By This retired Tech Sergeant really hit the nail on the head in regards to the contractor issue and the hiring of military spouses:
It was with great annoyance that I read the July 24 article “‘They can’t get by’” (Korea edition).
The U.S. Forces Korea commander, Gen. Walter Sharp, is trying to make it easier for dependent spouses to find employment here in South Korea. What a wonderful gesture!
Let me throw a different light on this topic. The Filipina bar girl I bought drinks for seven years ago (maybe longer) is now married and a dependent spouse. She is now a dependent spouse and Sharp wants to make it easier for her to find work.
I, on the other hand, served 20 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, retired and remained in South Korea, and Contracting Command Korea turned down my status-of-forces-agreement status (mine and about 86 other Defense Department contractors’) last year because we were “ordinarily resident” in South Korea at the time we were hired. Most of us lost our jobs as a result of this action.
I am certainly glad to hear that Sharp has his priorities well in order!
Tech. Sgt. Charles Lacy (retired)
Songtan, South Korea
4:04 am on August 23rd, 2009 1
That's not right. Contractor jobs should go to first and foremost the most qualified, then to the 3rd world spouse. (Most qualified being veterans, of course.)