on February 7th, 2010 4
I am one of the victim stil trying to figure out how to get back on the last job. I spent 7thousands of dollars just for the vehicle shipment. I do not want to count further that makes me insane.
Anyway when I was in korea, I tried legal office on base to seek for more help. The answer was “it is govenment so there is nothing we can do.” matter fact that they were told not to handle any of SOFA issues(officer or representative told me to the side).
I am assuming since that CCK is government side therefore contractors cannot do anything but take it as if there was any change affect made in one’s life.
Excuses should not make up for anything that CCK did to us. they should pay it in expenses. I feel like they denied me just because I am a minority.
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7:32 pm on February 7th, 2010 5
You had me on your side until you started blaming your minority status instead of greed, careerism, cronyism, favoritism or incompetence.
As the same thing happened to many others in the same situation, regardless of race/color/creed, your accusations do a great disservice to anyone who may have truly been discriminated against.
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8:58 pm on February 7th, 2010 6
I also was affected by this policy. I think there is something we are not being told. I am sure CCK has been audited before.
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10:22 pm on February 7th, 2010 7
“I heard Scott Boner made it out of Korea in one piece.”
No, remarkably, he is still here. He has crawled out from under whatever rock he was hiding under and has been seen in Anjung-ri/Osan area and Seoul. Not really the most popular person on penn.
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