South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves

The Army is extending tours in South Korea as the Pentagon aims to limit station moves and cut costs. Officials say the longer tours should give soldiers and their families more stability with less frequent moves.

Soldiers have typically been assigned to units in South Korea for one year with an option to extend tours to two or three years if they are accompanied by family. Now, single soldiers will get two-year tours while those with families will get three-year assignments, according to a new policy reviewed by Task & Purpose.

The policy brings South Korea assignments in line with other overseas postings in countries like Germany, Japan, or Italy, which have long offered two-year unaccompanied and three-year accompanied tours. Soldiers can be assigned to several bases in South Korea, t