Part of I Corps HQ may leave Ft. Lewis for Zama

TOKYO — Talks are under way about possibly relocating part of the Army’s I Corps headquarters from Fort Lewis, Wash., to Camp Zama, Japan, U.S. officials confirmed Tuesday.

“Talks are in progress on changes that could affect the Pacific region,” said U.S. Army Japan spokesman Maj. Randy Cephus. “There are talks; however, it is in the planning phases.”

The development follows reports early this year that the Army plans to restructure its major commands in the region, moving general officers and possibly dismantling the 8th Army and the U.N. command in South Korea and USARJ in Japan.

“I am not able to discuss specifics, but among them is the possibility of moving a portion of the [I Corps] headquarters here,” Cephus said.

GlobalSecurity.org describes I Corps as “an early deploying corps for military contingencies in the Pacific … able to deploy on short notice. … War plans for I Corps include the defense of Korea or the defense of Japan. … I Corps base units include approximately 20,000 active-duty soldiers at Fort Lewis, Washington, and an equal number of U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers based in many of the fifty states.”

Other possibilities are being considered, Cephus added. The Army is streamlining major commands in all theaters as part of a Department of Defense transformation effort.

Japan’s Kyodo News Service reported the ongoing talks Tuesday. U.S. Pacific Command officials would not comment on the Kyodo report, but officials said the United States is consulting with many allies including Japan on ways to realign and strengthen the U.S. military in Asia.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied that specific plans have been proposed.

— Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.