only thing i meant was.. the Military is there to stand up for the rules that are in place... shouldn't those in the Military follow the rules?

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Well, those weren't the responses I expected. We can agree to disagree but your first time away from home in a non-combat location and plenty of free time can lead one into trouble. But I'm just curious as to how many SM have been have face UCMJ tribunals over the newly enacted anti-prostitution reg?

Unfortunately one's morbid and pathological desires can lead down the wrong path and military history has many documented cases. I sure that those who are sitting in Suwon prison are serious praying and wishing for more MRE instead of rice. I know of two who went there, one violated his ration card limit considerably and the other, well I don't think he made it out alive. The first SM fell in love for the first time with a Korean bargirl and basically 'bought her' out of her situation and moved left her with lots of $$. This dude was led to believe that any purchases over the $ would be removed from his record and he would would be under the radar of ration control. Several months later, both the MP's and KNP's got him out of formation. He had five years left when in PCS'd

I'm just wondering what the rank of the SM will be who the 1st charged. There's another discussion I believe in the general discussion under military in korea about prostitution. Anyway my point is I realy doubt if those in 7th Army will ever face such charges. Sorry for the long rebuttal.

We can only guess how long it will be before some soldier gets burned by the "don't pay for a partner" rule. [I guess SM means single male?] My first thought was Sado-Masochist, but somehow that didn't compute!
Anyway, I will guess it will be a young SM who is not physically attractive, or is just plain unable, drunk, or unwilling to smooth talk any of the many young ladies around who are so very available, and often just as desirous of a friendly relationship as he is. He will have to either be drunk and disorderly, late for work or somehow get reported for missing bedcheck;
or show up at sick call with a social disease. It certainly won't be a case of being turned in by a girl for non-payment. The military guys should follow the rule of using a "Buddy System", then they automatically have a witness that could prevent an illicit liason, or at least testify on his behalf, just in case!
Then again, a vengeful YOBO or a spiteful wife could do a guy in, for whatever reason she could conjure up, at any time! It is a jungle out there!

SM=service member.
Does the new no-pay rule apply to Yobos as well since it's a paid service?

>>I gather sometime around 1980 SOFA appeared and has been a shady deal for the most part compared to Germany's version.

I am not sure if I am in the category of an "Old School Dude" <LOL> however, having been in Korea for several years maybe I qualify.

The SOFA has been around since 1967.

The Ration Control system has always been a little amusing, in contrast to the one in Europe. There was no question when one exceeded their monthly limitation of rationed items in Germany. You had a slip that was checked off as you purchased the item(s). Claiming ignorance was not believable. In Korea you were issued a Ration card which resembled a credit card. You never seen the monthly totals unless you exceeded the limits. Then the commander would have you on the carpet answering. Although most commanders applied common sense when administering UCMJ action, OTH you also had some that had no common sense. You were guilty as soon as your name made the list.

In the 70's - 80's BM was on a large scale operation. These days you really I do not believe it is as prevalent.

In the early 80’s there was a Congressman from MI who wanted an investigation on the Spam being sold in Korea. It was reported that for every soldier stationed there each would have to consume 6 lbs a day.

I do not believe the investigation ever occurred since Hormel foods was making some serious money at the time.

If the government wanted to end BM they could have lifted the restrictions, saturating the market where the profit was nil. The old school, <g> supply and demand. OTH why are they allowing AAFES to stock the shopettes the way they do? What is the difference in the items that are purchased in the states and those OS? Can you imagine the profits that AAFES would loose <G> AAFES has market analyst who could easily predict the sales of the items they are moving, performing a trends analysis to determine if there is a concern for B&M operations. They can also capture individual shopper trends based on their purchases.

When you shop at the commissary and purchase a bottle of water it is place on your RCP and AFFES is exempt for anything under a certain dollar limit?

Can a individual obtain a current balance on the RCP?

I am not sure if it is still open since I have not been there in a few years; however, the shoppette in Cp Market had the highest retail sales of all shoppettes in 2001. I believe the population in Cp Market was 75 US soldiers and govt employees.

These are only some of the questions I have always had. Based on these observations I have came to the conclusion it is all about the dollar.

If you're 55y/o+, serve 3-6 yr, then ETS; or retired as an E7+ and spent 2 or more tours in ROK then you qualify. Which puts me getting near this defination. My 1st ration card was paper and MP's would take the receipt upon exiting, the same MP would pull village patrol until crufew . Several got caught in a scam when I PCS'd. A potential investigation over spam. Truly a sad moment for the US Congress. I'd be more amused if they inverstigated why any would want to pay high $ for it. I'm surprised that BM Spam is being protested as a Human Rights violation (LOL and apologies to any Spam lovers)!


Sometime around the Kyongji riots SOFA was suppended. Don't know why other than it could be the use of 500 'elite' troops to control student protest. Don't have a clue what elite means in this case.

https://pimsk.korea.army.mil/default.aspx

>>Sometime around the Kyongji riots SOFA was suppended. Don't know why other than it could be the use of 500 'elite' troops to control student protest. Don't have a clue what elite means in this case.

It sounds like you are referring to the GwangJu riots of 1980. I was in country when this occured. I do not recall SOFA being suspended though. Why would they have even considered it? The incident in GwangJu was a civil matter that the US at the time decided to steer clear of. There was a lot going on at the time since Pres Park was assainated only months prior to this and Korea was under martial law.

For some reason I was stuck on Kyongju. That's what my E-7 told us upon arriving in 81. Along with a few cab drivers and a couple of DA civilians. I believed with that many telling me basically the same and no visable connections between them, that it was true and not trying to tell a tall tale. At 1st I didn't believe it either, much like the one about the ROK Marine bayoneting a CH-47's control panel until I saw the pics and the hull of the aircraft weeks later (different topic). Since I didn't quote this entry thanks to individual who posted the RCP link.

Kwangju and KyongJu are in two seperate provinces. KyongJu (80 Km South of Daegu) is known for the history of the palaces and Buddist culture. KwangJu is located in Cholla Nam Do(South West). It is known for their strong anti-American perceptions. It was also where Mr. Sunshine came from.

The idots who recently decided they were going to have some fun on the subway did not help foster good relations. Hopefully they will slam dunk him. As for the other two I am surprised they did not stand trial. It was their responsibility to keep each other out of trouble. They were accomplices by joining the more stupid one. Dumb, Dummer, and Stupid.