Why Korea is an Assignment of Choice – By COL (Ret.) Kevin G. Scherrer
1994-1995: Brigade XO, 2ID Avn Bde, Camp Stanley
1995-1997: Commander, 2-2 Avn Bn, Camp Stanley
1999-2000: Commander, CSCT#3, Camp Yong-in
2000-2002: Commander, 6th Cavalry Bde, Camp Humphreys
What was your initial reaction upon learning that you were going to Korea?
“Oh hell no.” I had 17 years of service and a by-name-request to return to Germany. But my assignment officer laid it out plainly:
“You can go to Camp Stanley, Korea; you can go to Yongsan, Korea; or
you can separate from the Army.” Hmmm.
Why did you have that reaction?
Because I wanted nothing to do with Korea – it was way “too foreign” for me.
Interestingly, years later I would recommend a Korea assignment to junior officers, because it was so foreign – and the only way to grow as a person is to get out of your comfort zone – and for Anglo-Americans like me, Korea is definitely out of your comfort zone (at least at the outset).
What did you know about Korea?
Not a thing, other than it was in Asia. When my sponsor picked me up at Kimpo Airport (before Inchon was built) and when I stepped outside, it was “Scherrer, you’re not in Kansas any more.” Everything was different. The sounds, the smells, the people, the language… everything. Little did I know at the time, that I would spend 6 out of the next 8 years in Korea!
Was there an “aha!” moment that made you think that being in Korea was good?
Not really – it grew on me.
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- It was a fantastic environment to be in the Army – we trained hard and got to practice our craft with few distractions. And as it was pre-911, it was truly the forward frontier of the Army – our mission mattered.
- I recognized that the Korean culture and people weren’t better or worse, they were just different. And I accepted the differences and understood how this was making me a better human being.
How did serving and living in Korea shape your career, life, or worldview? And your family’s?
After my first year in Korea, I stayed an additional two years for battalion command. While at the National War College, my regional studies area was Japan-Korea, so I got to learn more about Korea than just the DMZ and military. And when I returned to Korea for another 3 years and Brigade Command, I was a relative expert in the Theater. Those six years gave me balance professionally, and vastly expanded my cultural acceptance personally.
What experiences left a lasting impression, good or bad?
It’s been almost 25 years since I left Korea, yet I am still in close contact with both the Americans and Koreans I served with. If someone asked me what my “Army Home” was, it would clearly be Korea. The adventure, the foreign-ness, the people, all combined to make it one of the most impactful experiences of my life. Whenever I counsel junior soldiers on their futures, I always lead with “go to Korea.”
Why Korea is an Assignment of Choice ? Let us know –
This initiative invites current and former Service Members, civilians, diplomats, and families to share their stories and reflections on why serving in Korea — whether with United States Forces Korea (USFK) or at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul — was one of the most meaningful and rewarding chapters of their lives.
Whether your experience involved joint operations, discovering the beauty of Korean culture, forging lifelong friendships, or contributing to one of the world’s strongest alliances, we want to hear from you!
Share Your Story by Telling Us:
- What was your initial reaction upon learning that you were going to Korea?
- Why did you have that reaction?
- What did you know about Korea?
- Was there an “aha!” moment that made you think that being in Korea was good?
- How did serving and living in Korea shape your career, life, or worldview? And your family’s?
- What experiences left a lasting impression, good or bad?
Submissions can be written, video-recorded, or even a simple quote with a photo. Selected stories will be featured on all KDVA social media platforms, our website, and Journals.
How to Submit:
Email your story to KDVAKoreaChoice@gmail.com and tag us on social media using #KDVAKoreaAssignmentOfChoice.
There is no deadline. We will keep this going because we will not run out of stories from the millions of people who have served in Korea over the past 75 years!
Help us show the world why Korea isn’t just an assignment — it can be life changing!
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