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eslwriter
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
Location: A dot on the planet with an exaggerated sense of importance.
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 Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:00 pm Post subject: KATUSA student |
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I know a young Korean man who will soon join KATUSA. He wants to do a quick upgrade of English skills related to what he will encounter during his military service.
Any ideas for KATUSA related resources, manuals, etc? |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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I think he will go through US boot camp and most likely have an administrative assistant type of job after completion of basic training.
I would just do through English that would be used during boot camp. Plenty of GI's around that you can ask. Or, watch some movies (band of brothers episode 1 for example).
Next, go on to business English but have it relate to military as opposed to the office. Listening comprehension is going to be huge. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| He will not go through US Army Basic Training. He will be assigned to whatever open KATUSA billet is available, which could run the gamut from adminstration to military police. |
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Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| He will not go through US Army Basic Training. He will be assigned to whatever open KATUSA billet is available, which could run the gamut from adminstration to military police. |
Spot on.
KATUSA soldiers go through ROK basic training, and then a 3 week KATUSA school before being assigned to an open slot.
I've seen KATUSA soldiers in many different jobs ranging from Military Police, to Armor Crewman (Tanker), to simple administrative/assistant duties. It's a luck of the draw type of thing. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks. By the way, military administration isn't "simple duties." Those folks deploy and fight like Infantrymen, too. In addition, their administrative duties range from typing/filing (at the lowest ranks) to some kinds of research (obviously not PhD, but still targeted) and management at the higher ranks. |
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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If he doesn't have a good grasp of English already, learning military jargon won't do him much good. He should focus on general English rather than military English. Knowing military terminology beforehand helps but you'll eventually learn it anyway. Basic stuff he should know is the rank system and unit sizes. If he wants to take it farther, knowing the rifle components(for both the k2 and m16) will give him a good headstart.
Have him watch Generation Kill. It's good stuff.
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| Those folks deploy and fight like Infantrymen, too |
Depends on the unit. Corp or Division level HQ staff members aren't usually sent to the thick of battle. While a private who files paperwork for his company commander will. |
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Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| Thanks. By the way, military administration isn't "simple duties." Those folks deploy and fight like Infantrymen, too. In addition, their administrative duties range from typing/filing (at the lowest ranks) to some kinds of research (obviously not PhD, but still targeted) and management at the higher ranks. |
We are discussing KATUSA soldiers, Administration for them boils down to simple duties. KATUSAs don't deploy.
I worked right along side a few KATUSAs with administration duties, one of them got a private office in which he spent most of his time sleeping. He had about an hour of real work to do everyday, and that involved going to each company's motorpool and asking "Do you have chief's reports yet, or should I wait a few minutes?" good guy, but his position was really..umm..not needed. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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They deploy within Korea. And, of course, if their country does go to war (active war, not the tenuous armistice they have now), of course they are subject to being recalled to a Korean military unit. The KATUSA you worked with may have had the sinecure you described, but that's a failure of his supervisor. I am most familiar with KATUSA in Seoul and those working administration there certainly do not get a private offce nor just hour's work a day; they are very involved in the unit's day-to-day operation.
But now I am curious if the KATUSA get assigned by their MOS for which they receive training immediately after BCT or if they are assigned essentially at random and get OJT once they arrive at the US unit. I'll be happy to discuss it next week with some I know as I will be in Seoul then. |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| He will not go through US Army Basic Training. He will be assigned to whatever open KATUSA billet is available, which could run the gamut from adminstration to military police. |
Thats what I get for not following up on it.
My cousin was a KATUSA. I jsut assumed he went through US basic training because he was given a US rank. I remember he was 1 level higher in rank than the Korean soldiers his same age/group.
Also, his job was administrative for a US colonel (or was it a major?). I remember he said most Koreans who were good at English wanted to become KATUSA because it was a better than being a normal Korean solider. Things like better living quarters and things.
I should put a disclaimer on my posts for today. I had some crazy chicken soup for lunch where I had to take a black pill before eating. Normally I'm pretty good with info, but today is an off day. |
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eslwriter
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
Location: A dot on the planet with an exaggerated sense of importance.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:00 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the good stream of content. So far, the suggested learning content for KATUSAs is:
Rank and unit sizes
K2 and m16 rifle parts
rank system and unit sizes
telephone English
a few acronyms
The more the better. Thanks again. |
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Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:12 am Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
They deploy within Korea. And, of course, if their country does go to war (active war, not the tenuous armistice they have now), of course they are subject to being recalled to a Korean military unit. The KATUSA you worked with may have had the sinecure you described, but that's a failure of his supervisor. I am most familiar with KATUSA in Seoul and those working administration there certainly do not get a private offce nor just hour's work a day; they are very involved in the unit's day-to-day operation.
But now I am curious if the KATUSA get assigned by their MOS for which they receive training immediately after BCT or if they are assigned essentially at random and get OJT once they arrive at the US unit. I'll be happy to discuss it next week with some I know as I will be in Seoul then. |
They do their basic training, and then the KATUSA school which is basically military customs & courtesies and a touch of U.S D&C. Once they get a open slot in a unit they get OJT.
To be fair, the KATUSA I worked directly with had the least amount of work. There were KATUSAs that worked much much harder than he did. It was just one example.
I also knew a few KATUSAs who worked in the headquarters of our company dealing with strictly KATUSA matters and they were overworked, even by military standards.
However, all of the KATUSAs I served with (minus one, but he was lazy) loved their jobs. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:24 am Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
Thats what I get for not following up on it.
My cousin was a KATUSA. I jsut assumed he went through US basic training because he was given a US rank. I remember he was 1 level higher in rank than the Korean soldiers his same age/group. |
The KATUSA maintain their Korean rank, insignia, pay (low as it is) and are promoted in accordance with Korean military regulations. In English, of course, they're referred to by the English name of their rank. Here is one of my favorite sites, one where you can look up the rank insignia for almost every military on Earth and get the native title and English translation.
| Quote: |
| Also, his job was administrative for a US colonel (or was it a major?). I remember he said most Koreans who were good at English wanted to become KATUSA because it was a better than being a normal Korean solider. Things like better living quarters and things. |
Much better living quarters than the regular Korean military. The KATUSA are billeted on the US military bases. Additionally, these days one must first pass a competitive examination and then be selected from among those who pass. It's pretty tough to get now.
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| I should put a disclaimer on my posts for today. I had some crazy chicken soup for lunch where I had to take a black pill before eating. Normally I'm pretty good with info, but today is an off day. |
Hope you feel better. Beginning of winter will fell almost anyone--especially with the tough winters we've been having the last couple of years. |
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matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:37 am Post subject: |
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Download the Army training manual PDF online.
See if he can talk about or recognize the policies, teachings, etc. in there.
Last edited by matthews_world on Sun Jan 29, 2012 4:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:27 am Post subject: |
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| eslwriter wrote: |
Thanks for the good stream of content. So far, the suggested learning content for KATUSAs is:
Rank and unit sizes
K2 and m16 rifle parts
rank system and unit sizes
telephone English
a few acronyms
The more the better. Thanks again. |
He should know the K2 components in Korean since basic training will be at a Korean training facility. But except for a few things, the K2 isn't vastly different from the M16.
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of course they are subject to being recalled to a Korean military unit. |
Are they? I remember reading about KATUSA guys fighting in US units during the Korean War. I thought the idea was they're supposed to give American forces more "flexibility" and navigation in war by having indigenous guys amongst their troops. |
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Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| fermentation wrote: |
| eslwriter wrote: |
Thanks for the good stream of content. So far, the suggested learning content for KATUSAs is:
Rank and unit sizes
K2 and m16 rifle parts
rank system and unit sizes
telephone English
a few acronyms
The more the better. Thanks again. |
He should know the K2 components in Korean since basic training will be at a Korean training facility. But except for a few things, the K2 isn't vastly different from the M16.
| Quote: |
of course they are subject to being recalled to a Korean military unit. |
Are they? I remember reading about KATUSA guys fighting in US units during the Korean War. I thought the idea was they're supposed to give American forces more "flexibility" and navigation in war by having indigenous guys amongst their troops. |
KATUSAs would possibly fight in their respective U.S units if another Korean war ere to break out, but in the case of a U.S unit deploying to combat in Iraq or Afghanistan from Korea the KATUSAs usually go back to the ROK army. |
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