: The US Army's Byzantine personnel management system generally sends only two kinds of junior armor officers to Korea, 2nd Lieutenants on their first tours and Captains straight out of the Advanced Course. This leaves many slots for first lieutenants (specialist platoon leaders, company executive officers) filled by sergeants or 2nd Lieutenants. The Army has a special program by which 1st Lieutenants in Armor are encouraged to volunteer to go to Korea during their last year before taking the Advanced Course and promotion to Captain. While it would seem that no one really wants to spend a year in Korea (a hardship post with no family members along), the Armor Branch suggests that it would be better to do this as a 1st Lieutenant (winning, because of the hardship post, priority in picking an assignment after promotion to Captain) than to wait and be sent as a captain who is less likely to get a leadership job. --Stephen V Cole

Y2K: While India insists that it has its Y2K problems well in hand, Asian-based airlines are openly planning alternative routes that avoid Indian air space (and dependence on Indian air control centers).--Stephen V Cole