The news about the GIs helping out the father of one of the middle school girls who was crushed by the armored vehicle, and the comments about it on the expat blogs, got me to thinking, and I thought of something I think should be one of the first things mentioned and repeated when discussing volunteer efforts and their meaning...

Why is it so easy to dismiss the primary mission of the USFK members and the org?

Why do we have to look for these frequent but still limited examples of soldiers taking the extra time to "give back to the community"?

I thought of it this way ----

Who has done more for the well being of Korea, a Salvation Army or the American Army?

We only have to gaze into North Korea to understand ---- how these soldiers and literally millions just like them over the course of 60 years --- have helped create an environment where South Korean society has become one of the most wealthy and well-cared for nations on earth....

GIs visiting orphanages or helping farmers sow or harvest rice and the other things volunteers do throughout the year every year ---- are just -- or should be understood as just ----- the sprinkles and a cherry or two on top of a huge cake with lots of icing on it the US-SK strategic military relationship brings to Korean society. That is what is "given back"....

And these soldiers are making a career out of prepapring a defense of the South Korean way of life ---- they are US soldiers and serve America -- but through the allaince with the ROK - that service includes offering to fight and die for South Korean society the very second North Korea ever invades again...

That trumps as many visits to orphanages you could possibly stack up...

I might volunteer through my local church in my community here in the US --- but what are the chances I'd run out and take a bullet to protect my neighbor's home from being invaded?

Without question, having so much US military in South Korean society brings about some negative consequences.

But to me ----- it can't even come close to being argued rationally that ---

a string of individual GIs committing even the worst crimes in Korea

--- or a string of individual GIs volunteering quality time to do good in Korea

should damn or bless USFK or the US-SK relationship.

To me, too much attention given to either leads away from a recognition of the much bigger and real picture....

usinkorea,

I would say few people understand the military in Korea better than you. I would say you have a better understanding than most military members I know. Your appreciation for the U.S. military is refreshing and I thank you. This is even more remarkable considering you are not or never have been a military man!

I also love your idea of getting university students involved in a discussion forum like this. Civil discussions and debates are always welcome. I plan on setting up rules just in case people become uncivil. I have a warn system installed on this forum that acts like a paper trail. If people swear or become uncivil I can warn and eventually ban members. Good moderators are key!

It will be easy to set up a new forum for debate. Additionally, I would love to see articles published by Korean students.

Mr. Joe,

I am checking with USFK PA tomorrow. I will most likely stop by Yongsan before I head over to the university.

Here is an update on my trip. I have a Public Affairs friend (female) that has also volunteered to make to trip. She simply wants to view the discussion.

My agenda is simple. To show some slides on USFK's involvement in the Korean community. Here is an excellent website built by USFK called the Good Neighbor Program.

http://www.usfk.or.kr/en/aboutus/usfk_bg.php

It has news releases on USFK's involvement into the community.

After a short presentation, I will field questions and try to make some Korean friends. :) Hopefully, USFK Public Affairs will have some good handouts.

I think usinorea hit it on the head. My initial idea for this site was for the U.S. military and expats in Korea to have a place to discuss Korea related topics. I would love to create an environment where these same forces could discuss and debate topics then meet up some day and have a beer or a shot of Soju.

Finally, I would like to thank Colin for this opportunity. I think it will be a great time. Maybe we can start an organization to do this more often!

Mike

Here is an update. After coordinating with the 51st Public Affairs office here at Osan Air base, they have deferred this speaking engagement to the USFK Public Affairs at Yongsan. From what I get, they are sending a Korean-American captain who speaks Korean. Hopefully everything goes well and Colin reports back some good news.

Why not both of you? or more than two?

If the captain is a public relations type, my guess is he would find a less receptive audience than just a regular Joe or Jane.

I would think having a few speakers would be received even better than having just a regular Joe or Jane GI.

I think a professional, particularly a fluent Korean speaker, will be a good thing. He/she will be able to give them a clearer picture. The PA Office has some great photos and probably will give a great presentation. We here all know that even college students misunderstand English easily! I feel certain that Mike or others will be welcome later on. I'm looking forward to hearing how it went! Did they go Thursday?

As far as I know PA went. I contacted them in the morning and everything was on schedule for a 1300 and 1500 briefing. Hopefully, Colin will return and post how it went.

Mike

I'm still split 50/50 with it. On the one hand, somebody from PA should have resources on community service projects and other information at its disposal. A Korean speaker would also be able to answer questions fully and students who would hold back because they don't think they can pose a question fully would feel free to speak.

On the other hand, some students will not trust an official voice as much as they would just a regular GI --- whether the official voice can speak Korean or not.

If it is a Korean-American sent, that will also lower the effect a little.

I also worry that someone sent by PA will feel the State Department Need even if confronted with the most unfounded and unreasonable claims students might bring up.

An average GI will probably feel more free to speak his or her mind and tell them when crap smells like crap.

Yeah, there is no telling what will happen until it happens! I wish my Korean was fluent enough to use in a college setting. But I've been away a long time, and still look like a big nosed American. Someone parroting the military party line might not go over well, but if they can tell the real story- it could be OK. Public Affairs should have folks educated enough to know the audience and be able to talk to them.
I'm happy to know that Colin is willing to give us the opportunity to present another side to his students. Way to go Colin!
I wish all students could get a real overview of what the U.S. has done and is doing here. Both bad and good. And then let them decide if it is a paying proposition. I'm ready to go if it is time, and it could be soon. I hear we may be moving out of Okinawa. There are other factors in the Far East that need to be considered before we go anywhere. I wish everyone considered those factors, also, beginning with the buildup of Chinese "Defense" spending. I wish.

I can't remember if I posted here as a comment or in an email to Colin, but a year or two ago, I exchanged some emails with an expat professor in Korea who specializes in North Korea, and I forget what the main discussion was about, but on a side issue, he talked about taking a class to a US base, maybe Yongsan, to tour and discuss things wit USFK.

He said it did little good and at least some short-term harm, because the students were frustrated they didn't get into the issues they felt were important.

He said the guy or guys presenting things about USFK and the base for the class spent a lot of time talking about things like how many meals a month the base processes or how much tons of waste ------ the kinds of stuff a city manager might mention. It sounded like they were trying to explain how the base is a community within a community.

But, of course, the students wanted to hear about GI crimes, the SOFA, why the US was there, and so on.

I can undertand it from both points of view. In fact, I think it would be helpful if the students understood that the base has a life as a community. That soldiers of all levels don't just spend all their time cleaning a rifle and practicing the art of killing at the range --- that it takes a LOT of other occupations and duties to make a military function at a level that bolsters the fighting capability of the combat oriented occupations in the military.

But, you have to have a good understanding of both the military and Korean society and have some skill in reading an audience to get around to a message the audience might not find interesting....

I hope it went well.

And above that, I hope Colin (and others in similar positions) see that there are people out there willing to reach a hand out to people like the Korean university students in a proactive manner to establish channels of communication rather than just a one time discussion with a beginning and end.....

I emailed Colin, as I had not heard what happened with the Yongsan Public Affairs visit to the University. He was kind enough to reply quickly! This is what he wrote:
"Shim Yosup was excellent- showed up on time- it went perfect- sorry for late response- had to move, losing my mind...[i]sincerely,
Colin Randolf" How about that? Hopefully he will be able to elaborate soon!