An excellent and well deserved honor for General Thurman.
However, I have to again call attention to the misinformation about the so-called "OPCON Transfer." The only way for the so-called "OPCON Transfer" to occur is through the elimination of the ROK/US Combined Forces Command.
The new commander comes at a critical time for the alliance between Washington and Seoul, with major changes looming over the location of the American base and the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON).
As Pyongyang continues to advance its weapons program following its third nuclear test, the two nations have been discussing whether to delay the scheduled transfer of OPCON to South Korea in December 2015.
Let me offer an alternative proposal to the above. We should consider that one of the reasons for the discussion of delay may be because the ROK leadership is concerned about the sustained US military commitment to the ROK. The proposals for rotational US forces combined with the fiscal constraints may give the ROK leaders pause because one of the simplest ways t save money would be to halt rotations and not deploy the rotational forces to the Peninsula. Furthermore, ROK Generals are concerned with the loss of unity of command when the alliance shifts to separate war fighting commands. Rather than delay "OPCON Transfer" consider the following steps:
Maintain the ROK/US Combined Forces Command and put a ROK General in command.
Keep the ROK/US CFC at Yongsan; however, turn over Yongsan garrison to the ROK military and maintain the ROK/US CFC as well as the UN Command as tenant units.
Commit to reestablishing a rotation presence of US ground combat forces on the DMZ conducting routine patrolling integrated into the ROK division command structure.
I could provide additional details and the pros and cons of the above but I have done so before and I will again in the future.
V/R
Dave
Outgoing USFK commander receives top military award in S. Korea
2013/09/26 03:44
By Kim Eun-jung
http://english.yonhapnews.co.
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- Gen. James Thurman, the outgoing commander of U.S. Forces Korea, on Thursday received a top military award from the local government for successfully leading American troops in defending South Korea amid heightened tension with North Korea.
President Park Geun-hye granted the Order of National Security Merit's Tongil Medal to Thurman in a ceremony, which was attended by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and other top commanders.
"I am deeply honored and humbled to serve in the Republic of Korea with the great ROK-U.S. combined joint team. The mutual trust, common values and commitment to security and prosperity are evident in the vitality and stability of this great nation," Thurman said during the ceremony held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
"We will never forget that a terrible war was placed upon this nation, but the South Korean people have risen to be a world leader," he said. "We will continue to focus on readiness for the defense and stability of the Korean Peninsula at all times."
Park thanked Thurman for his contributions to the development of the two countries' alliance as she praised him for his leadership and dedication to the security of the Korean Peninsula.
"As you all know very well, Commander Thurman's time in office was a very difficult period in inter-Korean relations and in the surrounding region," she said, citing North Korea's third nuclear test in February and a series of provocations as well as leadership changes in Northeast Asia.
"I think we were all very lucky to have Commander Thurman at such a serious time," she said.
Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, a veteran commander who served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, will officially replace Thurman in a change-of-command ceremony slated for early October, military officials said.
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- Gen. James Thurman, the outgoing commander of U.S. Forces Korea, on Thursday received a top military award from the local government for successfully leading American troops in defending South Korea amid heightened tension with North Korea.
President Park Geun-hye granted the Order of National Security Merit's Tongil Medal to Thurman in a ceremony, which was attended by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and other top commanders.
"I am deeply honored and humbled to serve in the Republic of Korea with the great ROK-U.S. combined joint team. The mutual trust, common values and commitment to security and prosperity are evident in the vitality and stability of this great nation," Thurman said during the ceremony held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
"We will never forget that a terrible war was placed upon this nation, but the South Korean people have risen to be a world leader," he said. "We will continue to focus on readiness for the defense and stability of the Korean Peninsula at all times."
Park thanked Thurman for his contributions to the development of the two countries' alliance as she praised him for his leadership and dedication to the security of the Korean Peninsula.
"As you all know very well, Commander Thurman's time in office was a very difficult period in inter-Korean relations and in the surrounding region," she said, citing North Korea's third nuclear test in February and a series of provocations as well as leadership changes in Northeast Asia.
"I think we were all very lucky to have Commander Thurman at such a serious time," she said.
Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, a veteran commander who served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, will officially replace Thurman in a change-of-command ceremony slated for early October, military officials said.
(Continued at the link below)
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