I have seen a lot of development in just the past few years at Osan Air Base. I have seen the B/X grow from a tiny building (now the terminal) to a full shopping mall with a food courts. Osan just added a Chilis and has added a ton of new housing and dorms. Overall, I would say Osan has the best facilities in South Korea and would rate well against any U.S. Air Force base in the world.

That being said, would you guys consider Osan an assignment of choice? Is there anything that Osan really needs?

Mike

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If I was single this would be great. This is by no means a remote, it is simply an unaccompanied tour.
I didn't volunteer to come just out of a whim, I looked into almost every aspect.
The weather conditions are my only real gripe here. That and the lack of a kitchen. The gang kitchen in my old old old dormitory just isn't convenient for me.
I haven't really even been too heartbroken over not being able to drive a POV. It is hard enough to find parking in a GOV and I can take busses, trains and taxis to most places.

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I would say yes it is, people think it so hard to go to Osan but that base has more comforts than some bases stateside. I showed up on that base in 1992 and didnt leave it until 1999, I know that place like the back of my hand.

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Chip Councill
Former Osan Junkie 92-99

I would say that this cold be considered an assignment of choice for single people, but not married, whether it is an unacompanied or accompanied tour. I heard friends say that it is just like college life and they love it, plus, they have a good shot at getting their follow-on. I'm just here for the follow-on, otherwise, I would have skipped it. Osan did just open a Chili's and a paintball course and the BX is nice, and items are cheap downtown. Just not enough recreational things to do for a family, especially compared to yongsan.

If thye let E-5's have a choice of living on or off-base and get rid if the curfew, build some new dorms as well as tear down the old dormsthen yes it would be an assignment of choice. Sorry, I am not convinced it is THE choice.

I would have to agree with timmy31 about dropping the curfew. What is the difference between being in Germany and hanging out at the bars until 4-5am, or in Turkey till dawn drinking Efes and Raki...or Nellis hitting the strip????? Korea is the only place with a curfew.

Is it based off of force protection issues??? I felt safer walking the alleys in Osan at night better then walking an alley in Ybor City.

I think the curfew has been here so long, all those who remember why it exists are dead except me and, of course, Parisok!

In and around Korean War times, the communists came out at night and kidnapped South Koreans, never to be seen again. It was a dangerous time.
Koreans started the curfew. Later the US occupying forces adopted it, and felt that it helped the troops preserve readiness, as in "Ready to Fight Tonight!" After it got watered down to encompass only those who were living in the dorms, and cut to like 4 or 5 hours, it is meaningless, in my humble, yet knowledgeable, opinion. In a word, it sucks!

The Army runs the show. The Air Force would have never let it go on so long. The Army still believes it helps readiness. As if their being ready would be worth a dime if the warheads hit tonight! I sincerely don't want to upset anyone, so I'll say, "maybe I'm mistaken?" Tell us why a curfew is important these days! Do you think the young bucks who are first timers and too young to drink pay any attention to it anyway? Does curfew cure hormones?
Or could it contribute to sexual assault?

Wow, now that is a loaded question. I'll start by saying that my time in Korea has been enjoyable.

But an assignment of choice? Not a chance. But that all comes down to personal preference. Personally, I would rather be stationed at one of the smaller bases like Gunsan. (No, I haven't lost my mind). The thing that I have enjoyed the most about being in Korea is getting away from the base and learning about the Korean culture.

Those people that get wrapped around the whole curfew issue are probably the same people that have spent their tour hanging out in Songtan. Boy, have you missed out. This country has so much more to offer than what the "Songtaneer" ever gets to enjoy.

Get out and enjoy the country and forget about the American zone outside the base. For the amount of money that people spend in a typical night in the bars I could have enjoyed a couple of weekends traveling around the country by train, enjoying the food, sights, and sounds that Korea has to offer.

Korea an assignment of choice...probably. Osan an assignment of choice...not so much. Just a good starting place to get out and enjoy something different.

Joe,

I'm not dead, just hiding in the US. I remember when there wasn't a curfew. Either way, 'dameeun' is right....You gotta get out and see the country.

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When people ask me where I'm from, I say that my hometown is 'Kunsan'! 진 짜! 정 말!

Absolutely right. Yesterday, while I was at a bus stop on base I saw where someone had carved into the wall "do not AIP in Korea it is a waste of your life". The first thing that came to my mind is that whoever carved that is someone who does nothing but stay in their room or spend all of their spare time getting drunk at the bars. I know that the no cars and the curfew can be discouraging but take advantage of what is available. There is plenty to do if you just get out there and do it.