Would an assignment in Korea help or hurt your career?

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:10:35 -0500

My first assignment in Korea was unexpected and unwelcome, but once I got here and interacted with the people and understood the mission, I spent a rewarding 18 months here, extending for my first command opportunity. After finishing a military school that added an active duty commitment, I was again told that I was bound for Korea. This time, I was less reluctant and my family was really looking forward to the adventure (they were coming this time). On the down side, Korea did not have great officer promotion results this last go-around at the field grade level. So either Korea isn't attracting the best and brightest, or the best and brightest aren't choosing to come here, or we are doing a poor job of documenting all of the great things folks are doing in Korea. Let me know your thoughts. Do you see Korea as the land of opportunity or otherwise? Is Korea an assignment of choice or last resort?

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jan 6 at 2015 5:29 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:29:31 -0500

As with any assignment, it is what you make of it. Doing your best at what one may consider a bad location is always better for your career than not doing good at a "great" location. There are outstanding job opportunities in Korea, just as there are in Europe or the major CONUS installations.

I used to counsel my officers to tell their assignment officers what I used to tell them: "I'll go to a bad place for a good assignment or a good place for a bad assignment. I will not go to a bad place for a bad assignment."

As a brigade commander in Korea (96-98), my first assignment there, I had multiple officers who were on their second or third tour. Each of those officers had done very well in their careers.

The vast majority of my Lieutenants extended their tours to remain as Platoon Leaders instead of being assigned to the MP School to be XOs of Training Companies. At that time, Korea was the only place they could get Lieutenants who were not headed to the Advanced Course after their first assignment. I had more than one fairly heated discussion with the Commandant of the MP School about my approval of extensions for my Lieutenants. We agreed to only allowing a one-year extension, making some available for XO duty.

Korea is a great place for an assignment and I strongly recommend it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2015 5:33 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:33:57 -0500

The flexible timing of my Korea assignment allowed me to get the assignment I wanted. Of course being at the JSA was somewhat restrictive, but it was still worth it.

Response by MSgt Bj Jones made Jan 6 at 2015 5:39 PM

MSgt Bj Jones — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:39:38 -0500

I'm not sure about the career question. It can go either way depending on various factors. I do know I was excited to go to Osan back in 1993. I really loved being there. The locals were very friendly, and they gave me discounts without me ever asking for them. The chapel had some great programs, and the Hospitality House was great to go to on weekends. I'd definitely recommend an assignment to South Korea.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jan 6 at 2015 5:39 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:39:39 -0500

Sir, I think the issue with Korea is two-fold:

1) I think you are spot on that we simply do a poor job of documenting the great things we do there.

2) Tours in Korea are generally only a year long. It's harder to make an impact in a year than it is over 2-3.

That being said, Korea is still one of those assignments ouside of combat in Afghanistan, that has immediate real world implications. Definately a must do.

Response by LTC Scott O'Neil made Jan 7 at 2015 12:22 PM

LTC Scott O'Neil — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 12:22:54 -0500

My assignment to Korea was my second assignment in The Army, I left right after the Advance Course. I was the 1stBDE (Iron Brigade) S-3 Air, then I became the Asst S-3. I was about to PCS back to the states in 90/91 when I was hit with Stop Loss for the First Gulf War. I spent 18 months on the Peninsula. I loved the real world mission, I was the BDE Liaison to other ROK Armor Brigades, so I often visited these remote camps and posts. The ROK Commanders extended their courtesy and professionalism and the people were wonderful and friendly. It was a worth wild tour and assignment.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 7 at 2015 12:33 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 12:33:44 -0500

I know for the AF Enlisted side, Korea is often the only way to get PCS'ed

Response by SFC Charles E Hightower made Jan 8 at 2015 6:42 PM

SFC Charles E Hightower — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 18:42:27 -0500

I went to Fort Ord on 23 June 1971 for Base Training in US Army and Retire from US Army at Fort Ord 31 July 1993. After being station all the over world ie: Vietnam 7 mo, Germany (8 years), Middle East (2 years), Korea (4 1/2 years), Okinawa (3 years) Panama ( 4 1/2 years) and Philippines. (2 years)

HHB 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery and HHC 2nd Battalion 503rd Infantry 2nd Infantry Division, Korea APO SF 96224 I was station in Korea for Dec 1984 to 1988 Korea (4 1/2 years

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Apr 5 at 2015 6:28 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 18:28:21 -0400

COL Private RallyPoint Member -- Sir, my understanding was that if you do a tour in Korea, that branch will more than likely give you your #1 posting selection when that tour is over. Of course, there are exceptions, but this was my understanding. Generally, I'm not sure if there was a consensus hurt vs. help opinion in my circle of junior officers (I can't say much re: the NCO opinion). While I was in (2006-2011), Korea was generally considered an unpopular assignment to get -- though perhaps for baseless reasons, to be fair. I suppose if, for example, going to Korea could get you a command early in your peer group, then it could really help your career!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2015 7:33 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 19:33:21 -0400

Sir,

After being stationed here for almost 2 years (bouncing back and forth between Casey and Yongsan), I can say that I've seen more careers end here than any place else. The things people get in trouble for (not just junior enlisted but CPTs, LTCs, and MSGs) are petty anywhere else in the world. Where else can you get a GOMOR or ART-15 for walking your dog or smoking outside at 0115?

Korea is NOT a good idea for a first duty station where Soldiers just want a breather from the structured discipline of Basic or West Point. It takes a self disciplined and focused Soldier to succeed here when their peers from other duty stations have more freedom.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Apr 5 at 2015 7:33 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 19:33:23 -0400

A few thoughts:
- I used to think it was just HRC propaganda but now I believe it. It does not matter what job/location you have as long as you do well in the job/location.
- If a person goes into a job/location thinking that it will suck then the probability is higher that the person will perform poorly in that job/location. The converse is true as well (if person looking forward to job/location then probability is higher that person will do well).
- The US Army is now majority CONUS based and combat deployments will become fewer and fewer. A way to set yourself apart is to not do what everyone else is doing. This means an OCONUS assignment such as Korea.
- The Army Operating Concept calls for agile and adaptive leaders who can win in complex environments. An assignment such as Korea will bring more complexity for a leader to learn and deal with than a comparable assignment in CONUS.
- One reason people join the Army is to see the world. So go see it! A person can travel throughout the US fairly cheaply while going across either pond is a bit more expensive. Better to see the world on the Army's dime rather than your own.

Response by SGT Scott Cox made Apr 5 at 2015 8:27 PM

SGT Scott Cox — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 20:27:35 -0400

I was stationed in 98 there at CP Humphreys and I loved my time there

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 5 at 2015 9:25 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 21:25:24 -0400

I commanded my first Company in Korea 1998-1999. Like you, was not elated. I just came from almost 4 years at the NTC OPFOR by way of the advanced course (told by my Branch Manager that "you have been sitting on your ass in Conus"). Had been married for less than a year. Was a great assignment.
- pre- GWOT, this was the tip of the spear, living on 3 hour alert status for a year
- pre-GWOT, many hit a overseas rut. If you went to Korea once, hope you liked it, because you would keep getting sent back Everytime you were due an overseas tour. Same went for Germany. It was either or.
- don't think it hurt me as I only extended a short period for command length. Was successful in command.
- have not been back since, except TDY.
- I have served overseas tours meriting an OSR since, including deployments: Afghanistan and Germany. Have been to Afghanistan and Iraq for non-OSR credit too.
- I think any appearance of homesteading there will hurt someone.
- I think lengthy or multiple extensions there, especially in a none developmental assignment, will hurt someone.
- going where the Army told you to go and doing the best job possible will not hurt you.
- documenting is a perennial problem. What is important in USFK is hard to communicate to a wider audience.
- with the move to RAF, Overseas tours will go down in favor of rotations of units. There will be a narrow opportunity for people to PCS, maybe even without families eventually.
- trouble is about anywhere you go and your propensity to find it is an individual skill. The relative close quarters of Korea service amplifies individual foibles
- would be interested to see statistics, because I intuitively don't know

Response by CPT Christopher F. made Apr 5 at 2015 10:01 PM

CPT Christopher F. — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 22:01:36 -0400

It's true that Korea is a very difficult and challenging place to be stationed. The 2nd Infantry Division has to be prepared to go to war at a moments notice if deterrence fails. The difficultly lies in getting the "buy-in" from junior Soldiers and junior leaders. In most other contingency units (like the 82nd) the unit is well aware of what their mission is and they have the time to train and build a cohesive teams to execute. It is very difficult to achieve the same level of dedication and qualification in a unit that loses 10% of it forces every month.

What you are left with is an organization in which half the force is striving to be prepared for the mission and another half that is simply counting down the months until they rotate home. This phenomena combined with leaders who demand operational readiness, makes this a very challenging assignment.

But I constantly tell my Soldiers that Area I is the hardest place to "Army", but if they can be successful here, they will be rock stars everywhere else.

I personally had a challenging tour. It put strain on my career, and my family. But the things that I've learned in only a year here, couldn't have been taught anywhere else at such a fast pace. The experience and the outstanding Soldiers that I have served with has made this a truly rewarding tour.