By Hopefully DODEA is able to get things prepared in time for the increase in families that is sure to come in the near future to USFK:
Faced with projections that the number of children of U.S. servicemembers in South Korea will skyrocket over the next decade, DODEA has hired someone to make sure there are desks waiting.
Andrew Jenkins will kick off his duties as the transformation specialist for Department of Defense Dependents Schools on the peninsula in the next few weeks, according to a Department of Defense Education Activity news release.
His job will be to plan for the expansion of DODEA’s education operations on the Korean peninsula to accommodate an increase in command-sponsored tours for military families, according to the release.
By 2020, the number of DODDS students in South Korea is expected to increase from 4,300 students today attending nine schools to 20,000 students going to as many as 22 schools.
Jenkins retired from the U.S. Army in 2008 as a lieutenant colonel. His 20-year career included experience in Korea. [Stars & Stripes]
10:09 pm on January 14th, 2010 1
EXCEPTIONAL…All the extra seats for all the Koreans just waiting to get an American-style education without having to lie and cheat to get into an International School. Great…he’ll be able to get rich on all the kickbacks and under-the-table loopholes that his predecessors have perfected. How KOREANS (not even US military-related) are allowed into the schools…while retirees kids are told that they are on a “space-available” basis but there is no room.
Yes, I have nothing but scorn for the DODDS school that let their mandate for educating AMERICAN children — including retirees’ kids — and letting the multitude of Koreans in — including the fake adoptions (Aunt’s married to GI adopt kid for duration of stay).
The DODDS has done its job with many great teachers over the years BUT the overhead in management have perverted the system.
Ask any retiree (or contractor retiree) about their feelings about the DODDS overhead rules that allow Koreans in and keep the retiree kids out and you’ll get approximately the same blasphemous answer as I give here.
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January 15th, 2010 at 3:50 am
Well I thought of bringing up all the fraud with Korean students going on that I have covered here on the site, but I guess we should at least give this guy a chance to see what he plans on doing.
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January 17th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Interesting comments on this new job. I too wonder how this individual got hired. He did 20 years at a Lt. Col and got out. Which means he wasnt forced out as you can do more than 20 years. Could it be that he got out due to NOT wanting to do his tour in Afghanistan or Iraq? After all, those of us who have been in Korea know the amount of soldiers and airmen who HIDE in Korea and actually get a bonus and have still never been downrange. What is “experience” in Korea mean? What is his GS rating going to be?
I never saw this job opportunity advertized in accordance with DOD hiring practices.
As to the retirees bitching about their kids not getting into DoDDs schools. Hello, Hello? Why are you remaining in this cesspool of Kimcheeland when you can be enjoying retirement in the USA or Thailand?
Yes, there are those who get into DoDDs schools by breaches of integrity. If you know who, report this to the I G, Office of Investigation of the Air Force, CID or equivalent.
Personally I think we ought to get the hell out of Korea. For the 6+ years I was in Korea I remember countless fraud and corruption scandals of Koreans trying to rip off commissaries, PX and building projects. I believe I used to read about 250-300 protests against the American government each year. Do Koreans get on board by fighting in Afghanistan or Iraq? No. These KATUSA mommas boys would piss their pants the moment they came under attack. Korea continues to dishonor the SOFA agreement by NOT paying their fair share of American troops in Korea. Korea wants to be a world player economically, and yet the best they can do is send a few stupid missionaries to Afghanistan who get captured and cost time and embarrissment to all. They dont support us and yet we have been there to liberate them twice. I say let the two Koreas duke it out. Now that would be interesting to watch.
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10:11 pm on January 14th, 2010 2
Again I repeat the DODDS teachers are exceptional — but the system sucks.
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7:57 am on January 15th, 2010 3
Jenkins retired from the U.S. Army in 2008 as a lieutenant colonel. His 20-year career included experience in Korea.
and how much of that is in education? or does it matter? Ah..the good o boy system at it’s finest..but like it was mentioned earlier, let’s wait and see and watch how he does.
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January 16th, 2010 at 12:29 am
Really guys? You are going to judge this guy from a short article in the Stars and Stripes? If your retired I am pretty sure you don’t have the right to attend a DoDEA school overseas. Get over your privilege self.
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January 16th, 2010 at 3:02 am
Joe Blow,
This isn’t about the man. He’s coming into a system that is already rigged. The facts have been published — over and over again in the Stars and Stripes along with the local newspapers. The situation has NOT changed one iota. My observation period? Twenty years.
My kid is out of school now so this does not affect me or her. When she was growing up we lived where there were no DoDDS school nearby.
As to your “pretty sure” statement, you’d better recheck your facts. The space available clause has been part of the world-wide DoDDS mandate from when I was in the military decades ago. Here at Osan AB, ask your friendly neighbor contractor-retiree who is shelling out big bucks to send his kids to the Pyeongtaek ICS — or settle for homeschooling his kids.
My beef is NOT with this man nor with the DoDDS teachers who in my opinion are doing an exceptional job. My beef is with the system’s loopholes that have not been closed to Koreans who take the “space available” space of a military retiree’s kids.
What really bites is that the last time they were caught last year, the DoDDS administration said it was perfectly legal for KOREAN students caught attending the DoDDS high school (not military-related nor US citizens even) to attend the DoDDS school on a “space-available” basis — while at the same time telling the contractor-retiree that there were no “space-available” slots.
Now with an increased student population, there should be many more of these “space-available” slots for the Koreans. That’s all I’m saying.
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January 16th, 2010 at 7:37 am
I hope your wrong Kalani. But I know that people no matter where you go abuse the system. Honestly, if you are a retiree and you decide to stay in Korea for what ever reason I don’t see why you should expect to go to a DoDEA school. If you want your children to get an American education you either have your company shell out the cash for one of those space-available spots or get an American education in America. If you made the choice to live in Korea you need to live with what’s there. I always hear about how great the Korea school system is versus the American so it shouldn’t a bad choice either way.
January 16th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Joe Blow,
Don’t want to beat a dead horse? It’s obvious you are non-military and also have no idea of the Korean educational system (“how great the Korean school system is…choke…) Nor do you have any concept of the costs entailed in International schools. Nor do you have any idea of the past problems in the KOREAN DoDDS — that are not seen in the Japan, Germany, England, Italian, etc DoDDS. But for one last time and I will comment on this thread no longer.
You seem to advocate providing FREE education to Korean citizens from wealthy Korean families who are NOT non-tax paying US citizens nor affiliated with the military system for which DoDDS was created. At the same time, you seem to advocate using the “space-available” seat that a US military retiree is authorized to apply for — to be given to the Korean student who has NO RIGHT to be in the seat.
Can’t you see that there is something wrong with this picture??? End of comments.
January 17th, 2010 at 4:09 am
Wow great way to get the last word. “End of Comments.” What a joke. Pathetic Kalani. First, you are right I don’t know anything about the Korean education system but I hate the fact that the American system is always put down because of how well they score in testing. Second, I never said I advocate free education for Korean citizens in DoDDS schools. Don’t twist my words, again pathetic attempt. On to third, I have plenty of experience in the military, dealing with DoD civilians, and retirees. All of us are equally self-righteous spoiled and act like it is our right to work overseas. Lastly (going for the inside the park homerun), if it is so bad keep up the good fight, write your congressman, write the president, write your local blog…wait you did that…now its a dead horse…(violins play softly in the background while the fat lady sings).
January 17th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
So you ” …. hate the fact that the American system is always put down …” Take you own advice ” Get over your privilege self.” Hope you feel better soon.
January 18th, 2010 at 12:47 am
What? Who? Wow…..like I said Caveman, “All of us are equally self-righteous spoiled and act like it is our right to work overseas.” I know that you know that I know we all are privilege to serve our great nation.
3:12 am on January 18th, 2010 4
Two points to be made…
#1 What is pecking order for who gets in a DODDS school?
#2 Where does the money go when a Korean goes to a DODDS school? Don’t even tell me its free…
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