USFK commander tours Yongsan quarters

By Mr. David Mcnally (RDECOM)January 15, 2009

USFK commander tours Yongsan quarters
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

<strong>YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea</strong> - The senior military commander in Korea took time to visit Army housing Jan. 13 at Hannam Village and Yongsan Garrison.

U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Walter Sharp and his wife Joanne toured a Hannam Village model apartment displaying the end-state of a multimillion dollar renovation project funded by the Korea National Housing Corporation. The renovation is set to begin shortly.

Hannam Village is a government-leased housing area near Yongsan Garrison. The 18-month project will provide U.S. Servicemembers and their Family Members with 264 sets of premium apartments.

The Sharps also visited the Hannam Village Commissary and new Community Center, as well as a set of company-grade officer quarters. Later, the group toured the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 524th Military Intelligence Battalion barracks on Yongsan's South Post. Finally, the group visited an unaccompanied colonel's quarters.

Yongsan Garrison was first used by U.S. Forces in 1948. Many of the structures on post are from the Japanese occupation of 1910-1945. The installation is closing at some point in the future as part of the Yongsan Relocation Plan. As a result, there are no major construction projects on the installation.

Installation Management Command-Korea Region Commander Brig. Gen. John Uberti told the general of the challenges facing U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan.

"The Garrison team is constantly identifying critical points, such as the water system, electrical grid and infrastructure and maintaining a balance of capabilities and quality of life," Uberti said. "As part of the Army Family Covenant, we are committed to providing Soldiers and Families a quality of life commensurate with their service."

Uberti said they are improving facilities and housing because it's the right thing to do.

"We are always aware of the living and working conditions of our force," he said.

Even without major construction funding, USAG-Yongsan continues to invest in small-scale renovation projects to improve quality of life.

"We continue to do everything we can to bridge the gap during this time of transition," said USAG-Yongsan Commander Col. Dave Hall. "We are executing transformation on the peninsula, but we are committed to maintaining our facilities at all bases until they are returned to the Republic of Korea."

"The Garrison is doing an incredible job of taking care of the community with limited resources," Gen. Sharp told the commanders.

Related Links:

Hannam Village Towers to feature spacious kitchens

U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Flickr Site

U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Official Site