Possible to go to Korea with my Army husband?

s_lauder1 · #1 03-03-2008, 08:13 AM

My husband just got his orders to go to Camp Humphreys South Korea, and we are trying to find out if it were possible for me to go with him. So far we have heard lots of different things such as: no, depends on his rank, command sposorship....
I would really like to hear from someone who has already gone through all of this and knows what they are talking about. We are new to the Military and would greatly appreciate some information.
Thanks,
shannon

chucksnee · #2 03-03-2008, 08:40 AM

Shannon, PACK your bags!!!! Their are alot of wives over here that are not command sponsored. You can come over here and YOUR HUSABND will get paid for you to live down town. Now, if his command makes him live in the barracks that is a different story....BUT you will have a place to live paid for by the government.

I'm curious as to how you know that you are coming to USAG Humphreys? From what I can gather, your husband is new to the Army with little rank........I could be wrong?

Either way ALOT of wives are here and LOVE it....

read this http://www.usfkforums.com/spouses-cl...-sponsored.htm .....lots of pages to read but will get rid of alot of false information that you have or may come across...

Ask any questions that you have....and welcome to the site

nearlywild · #3 03-03-2008, 09:08 AM

As long as you can afford the airfare to get here, it's surprisingly easy to be here with your husband. Best decision we ever made.

s_lauder1 · #4 03-04-2008, 02:27 AM

Thank you all who replied! I'm sure he found out he was going to Korea through his AKO account, also he was told in person. He is about to graduate from AIT and his rank is E-3... if that helps. I haven't looked at the link yet, but that's going to be my next stop.
A few questions... by meaning i can come out there does this just mean on my own dime? Just the airfare? What are the first steps i need to take in order to get out there? Is it difficult to get command sponsored? Command sponsored vs. non command sponsored? What about the Korean Assignment Incentive Plan? Iv'e heard that is another way i will be allowed out there.
Once again thank you!

segan · #5 03-13-2008, 07:05 PM

It's possible to get a pin-point assignment (where you know exactly where you are going) without having a lot of rank. Actually, it happens all the time. But it can always change too depending on when he actually arrived here and where he would be needed most. So just be aware of that.

You will have to pay for your own airfare. And possibly the first month of rent (you will get reimbursed later). Many of the apartments are some what furnished but they'll have a bed. :) Make sure that you have a copy of your husbands orders just in case the airline asks for them. There isn't much difference between CS & NCS here - you can't get on post housing, which there is a waiting list for anyway & you'll have to pay for any dental work up front and then send it in to get reimbursed but I think that's about it. You may or may not get CS while here. They are opening up more slots because of the expansion going on but there's no way to know for sure. It doesn't matter whether you do the AIP or not - you can still come. I know plenty of wives here that there husbands didn't AIP and there isn't any problems. Once you get here and you like it then you can decide if it's right for you guys. If you do it for 1 year you get an extra $300 and for 2 years $400.

Hope to see you here (in South Korea) before to long!! Good luck!

chucksnee · #6 03-13-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by segan

It's possible to get a pin-point assignment (where you know exactly where you are going) without having a lot of rank. Actually, it happens all the time. But it can always change too depending on when he actually arrived here and where he would be needed most. So just be aware of that.

I will have to disagree with this statment. Unless you have rank E-7 and above or MAJ and above, you really have no clue where you are going.............UNLESS you have a very special MOS.

Alot of E-7's have no clue where they are going.....and I'll explain why...

When you get orders to Korea you go to assigned to Camp Coiner Korea, the initail entry point for Korea (Army), then depending on what MOS you are that depends on where you go....8th Army or 2ID.....This is where/why it become's impossible to recieve pinpoint orders to Korea....almost anywhere actually UNLESS you have RANK.

segan, I'm not doubting you and you maybe in a very special MOS that is able to do that......or you know a very special secert that nobody else knows.....

willy · #7 03-13-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_lauder1

A few questions... by meaning i can come out there does this just mean on my own dime? Just the airfare? What are the first steps i need to take in order to get out there? Is it difficult to get command sponsored?

Forget about getting command sponsored ~ don't even waste your time. But don't worry, because it's not a big deal.

The first thing you need to do is start working on getting a passport and a Korean visa.

I would recommend that you hold tight until after your husband gets there, gets inprocessed, and gets somewhat settled into his assignment. He's going to have a full plate as it is, and as a brand new soldier, he probably won't have time right after he gets there to help you out as much as you're going to need it.

Set a plan where you fly a week or two after he gets there.

chucksnee · #8 03-14-2008, 06:44 AM

[quote=segan;58167]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucksnee

I will have to disagree with this statment. Unless you have rank E-7 and above or MAJ and above, you really have no clue where you are going.............UNLESS you have a very special MOS.

Alot of E-7's have no clue where they are going.....and I'll explain why...

When you get orders to Korea you go to assigned to Camp Coiner Korea, the initail entry point for Korea (Army), then depending on what MOS you are that depends on where you go....8th Army or 2ID.....This is where/why it become's impossible to recieve pinpoint orders to Korea....almost anywhere actually UNLESS you have RANK.

segan, I'm not doubting you and you maybe in a very special MOS that is able to do that......or you know a very special secert that nobody else knows.....[/quote

And we're all entitled to believe what we want. I was in the Army, I was stationed at Camp Casey, and then at an AIT unit, and was in HR...I saw first hand soldiers that were only E-2 get pinpoint assignments. Yes, I know that usually, like 99% of the time, it doesn't happen. But it can - if you are very lucky. And yes, it is much easier to get it when you do have more rank but sometimes these things do happen. And of course, you're more likely to get it if you know people...but we all know how that goes!

Chucksnee, I wasn't being specific about getting pinpoint orders to Korea - I just meant in general. Thanks for your explanation though...I'm sure others might find it useful, however, I know how it all works...

O.K. then please make up your mind then, in your first post you say it is easy to get pinpoint orders and that it happens all the time with or without rank?

Quote:

Originally Posted by segan

It's possible to get a pin-point assignment (where you know exactly where you are going) without having a lot of rank. Actually, it happens all the time.

Now in this thread you are saying IF you are very lucky you can get pinpoint orders, but rank does help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by segan

Yes, I know that usually, like 99% of the time, it doesn't happen. But it can - if you are very lucky. And yes, it is much easier to get it when you do have more rank but sometimes these things do happen.

So please tell us what you are actually trying to say? I fully understand how orders work also, (I may have a few years in the Army) I never said pinpoint orders do not happen for E-2's becasue it does and once again you back me up in your statment.

msprice188 · #9 03-14-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by segan

It's possible to get a pin-point assignment (where you know exactly where you are going) without having a lot of rank. Actually, it happens all the time. But it can always change too depending on when he actually arrived here and where he would be needed most. So just be aware of that.

You will have to pay for your own airfare. And possibly the first month of rent (you will get reimbursed later). Many of the apartments are some what furnished but they'll have a bed. :) Make sure that you have a copy of your husbands orders just in case the airline asks for them. There isn't much difference between CS & NCS here - you can't get on post housing, which there is a waiting list for anyway & you'll have to pay for any dental work up front and then send it in to get reimbursed but I think that's about it. You may or may not get CS while here. They are opening up more slots because of the expansion going on but there's no way to know for sure. It doesn't matter whether you do the AIP or not - you can still come. I know plenty of wives here that there husbands didn't AIP and there isn't any problems. Once you get here and you like it then you can decide if it's right for you guys. If you do it for 1 year you get an extra $300 and for 2 years $400.

Hope to see you here (in South Korea) before to long!! Good luck!

There might be more of a difference soon. I heard recently that the medical situation is getting a little out of hand and they might have to start asking your status when you make appointments. So it might be harder for NCS to get medical appointments. I also heard that it might be really hard to get NCS in to school next year because of bringing down the 7th and 8th graders. Obviously I said "heard" but it was from pretty reliable sources. Other than that, you're right housing is about the only difference. Luckily the waiting list isn't that long and it's well worth the wait.

segan · #10 03-14-2008, 09:45 AM

I didn't think about the school situation. My son is only 8 months so it doesn't apply to us yet but good point. That is good information for those that want to come and have school age children.

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The Following User Says Thank You to chucksnee For This Useful Post:
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