Korean Augmentation to the United States Army
Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA; Korean: 카투사) is a branch of the Republic of Korea Army that consists of Korean enlisted personnel who are seconded to the Eighth United States Army (EUSA). KATUSA does not form an individual military unit. Instead, small numbers of KATUSA members are assigned to positions in most of the departments of the Eighth United States Army, filling in for United States Army enlisted soldiers and junior non-commissioned officers. KATUSAs are selected from a pool of qualified volunteers who are subject to mandatory military service for male Korean citizens.
| Korean Augmentation to the United States Army KATUSA | |
|---|---|
| 대한민국 육군 카투사 | |
Eighth United States Army shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | July 1950 – present (73 years, 9 months) |
| Country | South Korea |
| Part of | Republic of Korea Army Eighth United States Army |
| Motto(s) | Solidarity (단결) |
| Engagements | Korean War |
While the ROK Army retains responsibility for personnel management of KATUSAs, KATUSA members are equipped with standard United States Army issues, and live and work with the U.S. enlisted soldiers.
The KATUSA program was developed during the Korean War as a temporary measure to cope with a shortage of personnel in the United States Army. This augmentation program is the only one of its kind in the United States Army.