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6-52 Soldiers, Suwon police team up


Image by USAG-Humphreys
Story and photo by Capt. Austin Liu
6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion

SUWON CITY — When a person is summoned to a police station, it is often under negative circumstances, such as breaking the law or involving in a traffic accident.
However, every Thursday afternoon, Soldiers from the 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery pay a visit to the Korean National Police Agency West Suwon Station for an entirely different reason.
The Soldiers are volunteer teachers conducting English training and their students are Suwon law enforcement officers.
“The intent behind the KNP English program is to reach out and build a sense of camaraderie with an outstanding group of local nationals who sacrifice so much on a daily basis to uphold justice for not only the local nationals, but also all law-abiding residents of different nationalities living here on the Peninsula,” said Sgt. Randi Choice, one of the primary volunteer instructors from D Battery, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery.
Instead of reading Miranda rights, the Korean police officers stand in front of the classroom discussing, in English, their favorite pastimes and TV dramas, with the help of the U.S. Soldiers.
Choice said, “Usually we only interact with the KNP when our Soldiers get in trouble or are in need of assistance, but this time, we are here for a very positive reason.”
This is not the first time Choice has had an opportunity to work with a host nation’s police agency.
When she was deployed to Iraq in 2006, Choice was attached to an Iraqi police unit for more than 15 months.
“I think my experience in Iraq really inspired me to volunteer for this class in Korea,” said Choice. “It keeps my mind open to different cultures.”
The class is focused on enhancing the student’s basic English conversational skills.
The police officers have found this very useful when interacting with foreign residents within their jurisdiction.
For this reason, the class is usually filled with police officers and detectives of various ranks.
“We divide the students into small groups and just have friendly conversations about our jobs, families, and everything else we like or dislike,” said Pfc. Diante Pullum, a communication specialist.
In Pullum’s group, there were two junior combat police officers who are serving out their mandatory conscription and a seasoned detective who has over 15 years of service on the force.
Judging from the shared laughter and enthusiasm, the class is not only educational, but also entertaining.
“We really appreciate the U.S. Soldiers for coming down here to teach English to the KNP,” said Charlie Yoon, a KNP student in the class, and the primary coordinator for the program.
According to Yoon, there is a common misconception that the Korean justice system is usually unfavorable toward U.S. Servicemembers and that foreigners are immediately found at fault under the system.
However, he called that a “myth,” and said, “The Korean legal system is impartial to all no matter what the nationality.”
“A lot of time it is the problem of the language barrier,” Yoon continued. “That is why this type of language training is so important.”
The Suwon Seobu KNP station has a permanent relationship with the 6-52nd. In addition to participating in the English classes, the KNP also provide invaluable convoy escort support for the Iron Horse Battalion.
“We actually have a lot in common with the U.S. Soldiers,” Yoon said. “In fact, the KNP agency deployed a number of police officers to Afghanistan, including a few from the Suwon district, as part of the coalition efforts to rebuild the civil infrastructure of the worn-torn nation.”

For more information on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys and living and working in Korea visit: USAG-Humphreys’ official web site or check out our online videos.

6-52 ADA welcomes new leaders


Image by USAG-Humphreys
Story and photo by Capt. Austin Liu
6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion
OSAN AIR BASE — He holds a paramount position, one that sets and upholds the standard and ensures Soldiers serving with him have everything they need to be successful. In the German Army, he is known as the “Father of the Unit.” He is the first sergeant.
So when the 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery had four changes of responsibility in one week, the unit opened a new chapter in its history.
First Sergeant Dennis Petty is one of the four spearheading the transition.
When Petty first took over C Battery, 6-52 last month, he offered only a few succinct words to the troops and families during the Change of Responsibility Ceremony.
“Charlie Battery Cold Steel, let’s get to work,” he said. And true to the spirit, for Petty, the last few weeks have been a period of great learning and appreciation for his new duty position.
“Being a first sergeant is one of the greatest, if not the greatest opportunity to lead the nation’s best and brightest sons and daughters,” Petty said after the ceremony. “I feel truly blessed.”
Two weeks later, the former PATRIOT battalion evaluator finds himself facing the challenge of leading his unit through an intense week-long range density and squad tactic exercise at Warrior Base. Petty and his Soldiers ended the week with a bolstered sense of confidence.
“I can honestly tell you that I am leading a great group of Soldiers and leaders who are not only dedicated but also motivated to succeed,” Petty said after watching his unit’s range qualification.
Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hockenberry, the battalion’s senior enlisted Soldier, welcomed the addition of the four new first sergeants.
“Changing out four of six battery first sergeants within a week really signaled a time of change and transition in the battalion … and I am a firm believer that change is good,” he said.
Just as Petty quickly found out as he took over his unit, Hockenberry said the first sergeants are “stepping into an existing successful foundation where the unit already has established a very robust military to military and community relation partnership.”
But the transition is also marked with inevitable sadness as the units bid farewell to their outgoing first sergeants whom they have spent more than 12 months with in Korea.
First Sergeant Michael Kern, the outgoing first sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Battery told his troops during his farewell speech that his Soldiers “are reason why the unit is great and he will always remember each and every single one of them.”
Kern added that “part of me really does not want to leave, and he will truly miss the unit.”
Hockenberry said, “Although it was bittersweet to see some of the older first sergeants depart, it’s also an exciting time in the battalion’s history as the transition will only expand upon what the former first sergeants have left as a legacy in their units.”

For more information on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys and living and working in Korea visit: USAG-Humphreys’ official web site or check out our online videos.