WASHINGTON — Hundreds of military families living in South Korea without command sponsorship could get official recognition from the Army soon, according to the commander of U.S. Forces Korea.
In a Wednesday press conference at the Pentagon, Gen. Walter Sharp said about 1,800 accompanied tours are already handled by Army officials in Korea.
But another 2,100 spouses, mostly living north of Seoul and attached to the 2nd Infantry Division, have opted to move themselves and their families overseas at their own expense.
"They have said, ‘I’m coming over anyway, even if I don’t have sponsorship. I’m not going to spend another year away from my servicemember,’ " Sharp said.
He said Pentagon officials are finalizing how to get them command sponsorship as soon as possible, a formal status which would mean better Tricare benefits, a higher cost-of-living allowance and tuition assistance for international schools.
"The families have asked for it, and we’re working through the specifics," he said. "I think I’ll be able to do that pretty quickly."
Sharp said the move, similar to one made at U.S. Army Garrison-Red Cloud last month, is part of broader changes to raise the quality of life for all troops stationed in Korea.
"Our goal is to reach the point where all our servicemembers can bring their families to Korea and stay there for normal three-year tours," he said. "It’s a win-win for everyone.
"It improves readiness by keeping our trained forces in place for a longer period of time, improving continuity. It also strengthens the alliance by encouraging more meaningful interaction between the American and Korean citizens. And it demonstrates a strong and visible commitment by the United States to the Republic of Korea."
Sharp said plans are already under way to shift tours at locations like Seoul and Osan from two years to three years, and changing one-year tours elsewhere in the country to two-year stints.
He also said that work is still being done to get locations like Camp Humphreys ready for an influx of new, command-sponsored families. Housing projects are on schedule, but finding ways to provide schooling options for children remains an issue in many areas.
"I’m very excited about this, but we’ve got to do it right," he said. "I’m not going to have a whole bunch of families come over and not be able to take care of them."
