U.S. forces Korea to begin 'normal' three-year tours by early 2009: USFK chief

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- U.S. troops coming to serve in South Korea under a
decades-old joint defense pact will begin what the U.S. calls "normal" three-year
family accompanied tours in 2009, Gen. Walter Sharp, chief of U.S. Forces Korea
(USFK), said Thursday.
Currently, over 80 percent of U.S. forces in Korea are on one-year
family-unaccompanied tours.
"We have asked for, and we have received approval from the office of Secretary of
Defense" for three-year command-sponsored tours to South Korea, the USFK chief
told reporters.
The change will take place early next year, when the number of family-accompanied
servicemembers will increase to 4,350 from the current 2,100, he said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)