Military Personnel with Dependents to Undertake Three-Year Deployments in South Korea
Extended Tours for U.S. Troops in South Korea Begins October 2025
Beginning October 2025, American soldiers stationed in South Korea, including those at Osan Air Base, will serve extended 36-month tours, an increase from the current 24-month term. Unaccompanied service members will continue their tours for 12 months, while more isolated bases like Kunsan Air Base will not be affected.
The US Department of Defense's shift in policy will be rolled out in phases, with full implementation by October 2027. Service members already in the country will not be impacted, and the change applies only to command-sponsored, accompanied troops.
A U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson explained the reasons for the change, stating it would improve operational continuity, enhance mission readiness, and offer greater stability for service members and their families. The extended assignments would reduce turnover, enabling experienced personnel to remain in critical roles, thus boosting the USFK's overall effectiveness.
The spokesperson added that the longer tours would foster a more stable and supportive environment, contributing to overall readiness and operational success. Service members who prefer a two-year tour with their families may be able to request waivers for a shorter stay in Korea.
Tour lengths for troops are typically based on factors such as a location's quality of life, including weather, family support, isolation, and the country's economic and security conditions. Having a 36-month deployment for accompanied personnel is common for locations that boast living conditions comparable to American standards, with bases in the UK, Italy, Australia, and Japan all having similar tours.
More than 28,500 troops are deployed in South Korea, with a significant portion at Camp Humphreys, which supports nearly 40,000 service members and their families, civilian employees, and contractors. The base hosts U.S. Forces Korea headquarters and a few Air Force units.
The biggest U.S. Air Force base in the country is Osan Air Base, located 40 miles south of Seoul. Osan accommodates around 3,700 Airmen assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing, along with nearly 2,000 personnel in various tenant units. The base offers command sponsorship, with about 2,000 family members living with stationed Airmen.
Currently, Osan Air Base is busier than usual due to a yearlong test of an expanded F-16 fighter presence. Last year, the 36th Fighter Squadron received nine F-16s and approximately 150 Airmen from Kunsan Air Base, boosting its fleet to create a "Super Squadron." Officials are evaluating the impact on sortie generation, maintenance, and manpower to assess enhanced combat effectiveness, though it remains unclear if the shift could become permanent.
Kunsan, a more isolated base located more than 120 miles south of Seoul in a rural area, does not offer command sponsorship positions, meaning the longer tours will not affect Airmen there. The base hosts the 8th Fighter Wing and around 2,800 military and civilian personnel. The typical assignment at Kunsan is a one-year unaccompanied tour, with most Airmen residing in barracks.
The U.S. military presence in South Korea is essential for maintaining regional peace and stability. Any changes in troop deployments or tour lengths would likely be influenced by ongoing tensions between North and South Korea, as well as broader geopolitical considerations involving China and Russia. The extended tours could lead to increased continuity in personnel and potentially enhance operational readiness, but could also impact the quality of life for troops and their families, affecting morale and retention.
- The policy shift in the US Department of Defense (DOD) for extended tours of U.S. troops in South Korea, set to begin in October 2025, is anticipating to improve operational continuity and enhance mission readiness.
- American troops in South Korea, such as those at Osan Air Base, will serve extended 36-month tours, contributing to officer stability and overall effectiveness, especially for critical roles within the USFK (United States Forces Korea).
- The extended tours aim to foster a more stable and supportive environment for service members and their families, but those seeking shorter tours may have the option to request waivers for a stay of less than 36 months.
- Factors determining tour lengths typically include a location's quality of life, security conditions, and isolation; bases in countries like the UK, Italy, Australia, and Japan also have similar extended tours.
- Political tensions between North and South Korea, as well as geopolitical considerations involving China and Russia, could influence the changes in troop deployments or tour lengths in South Korea.
- Non-command sponsored Airmen at isolated bases like Kunsan Air Base will not face the impact of the extended tours, as these troops serve one-year unaccompanied tours.
