Sup everyone. Just browsing the net for some information regarding upcoming assignment to Osan and i stumbeled upon this forum. I read around a bit, but i've still got a few questions that i hope someone could answer for me.

How are the 303rd Airman Dorms? Room-mate? Suitemate? New or old?

I heard TMO wont reinburse for the shipment of plasma televisions. Is this true?

And regrading my move, its kinda screwy, let me explain. When i pcs to Korea, i'll have aprox 13 months left on my contract. Figure in the 12 month tour and that leaves me with a month extra. Is there any way i can sign up for the KIAP as soon as i arrive, or do i have to re-enlist first? (wont be eligible for a CJR until after i arrive, and if i wait too long i miss out on the first year's 3600 bucks of the Incentive pay).

Hope to hear from you guys soon! Ciao~

PS* Dont follow-on to Aviano, ugh this place is horrid. Go Ramstein instead if you're looking for Europe

You'll have to reenlist to recieve the AIP. Basically it says you'll do 1 more year on top of your year that you are already going to do, but they will pay you from the time you sign you re-up paperwork and AIP paperwork.

Initial year + 1 year ='s $300 a month, total 2 years in Korea, $7200 total

initial year + 2 year's ='s $400 a month, total 3 years in Korea, $14400 total

Hope this helps on the AIP, cannot help with anything else...

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CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

Welcome Gumby! I figured Aviano might be OK? Tell us what you found to be horrible! We may scratch it from our list.

Aviano pros - Beautiful Italy. 8 euro train ride to venice. Close to rome. Italian food. Not a bad location really for a family.

Cons - Red headed stepchild base of Ramstein. High ops tempo. Everything closes on base at 8, offbase sometimes earlier. Italians are notoriously lazy when it comes to anything. Takes months to get telephone or internet installed (depending on your house, internet might be impossible). No gas station on base, so you buy gas offbase. Gas stations not open 24 hours, so, if you're on a roadtrip, and low on gas, and they are closed...screwed. Rampant DUIs due to no taxis and stupid airmen

Basically go to ramstein. If you want to see europe, germany is a much better place to leave from. Everything italy has, germany has better, nicer, and less expensive.

Need some mroe information on the plasma screen tv to give you a better answer, but here is the skinny of it.
-Going to Korea unaccompanied, you have your choice to ship a 500 lbs, unaccompanied baggage shipment, or 10% of your weight allowance by surface
-The gov't will pay for a plasma or LCD flat screen deservicing and crate construction, only if it is over 41".

What are you looking to get reimbursed for? Shipping your TV yourself?

Thanks for your views on Aviano- I see your reasoning, and the big picture, too. Nice place to visit, may not want to live there...?

I've been to Ramstein, Weisbaden ,Bad Homberg (Feldberg) in the Taurus Mountains, Stuttgart and Frankfort. Germany is a great place to headquarter while touring Europe!
Sounds like you had a car. Korea has plenty of transportation, you will get by ok without a car. 13 months goes fast here. I don't think anything closes at 8.

I'll be shipping it to myself in korea, yeah. it's a 42inch plasma (glad i paid for that extra inch!) Surface shipment will take a long time, im guessing, so i'll just go for teh 500lbs i think

I must disagree on Italy. I was stationed at a Warhead Detachment in Oderzo, Italy, admittly this was during the first Gulf war. I found Italy to be less expensive than Germany. All the shopping We did at the Det was at Aviano which had a better BX and commisary than an Army post in Germany or Italy of compariable size. Internet and Telephone were not necessary back in those days so I did not need them in my room. Aviano is not as big a base as compared to Ramstein but I was glad to have Aviano there as the ride to Vicenza was long and they have 82 Airborne there so the base was not very non infantry friendly. I Loved the time I spent in Italy but it is a little more remote than Ramstein was as out side of the city it is all country mountian roads but was a good tour and I would love to go back and visit someday.

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Just my humble opinion!

Well we're all free to our own opinions bro :)

Anyone from the 303rd here?

If you want TMO to ship the Plasma, than you will have to ship by surface. Yes it will take some time to get there. 27" is about the limit for unaccompanied baggage shipments. Another thing that should be put into perspective about UB shipments to the forum.

Your personal belongings are being handled like a piece of baggage. The boxes/crates travel via AMC (Alcoholics Moving Cargo) airlift system. Not to knock the 2T2s out there, but I am sure that some of the air freighters working in cargo processing have not used their gentle touch while handling TP-4 baggage shipments at 0200 and not double wrap the pallet taking it outside. Loading the baggage on non-air ride freight haulers bringing it to it's destination. I have seen the internal workings of how freight is handled for many many years. The fragile sticker means throw harder.

So keep this in mind when you are decide if you want to ship that crystal huricanne latern that your great-grandmother willed out to you...