United States Forces Korea facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United States Forces Korea 주한 미군
USFK
Active	1 July 1957 – present
Country	South Korea  United States
Type	Subordinate Unified Command
Size	23,468 personnel
Part of	United States Indo-Pacific Command
Headquarters	Camp Humphreys, Pyeongtaek, South Korea
Nickname(s)	USFK
Commanders
Current commander	GEN Paul J. LaCamera, USA
Deputy Commander	Lt Gen Scott L. Pleus, USAF
Notable commanders	GEN Vincent K. Brooks GEN George Decker GEN Hamilton H. Howze GEN John W. Vessey Jr. GEN John A. Wickham Jr.
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Flag

United States Forces Korea (USFK) is a sub-unified command of United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). USFK is the joint headquarters for U.S. combat-ready fighting forces and components under the ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC) – a supreme command for all of the South Korean and US ground, air, sea and special operations component commands. Major USFK elements include U.S. Eighth Army (EUSA), U.S. Air Forces Korea (Seventh Air Force), U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK), U.S. Marine Forces Korea (MARFORK) and U.S. Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR). It was established on July 1, 1957.

Its mission is to support the United Nations Command (UNC) and Combined Forces Command by coordinating and planning among U.S. component commands, and exercise operational control of U.S. forces as directed by United States Indo-Pacific Command.

USFK has Title 10 authority, which means that USFK is responsible for organizing, training and equipping U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula so that forces are agile, adaptable and ready.

With 28,500 American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in South Korea, U.S. forces in South Korea are a major presence in the region and a key manifestation of the U.S. government's aim to rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific. The USFK mission also includes planning non-combatant evacuation operations to ensure that if the need arises, U.S. and other previously agreed-upon countries' citizens are removed from harm's way. To this end, USFK conducts routine exercises to ensure that this process is effective, efficient, and orderly.

With the relocation of the new USFK and UNC headquarters to Camp Humphreys (in Pyeongtaek) on 29 June 2018, the USFK command and the majority of its subordinate units have officially moved out of the city of Seoul; now 35 km (22 mi) further south.

Commanders, U.S. Forces Korea

No.	Commander		Term			Service branch
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Decker, GeorgeGeneral George Decker (1902–1980)	1 July 1957	30 June 1959	1 year, 364 days	U.S. Army
2		Magruder, Carter B.General Carter B. Magruder (1900–1988)	1 July 1959	30 June 1961	1 year, 364 days	U.S. Army
3		Meloy, Guy S.General Guy S. Meloy (1903–1968)	1 July 1961	31 July 1963	2 years, 30 days	U.S. Army
4		Howze, Hamilton H.General Hamilton H. Howze (1908–1998)	1 August 1963	15 June 1965	1 year, 318 days	U.S. Army
5		Beach, Dwight E.General Dwight E. Beach (1908–2000)	16 June 1965	31 August 1966	1 year, 76 days	U.S. Army
6		Bonesteel, Charles H. IIIGeneral Charles H. Bonesteel III (1909–1977)	1 September 1966	30 September 1969	3 years, 29 days	U.S. Army
7		Michaelis, John H.General John H. Michaelis (1912–1985)	1 October 1969	31 August 1972	2 years, 335 days	U.S. Army
8		Bennett, Donald V.General Donald V. Bennett (1915–2005)	1 September 1972	31 July 1973	333 days	U.S. Army
9		Stilwell, Richard G.General Richard G. Stilwell (1917–1991)	1 August 1973	8 October 1976	3 years, 68 days	U.S. Army
10		Vessey, John W. Jr.General John W. Vessey Jr. (1922–2016)	8 October 1976	10 July 1979	2 years, 275 days	U.S. Army
11		Wickham, John A. Jr.General John A. Wickham Jr. (born 1928)	10 July 1979	4 June 1982	2 years, 329 days	U.S. Army
12		Sennewald, Robert W.General Robert W. Sennewald (born 1929)	4 June 1982	1 June 1984	1 year, 363 days	U.S. Army
13		Livsey, William J.General William J. Livsey (1931–2016)	1 June 1984	25 June 1987	3 years, 24 days	U.S. Army
14		Menetrey, Louis C. Jr.General Louis C. Menetrey Jr. (1929–2009)	25 June 1987	26 June 1990	3 years, 1 day	U.S. Army
15		RisCassi, Robert W.General Robert W. RisCassi (born 1936)	26 June 1990	15 June 1993	2 years, 354 days	U.S. Army
16		Luck, Gary E.General Gary E. Luck (born 1937)	15 June 1993	9 July 1996	3 years, 24 days	U.S. Army
17		Tilelli, John H. Jr.General John H. Tilelli Jr. (born 1941)	9 July 1996	9 December 1999	3 years, 153 days	U.S. Army
18		Schwartz, Thomas A.General Thomas A. Schwartz (born 1945)	9 December 1999	1 May 2002	2 years, 143 days	U.S. Army
19		LaPorte, Leon J.General Leon J. LaPorte (born 1946)	1 May 2002	3 February 2006	3 years, 278 days	U.S. Army
20		Bell, B.B.General B.B. Bell (born 1947)	3 February 2006	3 June 2008	2 years, 121 days	U.S. Army
21		Sharp, Walter L.General Walter L. Sharp (born 1952)	3 June 2008	14 July 2011	3 years, 41 days	U.S. Army
22		Thurman, James D.General James D. Thurman (born 1953)	14 July 2011	12 October 2013	2 years, 80 days	U.S. Army
23		Scaparrotti, Curtis M.General Curtis M. Scaparrotti (born 1956)	2 October 2013	30 April 2016	2 years, 211 days	U.S. Army
24		Brooks, Vincent K.General Vincent K. Brooks (born 1958)	30 April 2016	8 November 2018	2 years, 192 days	U.S. Army
25		Abrams, Robert B.General Robert B. Abrams (born 1960)	8 November 2018	2 July 2021	2 years, 236 days	U.S. Army
26		LaCamera, Paul J.General Paul LaCamera (born 1963)	2 July 2021	Incumbent	2 years, 301 days	U.S. Army

Shoulder sleeve insignia

Description

A shield-shaped embroidered device 3+1⁄8 inches (7.9 cm) in height and 2+1⁄2 inches (6.4 cm) in width overall blazoned: azure, in chief four mullets bendwise argent, all above a stylized American bald eagle, issuant from sinister base volant to dexter chief; the eagle's body gules surmounted by two bendlets, wider at base, of the second throughout; head of the second, eyed of the field, leg and talons of the second grasping a laurel branch and seven arrows or. The entire shield shape is edged with a 1⁄16-inch (0.16 cm) white border. Attached above the device is a designation band in scarlet inscribed "USFK" in white letters. The entire device is edged with a 1⁄8-inch (0.32 cm) blue border.

Symbolism

The shield shape reflects the United States Forces Korea's steadfast commitment to defend the sovereignty of South Korea. The abbreviation "USFK" stands for United States Forces Korea which activated on 1 July 1957. The four stars symbolize the service and contributions of the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and the United States Marine Corps. The stylized American bald eagle represents cohesion and unity among the services. The laurel sprigs and arrows depict the mission of the United States Forces Korea to defeat aggression if necessary. Red, white, and blue are the colors of the flag of the United States of America. Red symbolizes hard work and honor, white represents innocence and purity, and blue refers to justice and perseverance. Yellow signifies wisdom and intuition.

Background

The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 18 June 2012. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-1077).