U.S. denies plans are in progress to station an IBCT in S. Korea
By Jim Lea, Osan bureau chief
U.S. Army officials in Seoul have denied recent South Korean news reports that there
are definite plans to develop a highly mobile brigade combat team in South Korea.
The news reports were based on testimony given in March to the Senate Armed Services
Committee by Gen. Thomas A. Schwartz, the top U.S. commander in South Korea.
Schwartz told the committee he is "pushing for the stationing of one Interim
Brigade Combat Team in Korea to replace one existing brigade."
But that doesn’t mean plans are in progress, said U.S. Army officials.
"There are no plans to deploy or permanently station an IBCT in Korea or to
transform one of the two 2ID brigades into one," said Maj. David W. Pomarnke, of 8th
Army’s Force Development section.
The IBCT is composed of an artillery battalion, three infantry battalions, engineer and
military intelligence units, and a reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition
squadron.
Schwartz said the unit "will provide the maneuverability and combat power
necessary to operate in the mountainous and increasing urbanized terrain of Korea and will
also prepare us to refocus the Army’s forward-deployed forces in Korea to a regional
role."
Other command officials have said the IBCT concept would be ideal in South Korea.
But, they added, Schwartz had only taken the opportunity of his Senate testimony
"to express his interest in having an IBCT as part of the force in Korea."
Schwartz also told the Senate committee that an IBCT in Korea would be a "rapidly
deployable ground force" to complement Air Force, Navy and Marine forces "as
U.S. Forces Korea’s role transitions to that of Northeast Asia regional
security."
That seemed to indicate Schwartz saying an IBCT in Korea would be available to meet
regional conflicts — a major change in U.S. military contingency plans.
Troops traditionally have deployed to, not from, South Korea.
U.S. Forces Korea spokesmen said the term "deploy" does not necessarily mean
deployment out of country.
The Army is creating two IBCTs at Fort Lewis, Wash.
The units will be fortified with new equipment such as the Army Light Armored Vehicle
that is under development.
Similar to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the 18-ton LAV can carry a nine-man infantry
squad and has a crew of two.
It has a top speed of 60 mph and can be carried in a C-130 Hercules transport.
The Army hopes to buy more than 2,100 in several versions to outfit six brigades.
One version is equipped with an auto-loading 105 mm gun.
Army officials said plans are to field the first IBCT in November 2003.
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