Tag: USFK

I think everyone except the Air Force senior leadership realizes it is crazy to think the F-35 can provide the same capability as the A-10:

The commander of U.S. forces in South Korea said Wednesday that the retirement of the A-10 aircraft will leave a gap in the ability to take out enemy tanks from the air.

Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti made the comment under questioning by House lawmakers and said he would compensate for the change by using air and ground forces differently if war breaks out on the peninsula.

The Air Force is pushing a controversial plan to retire the 1970’s-era close air support stalwart, which can shoot tank-busting depleted uranium rounds, and replace it with the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, which remains in development and will have limited combat capability when it first goes into operation this summer.

“It would open a gap in terms of that aircraft with that specific capability,” said Scaparrotti, who along with other defense officials warned Wednesday of an increasingly belligerent North Korea.

The testimony comes a day after the Pentagon told lawmakers that the first version of the F-35 will not be able to outdo the A-10 Warthog and its powerful nose cannon on the battlefield.

The Block 2B set to got to the Marine Corps this summer will only be able to carry four bombs and not have any guns. Future variants are expected to have improved weapons but still face high development hurdles.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read the rest at the link.

Below are the 2015 court martial results posted on the USFK website.  Of interest this month is that a Captain out of the 65th Medical Brigade was convicted of apparently being a drug dealer of prescription medications.  That is something I have never seen a military healthcare provider convicted of.  You can read the rest of the results below:

Results of US Court-Martials for March 2015

On 19 March 2015, at a General Court-Martial, MSG Robela L. Jamison, 602d Aviation ASB, 2CAB, was found guilty of three specifications of assault consummated by battery (Article 128, UCMJ) and one specification of dishonorably failing to pay a debt (Article 134). He was sentenced to be reduced to E-7 and to be confined for 75 days.

On 24 March 2015, at a General Court-Martial, CPT Chung, Ki Young, 65^th Medical Brigade, was found guilty of one specification of possession of illegal drugs (Article 112a, UCMJ), one specification of false official statement (Article 107), and eight specifications of soliciting others to distribute unlawfully prescribed drugs (Article 134).  He was sentenced to confinement for two years and to be dismissed from the service.

On 25 March 2015, at a Summary Court-Martial, SFC Paul D. Mitchell, 35^th Air Defense Artillery, was found guilty of one specification of assault consummated by a battery (Article 128, UCMJ) and one specification of false official statement (Article 107).  He was reduced to E-6 and sentenced to 30 days restrictions (suspended for 180 days

On 26 March 2015, at a Special Court-Martial empowered to adjudge a Bad-Conduct Discharge, PVT David M. Tompkins, HHBN, 2ID, was found guilty of two specifications of assault consummated by battery (Article 128, UCMJ).  He was sentenced to 4 months of confinement and to be discharged from the service with a Bad-Conduct Discharge.

Results of ROK Criminal Prosecutions for March 2015

In Daegu District Court on 3 March 2015, PFC Shuvon Darden, 229th Signal Company, USAG Daegu, was convicted of Destruction and Damage of Property.  His adjudged sentence was a 500,000 Won fine.

In Daegu District Court on 10 March 2015, TSgt James R. Andrews, 607th MMS, USAG Daegu, was convicted of violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Hit and Run Vehicle).  His adjudged sentence was a 5,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 13 March 2015, PVT Brian A. Willett, 142d MP Company, USAG Yongsan, was convicted of Infliction of Bodily Injury.  His adjudged sentence was imprisonment for 6 months, unsuspended.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 18 March 2015, SGT Charles D. Krappitz, A Co, 2/9th Infantry, USAG Casey, was convicted of Destruction and Damage of Property.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 18 March 2015, 1LT Solomon Choi, HHT, 4/7th Cavalry, USAG Casey, was convicted of DUI and a violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Bodily Injury through Dangerous Driving).  His adjudged sentence was a 7,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 18 March 2015, SrA Keiyon M. Monroe, 51st DS/SGD. Osan Air Base, was convicted of Infliction of Bodily Injury.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 19 March 2015, SGT Devin R. Johnson, 46th Transportation Company, USAG Red Cloud-Stanley, was convicted of DUI.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 25 March 2015, PFC Clarence Hall, III., B Btry, 6/37th FA USAG Casey, was convicted of Indecent Act by Compulsion.  His adjudged sentence was a 5,000,000 Won fine and 40 hours of sexual crime prevention class.

The July 2009 file photo shows an air-to-surface Hellfire missile launched from a U.S. Apache helicopter over the waters off South Korea’s southwestern city of Gunsan. The United States said on April 2, 2015, it has approved a possible sale of 400 AGM-114R1 Hellfire II Semi-Active Laser Missiles to South Korea. (Yonhap)

There was likely a major screw up for something like this to happen, but that is what the Army’s investigation will determine:

The Army in South Korea has stopped firing the mobile gun system on its Stryker vehicles as it investigates why one vehicle errantly fired a 105mm round that struck the home of a man living near the Rodriguez Range complex on March 29.

Army officials said the investigation will review three areas: whether the system operators followed procedure, if the gun system worked properly, and if the training event accounted for all variables, such as the rocky terrain.

“We are as equally concerned about the safety of our local communities as we would be back home,” 8th Army spokesman Col. Shawn Stroud said.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link, but thank goodness no one was killed or injured by this errant round.

Here are the latest USFK court martial and ROK criminal prosecution results.  In February there was a couple of creepy child sex offenders convicted:

Results of Army Courts-Martial for February 2015

On 17 February 2015, at a General Court-Martial, Specialist Nicholas J. Majetich, 94th Military Police Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, was found guilty of one specification of sexual abuse of a child under 16 years of age (Article 120, UCMJ).  He was sentenced to be reduced to E-1, to be confined for 15 months; and to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge.

On 18 February 2015, at a General Court-Martial, Specialist Steven V Dang, 2-1 Air Defense Artillery, 35^th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, was found guilty of one specification of possession of child pornography (Article 134, UCMJ).  He was sentence to be confined for 20 months, to be reduced to E-1, and to receive a Bad Conduct Discharge.

On 23 February 2015, at a General Court-Martial, Specialist Joseph A. Warren, 1-15 Field Artillery, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2d Infantry Division, was found guilty of one specification of making a false official statement (Article 107, UCMJ), one specification of wrongful use of a controlled substance (Article 112a), one specification of aggravated assault in (Article 128), one specification of assault consummated by battery (Article 128), and one specification of communicating a threat (Article 134).  He was sentenced to be reduced to E-1, to be confined for 17 months, and to receive a Bad-Conduct Discharge.

On 27 February 2015, at a General Court-Martial, PV2 Javier Davis, 618^th DENTAC, 65^th Medical Brigade, was found guilty of one specification of assault consummated by a battery (Article 128, UCMJ).  He was sentenced to be reprimanded, to be reduced to E-1, to forfeit $1546 per month for two months, to be restricted for 60 days, and to perform hard labor without confinement for 60 days.

Results of ROK Criminal Prosecutions for February 2015

In Busan District Court on 3 February 2015, MCPO William D. Combs, MSC-K, Busan, was convicted of Violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Hit and Run Vehicle).  His adjudged sentence was a 3,000,000 Won fine.

In Daegu District Court on 5 February 2015, SGT Liuneta J. Ioane, Jr., HHC, 19th ESC, USAG Daegu, was convicted of Indecent Act by Compulsion.  His adjudged sentence was a 3,000,000 Won fine and ordered to register as sex offender with the local authority.

In Jeonju District Court on 4 February 2015, SSgt Jael X. Laborn, 8th FW (duty w/AFN), Kunsan Air Base, was convicted of traffic law violations including leaving the scene of the accident.  His adjudged sentence was a 5,000,000 Won fine.

In Suwon District Court on 12 February 2015, SFC Darin A. Cox, A Btry, 6/52d ADA, Osan Air Base, was convicted of DUI and a violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Death or Injury Resulting from Dangerous Driving).  His adjudged sentence was a 6,000,000 Won fine.

It looks like 2ID is getting a few more soldiers and a whole lot more artillery firepower:

The Pentagon says it is adding 400 soldiers to its force in South Korea. They are members of an Army battalion equipped with the Multiple-Launch Rocket System, an armored vehicle that fires surface-to-surface rockets.

A Pentagon spokesman says the extra firepower and soldiers were not requested by U.S. commanders in South Korea. Rather, the additions reflect an internal Army reorganization that is increasing the number of Multiple-Launch Rocket System battalions in each field artillery brigade from two to three worldwide.

The unit deploying to South Korea on a nine-month rotation is the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Brigade.  [Associated Press]

That is what the Hankyoreh is claiming that Chinese military planners are planning for:

China is ratcheting up the tenor of its opposition to the possible deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean peninsula in the wake of a recent visit by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao. Meanwhile, South Korea and the US are responding on increasingly firm notes. After previously sending the cautious message that nothing had been decided or discussed, they are now bluntly insisting that Beijing keep out the matter. US Forces Korea also looks to be speeding up its preparations, delivering its first confirmation of recent surveys of THAAD candidate sites. It is still too early to tell what the specifics of Beijing’s response will be. But it appears unlikely to remain passive if the US deploys THAAD, a missile interception system, on the Korean Peninsula, as China sees it as a threat to key military security interests.

Beijing has yet to speak publicly about the specific reasons for its opposition. But its concern appears to be that the USFK system is a response to its own A2/AD strategy for preventing the introduction of US troops in the event of an emergency. A2/AD, which stands for “anti-access/area denial,” is a strategy for preventing US troops from accessing sites like Taiwan or the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu in China) under an emergency scenario (anti-access) and preventing effective mobile operations by US forces (area denial). As part of the strategy, China has reportedly developed and deployed the Dong-Feng 21 (DF-21) ballistic missile, new anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), and nuclear-power submarines and drafted scenarios for preventing US naval and air forces from reaching a second island chain (maritime defense line) and first island chain.

The focus of attention for many is the inclusion of both US bases in South Korea and Japan as targets for A2/AD strikes. China is also reportedly working on a strategy for potentially ambushing and knocking out Air Force bases in Osan, Gyeonggi Province and Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, which it fears could be used as scrambling bases for US aircrafts. China’s concern has long been that USFK bases could be used against it, rather than simply as deterrents against North Korea. Its fears were fanned after South Korea and the US reached a “strategic flexibility” agreement in Jan. 2006 that guaranteed free access to the peninsula for USFK. The move was an official signal that USFK was not just a fixture of the peninsula, but a force that could be deployed anywhere to suit US needs.  [Hankyoreh]

You can read more at the link, but if China is planning to attack USFK bases in a Taiwan contingency it seems it would further justify why additional missile defense assets are needed on the peninsula, not less.

This is not an issue I was even aware of before, but I can easily see how someone could get in trouble for this without even knowing they were doing something illegal:

U.S. personnel in Japan and South Korea won’t get in trouble if they take prescription or over-the-counter medication off-base, even if the ingredients are prohibited under host-nation law, according to local national officials.

A U.S. English teacher, Carrie Russell, was arrested last month after officials discovered 180 Adderall pills that she had mailed to her new home in Nagoya, Japan. Russell’s mother earlier sent the pills — used to treat attention deficit disorder — to her daughter in South Korea, according to the Tribune News Service.

Adderall, which contains amphetamines, is illegal in Japan and South Korea. Ritalin, the other main drug used in the West to treat ADD, was banned in 2007 in Japan as officials cited widespread abuse.

Pseudoephedrine-based medications sold over-the-counter in the U.S. and at on-base commissaries are also controlled substances in Japan.

Warnings about the import of cold and flu medications with brand names such as Tylenol, Nyquil, Actifed, Sudafed, Advil, Dristan, Drixoral, Vicks and Lomotil are posted on Japanese consular websites. The cold and flu remedies contain narcotic or stimulant ingredients in excess of Japan’s standards, the websites state.

However, officials said U.S. military personnel won’t get in trouble if they take that type of medication off-base.

U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Andre Kok said by email that the Status of Forces Agreement there affords the U.S. the right to furnish medical support for troops, civilians and family members. [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link.

The start of the upcoming military exercises between the US and South Korea has been released:

The South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) said that the two allies will conduct their annual joint military drills starting March 2.

Approximately ten-thousand South Korean and eight-thousand-600 U.S. troops will take part in this year’s Key Resolve exercise, which will run through March 13.

Of the involved U.S. forces, six-thousand-700 will be brought in from U.S. bases in other countries such as Japan for the computer-simulated command post exercise.

This year’s Key Resolve exercise will also involve forces from five other countries such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, France and the U.K.

In a separate exercise, South Korea and the U.S. will hold Foal Eagle from March 2 to April 24 with some 200-thousand South Korean and three-thousand-700 U.S. soldiers being mobilized.

The USS Fort Worth, a three-thousand-450-ton Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS), will participate in the tactical field training exercise for the first time.Equipped with a helicopter, unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and 21 missiles, the Fort Worth is capable of nearing the shoreline despite the shallow waters of the Asia-Pacific.  [KBS World]

You can read more at the link, but I guess we will see if the North Koreans want to respond with a provocation cycle or not.

A US military contractor working at Yongsan has found himself in hot water with the ROK authorities:

Police said Monday that a civilian worker with the Eighth U.S. Army has been charged with violating a drunken driving inspection and injuring a police officer on duty.

The U.S. national contractor, whose name was withheld, is suspected of hitting the police officer while dodging a crackdown on drunken drivers late Sunday in the Seoul district of Yongsan where the Army base is located, according to police.

During questioning, the 31-year-old said he was searching for a hospital to get medication for his heart disease but denied that he was driving the wrong way or hit the police officer.

Police said the results of tests conducted hours after the accident showed that the contractor was sober but added that they could not confirm his state at the time of the accident.

The injured police officer has been hospitalized for an abrasion and an ankle ligament injury, police said. (Korea Herald)