A program that pays troops extra money for extending their tours in South Korea will go largely unchanged under a new policy that will let more troops bring their families to the peninsula, according to U.S. Forces Korea.
The only major change to the Assignment Incentive Pay program will be allowing servicemembers who receive a new type of command sponsorship to be eligible for an extra $300 per month. Those eligible are: soldiers and airmen in three-year accompanied billets in Seoul, Pyeongtaek, Daegu, Chinhae and Osan, and soldiers and airmen in two-year accompanied billets in Dongducheon and Uijeongbu, if their families live with them.
USFK commander Gen. Walter Sharp announced that change earlier this month. Military officials had not previously said how other troops receiving AIP would be affected by a tour normalization policy, which will eventually let about half the troops stationed in South Korea bring their families with them.
Unaccompanied soldiers and airmen on one-year tours can still receive an extra $300 a month if they stay in South Korea for an extra year.
Navy enlisted personnel E-6 and below can bid before they arrive for hard-to-fill slots and receive as much as $500 per month.
Marines can request a one-year extension, and receive $166.67 per month for the remainder of their tour, with payments capped at $2,000 a year.
AIP was intended to save money and reduce disruptions caused by the rapid turnover of personnel, most of whom are stationed on the peninsula on one-year, unaccompanied tours.
