Hello all.. heading to the Kun in August and looking for any tips on what to bring and what to expect. It will be my first time in Korea. I spent 7 years at Misawa, so I am used to exercises and MOPP gear. Looking for information on the NCO (TSgt) dorms, what to bring (TV, appliances, sheets, etc) and what there is to do (any opportunities to SCUBA dive?), good places to go, what the BX has to offer, how the hooches work (are they only open to squadron members?), do the dorms have AC... should I bring a fan or portable AC (are they allowed?), basically any tips folks who are there have for a newbie.

Welcome a fellow Air Force guy! Your questions will be best answered by Kunsan folks; they will be along shortly!

The local costal waters by Kunsan are unique, with a very high tide and a great basin of mud when the tide is out. Good for octopus and clam digging, but not for scuba. There are opportunities for trips to the south and east coasts, though. Have you heard of the famous Korean female Divers of Jeju
Island? Lots of abalone and rock lobster there. Great fun.

Hi AFG!

I was at the Kun a LONG time ago (95-96). I heard they have built new dorms (lucky you!). When I was there we did have AC in our rooms. NCOs had their own rooms but shared a bathroom, but you may have your own bathrooms now.

NCOs sometimes had own dorms, sometimes not, it depended on the numbers of airmen & NCOs on site at the time. But don't worry, if you have a mixed dorm, airmen will have their own floors (at least they did when I was there). Noise is a non-issue, b/c the NCOs partied & made as much noise as the airmen did, so get ready for that. lol.

As for diving, the Yellow sea boardering Kunsan was off limits & you wouldn't want to swim there anyway, as it was filthy. But I am sure there are places you can dive. I have heard Cheju island (sp?) was beautiful.

If I remeber right, you can go to Cheju via the tours Kunsan rec offers. They offer many, take them. Get out & see things. If you need to do some shopping just hop on the Wolfpack wheels.

Just gather your stuff & get ready for some fun. Kunsan has a bad rep, but I loved my tour there & wish I could go back.

Good luck & have fun!

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I've been at both Osan (03-04) and Kunsan (07-08) and out of the two, the Wolfpack wins! Granted, it doesn't look like a stateside base with all the luxuries as Osan, but the Pack has pride, camaraderie and parties. Everyone seems to run together in groups together. BBQs always going on all over the base on the weekends.

Forget bringing the SCUBA equipment. It is really not that big around here nor at Busan (Pusan). Getting to Cheju Island requires you to be on leave and it can be pricy to fly there. There are flights that leave from Gunsan airport to Cheju everyday though.

Depends on what squadron you are in. If you are in LRS, your NCO dorms are pretty good for the building that they are in. You have your own room and share the bathroom unless you are lucky to get one of the few rooms that have their own bathroom. Pack a set of sheets and a towel because once you get here, the BX will probably be closed.

There is talk that the Incheon to Kunsan bus will stop service 1 Aug so you will have to catch the Incheon to Osan bus and then catch the Osan to Kunsan bus. They are trying to work a contract out with the ROK Gov to have a free bus between Incheon to Kunsan....but it keeps getting stalled.

Before you come over here, get MagicJack or Skype as Vonage is completely gone from here now. Those that are reading this and claiming that you have vonage, it won't last long as the grandfather clause is up 29 Jun 08.

The BX is well stocked with TVs, computers and stuff to get you by. I'd bring a bike, helmet, lock and light with you so you have transport. If you have a Brita waterfilter, bring that too as some find the water tasty. I've used a water filter pitcher the entire year that I was here and didn't have problems with it. If you have a laptop, bring it....there is free WiFi at the Food Court, bowling alley and billeting. Otherwise, you have to pay $39 a month for broadband. Get MagicJack so you can stay in contact with home or get a Skype enabled phone. See the Vonage thread below.

Hooches....they are open to anyone unless they close for an "official" function. They work on the donation system...get carded, stamped and make a donation. They track the donations and put tick marks on the board. Some hooches suggest a $10 donation and you drink whatever. The catch is you have to pour your own liquor as there is no such this as bartenders here. They are prohibited by the Kunsan Community Standards.

Make sure you have rain gear as in August it rains alot.
We have a good food court (Taco Bell, BK, pizza, Popeyes, Robin Hood, and Baskin Robins). It's a good idea to become a club member because on Tuesdays it's $1 night for members, Wed is free all you can eat pizza, and Friday is member appreciation night. So three nights a week you can eat either cheap or free.

SPORTS: Bring golf clubs if you like to play. There is a pretty good 9 hole course here. Tennis courts, 6-indoor racketball courts. Some people here go fishing on the weekend or go mountain bike riding.

A-TOWN: It's a hole! Few shops and bars....good to get a buzz, but that's about it.

BRING:
Supersoaker
BBQ utensils
Softball glove/bats (slim pickings)
cleats (not well stocked here)
Darts, shafts, flights (not easy to get replacements if you throw)

I am so short, I can count the days on one hand. So if you need other questions answered, let me know.

Most dorms have the AC working...CE is really working hard to get them all running.

You haven't played in MOPP until you come to Kunsan...then you can say you are an expert. You will be playing quite often here...more than what you are used to. Good thing is that you will get the new M-50, not the MC-2P.

You'll have a microwave and full fridge in the room....there is usually a kitchen with oven in the common areas of the dorm.

Other things to bring:
Hiking boots if you like to hike (lots of trips)
Bathroom rug
Towels
Posters
Pictures
surge protectors
wifi router for your computer
PSP, iPOD, XBOX 360, PS3, PS2

Seems that Rock Band is really big over here.

WOW! Thanks for the awesome information!!!

Are the beds regular twin size or twin extra long?

Are they allowing you to wear the woodland gore-tex/poncho with ABUs there? (Here it's up to the Wing/CC to allow based on availability of ABU rain gear)

Anything you brought and realized "I shouldn't have brought that" later?

I was at Misawa for 7 years, so I got a taste of playing in MOPP. Can't say I'm looking forward to it again, but I'm not really sweating it (I guess untill a 10 hour alarm black in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity...).

The bed sizes vary. I've seen regular twins in some dorms and doubles in others. I was told that I was going to have a double, but ended up being a twin. The BX carries sheets...but if you like 300+ count, then you need to either go to Osan BX or bring them or order them online.