Key U.S. Combat Team in Korea to Be Rotated out

The U.S. Army last week announced a rotation plan to replace a key unit of the U.S. Forces Korea.

The 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division is being replaced by another team from the U.S. mainland in a process that happens every nine months.

There have been concerns here over USFK troop reductions amid U.S. pressure on Korea to increase its share of the upkeep cost of American troops stationed here.

"We are excited about our rotation to [Korea] and look forward to strengthening our long-standing partnership with our allies," Col. Thomas Murtha, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team said in a press release.

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team is currently deployed here will take over the role of the 1st.

Each consists of about 4,500 troops armed with some 50 state-of-the-art M1A2 SEP tanks and about 30 advanced M2A3 armored personnel carriers.