Washington, D.C.- The Department of Defense has looked at the relationship that is in place between North and South Korea, and decided that the situation is fairly stable at the current time. Because of this, the DoD has decided that duty tours in South Korea can now start to include family members, and to extend such tours from two to three years.
The Department of Defense has decided that the relationship between the two Koreas is at least as stable as the relationship between Western Europe and the Soviet Union at the peak of the cold war, and because of this has decided to allow family to accompany troops to South Korea on their tours of Duty.
Single unmarried troop members would still be assigned tours of duty for the current length of 12 months and this would remain unchanged in the new policy.
Married members of the US military will now face a choice, to bring their family with them on a tour of duty for 2 or 3 years, depending on location. Or, they can opt to complete a tour of duty leaving their family at home for the current 12 month standard.
The changes are taking place starting on December 1st, and were signed by Pentagon personnel Chief David S.C. Chu. The changes were announced to the public December 11, 2008.
