Category: USFK

Masks rules have been reduced on USFK military installations, but vaccinated people must carry their vaccination card to prove they have been vaccinated:

The command recommends that vaccinated individuals carry their vaccination cards or equivalent documentation for the purpose of contact tracing.

Camp Humphreys, the headquarters south of Seoul of USFK, was more blunt on its Facebook page Saturday: “The onus is on the individual to prove that they have been fully vaccinated and are at least two weeks beyond their final dose of an FDA/KDCA authorized vaccine.”

Fully vaccinated personnel are not required to wear masks on the installation, according to the post. “You must be able to demonstrate that ability. CARRY YOUR CARD.”

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

Here is a unique event that occurred recently over at Camp Humphreys:

Dozens of special warfare airmen weathered heavy wind and rain for their 10th annual 24-hour Challenge Run last week at the largest U.S. military base on the Korean Peninsula.

The event, hosted Thursday by the 604th Air Support Operations Squadron out of Camp Humphreys, honored the 12 members of the Air Force’s Tactical Air Control Party who have died in combat or during training since 1989. (…….)

Airmen rotated in shifts throughout the 24-hour period so that at least one of them carried the Tactical Air Control Party guidon. In addition to running, several airmen marched while carrying 35 pounds of gear. One marched 50 miles during the event, the longest distance from a single person carrying additional weight, while another airman ran for 52 miles without gear.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

Here is the latest unit scheduled to deploy to Korea this summer:

 Fort Bliss will send about 3,700 soldiers to South Korea as part of an ongoing rotation of troops to defend the peninsula, the Army announced Thursday.

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Armored Division at the west Texas base will replace the Fort Stewart, Ga.-based 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division for the nine-month deployment, which supports the U.S. commitment to South Korea.

Nicknamed the “Bulldog Brigade,” the unit will send the majority of its soldiers and equipment for the nine-month rotation in the summer.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

This essentially translates to USFK and the ROK military keeping combined exercises on the down-lo in order to not anger the Kim regime:

South Korea and the United States are supposed to stage combined outdoor military drills throughout the year, not during specific periods of time, Seoul’s defense ministry said Tuesday. 

Ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan made the remarks in an answer to a reporter’s question about when and how the two sides would stage joint real maneuvers this year as their ongoing springtime exercise does not include such outdoor programs.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Soldiers on Camp Casey are currently barred from going outside the gates to neighboring Dongducheon:

An uptick in coronavirus cases near a U.S. base in South Korea prompted the commander to impose a travel ban Wednesday between the base and the neighboring city.

Dongducheon city is off-limits to anyone associated with Camp Casey, except for “approved mission essential travel,” according to a U.S. Forces Korea news release. Dining in off-post restaurants is also restricted.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link, but apparently an uptick in coronavirus cases in Gyeongi province this week from 111 to 135 cases is what led to the travel ban.