NCS Help Please

nfraush · #1 07-02-2008, 10:28 AM

YES! It took me four days but I finally read the entire thread about being Non-command sponsored.

My husband has orders for Osan and we put in all of our paperwork to go CS. Yesterday, we heard from our med group that the Osan pediatrician indicated that they will not be able to support my son because once a year he will need an echocardiogram from a pediatric cardiologist. Interestingly enough, most AF bases can't support that either and have to send us off base to get that done. (That's what we had to do while here at this base) So it seems that we will not be able to get command sponsored and have decided to go NCS.

Although I have read all of the NCS posts, I am still a bit confused and wondered if anyone could help clarify some info.

1) Are E-7s at Osan normally granted permission to live off base?

2) What is the weight allowance? We found this on the Osan website..."In addition, the service member's household goods shipping allowance is limited to either unaccompanied hold baggage allowance or 10% of the sponsor's JFTR weight allowance." Does anyone know if you have a choice or does TMO make the decision?

3) We are still pretty confused about TMO storing our HHG...do they store it for us or do we have to find somewhere to store our HHG and pay for it?

4) Just to clarify, NCS receives OHA with dependent rate. I am hoping I am correct on this but correct me if I am wrong.

5) I checked the Overseas Cola query and was wondering if we are NCS and AD hubby is authorized to live off base, does he get COLA with or w/o dependent rate?

Sorry to bother y'all with questions you have already answered, but I was still a little confused with all the posts. Thanks in advance for all your help and this forum is truly invaluable to all of us who use it.

~Naomi

Mr. Joe · #2 07-02-2008, 05:09 PM

O.K. I see lots of people have read your plea, in Spouses and in Osan forums. No doubt you may wonder why. I am retired AF, working in Seoul, and out of touch with present rules for AF. Most of our readers are Army, and are correct in not giving you advice quickly, as the Army and the AF do many things differently.
Will someone knowledgeable at Osan please attempt to help these folks? Of course if you read the whole forum already, you are confused by the different answers and changes over time!
You need to get to a DSN phone at your base and call and get a sponsor at Osan.
They will store and pay for, up to your total authorized amount of HHG near your base. Travel Section at your base usually is knowledgeable. (Ask for an E-7 or above to talk to.) Most of your questions can be answered there!

Echocardiograms are available in Seoul. I can't imagine that, in itself, being a reason to deny CS. Keep trying.
It should make little difference whether or not hubby is "Authorized" to live off post, unless he has such an important job that he needs to be on call night and day. The worst situation would be he has to "Maintain" a room on base. I'm speculating, with experience, so you need to call a sponsor and get him to send you the straight word from the unit. No matter what they say, he can spend a lot of time with you, unless he is TDY a lot. Still it will be better than not being here. I don't recall your kid situation, but unless you have school age kids, NCS is not a big deal anymore. You will be able to get an apartment and survive well for a year or two. Hundreds do. See you later.

Gingersmurf · #3 07-02-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfraush

YES! It took me four days but I finally read the entire thread about being Non-command sponsored.

My husband has orders for Osan and we put in all of our paperwork to go CS. Yesterday, we heard from our med group that the Osan pediatrician indicated that they will not be able to support my son because once a year he will need an echocardiogram from a pediatric cardiologist. Interestingly enough, most AF bases can't support that either and have to send us off base to get that done. (That's what we had to do while here at this base) So it seems that we will not be able to get command sponsored and have decided to go NCS.

Although I have read all of the NCS posts, I am still a bit confused and wondered if anyone could help clarify some info.

1) Are E-7s at Osan normally granted permission to live off base? It depends on the unit and the unit commander. Even if there is no room in the dorms, some commanders insist that their troops be ON base and will not grant permission, even if it means that the senior NCO is living in a hotel or in base lodging for weeks.

2) What is the weight allowance? We found this on the Osan website..."In addition, the service member's household goods shipping allowance is limited to either unaccompanied hold baggage allowance or 10% of the sponsor's JFTR weight allowance." Does anyone know if you have a choice or does TMO make the decision? MPF should publish this on your orders - a remark saying 500 pounds unaccompanied or 10% JFTR. You have to tell TMO which one you want or they assume that you want the 500 pounds (based on personal experience).

3) We are still pretty confused about TMO storing our HHG...do they store it for us or do we have to find somewhere to store our HHG and pay for it? As a married couple, you are not authorized to have non-temporary storage under most circumstances. The exception is if the spouse is re-locating overseas to another overseas location (called a designated location move) and that occurs for spouses that foreign nationals who can not function in America with their spouse (for issues like not knowing the language). So as NCS, generally no, the military will not pay for storage of your HHG.

4) Just to clarify, NCS receives OHA with dependent rate. I am hoping I am correct on this but correct me if I am wrong. As far as I know, you are correct.

5) I checked the Overseas Cola query and was wondering if we are NCS and AD hubby is authorized to live off base, does he get COLA with or w/o dependent rate? Do not know the answer to this one, but best guess is yes. If you get the OHA at with-dependent rate, makes sense that you also get COLA.

Sorry to bother y'all with questions you have already answered, but I was still a little confused with all the posts. Thanks in advance for all your help and this forum is truly invaluable to all of us who use it.

~Naomi

The answers are from my husband who is now starting his eleventh year here at Osan. He has never brought a spouse here before, and has not done NCS, and he clarifies that his experience is based on previous years, and notes that there seems to be more support now for NCS families.

From me, on a personal note, with your son needing an echo every year - is there concern that he has a condition that could easily become complicated? I would worry about trying to get treatment for a serious condition in a foreign country, KWIM?

tiffluv · #4 07-02-2008, 11:37 PM

You do get OHA with the dependent rate. As far as COLA it is my understanding that it has to be approved by his commander in order for them to approve the dependent rate.

Good luck, and I would really push to get CS for your sons care, surely they have those capabilities here. Good luck!

toddashi · #5 07-02-2008, 11:44 PM

Since the request for an oversea clearance has been denied, be very careful about considering a NCS assignment. Commanders get very upset when NCS show up at the emergency room, especially when the Osan Med Group has already said they can't support you. That could effect someone's career.

nfraush · #6 07-03-2008, 01:20 AM

Thanks everyone! Y'all are awesome!

My husband has informed the leadership at gaining squadron that if not command sponsored, we will be coming NCS. Interestingly enough, response back was discouraging him to bring us since we will not receive any type of housing allowance and will not be able to use the Osan medical and dental facilities at all. Although I know from previous posts this is not true, its sad that they are still using this tactic to discourage people from coming NCS. You would think that they would want people to know factual information so that families can make an educated decision.

I do realize that medical and dental are space-A. We just saw our son's cardiologist yesterday and the next follow up appointment wont be until July 2009 and then another in July 2011/2013. The last information that our med group was given for our medical clearance was that he would need to have follow ups every 6-12 months, but that was based on information immediately following his surgery. So we are contemplating appealing the medical board. Has anyone ever done that?

nfraush · #7 07-03-2008, 05:43 AM

The check up we had in April indicated that he needed an echocardiogram every 6-12 months, but we just had another yesterday.

Gingersmurf

He was born with a small hole in his heart (called VSD) and had surgery to close the hole back in April. We checked with his cardiologist and if there were any complications or reason to be concerned, we would have known immediately after the surgery while in the hospital. His condition is totally healed and is no longer any concern and follow up has been set at the next one in July 2009 and then if necessary one after that in July 2011 or 2012.

If there were any doubt in my mind about his heart, we wouldnt even think of coming over, but after a long discussion with the cardiologist, once the surgery occurred and was deemed successful, there is no reason for concern. Thanks for the info though!

From me, on a personal note, with your son needing an echo every year - is there concern that he has a condition that could easily become complicated? I would worry about trying to get treatment for a serious condition in a foreign country, KWIM?
[/quote]

kmacdona · #8 07-12-2008, 04:04 PM

I just wanted to add the comment about your child needing the echocardiogram every year. Do you really trust the off base doctors in a foreign country to do this vs the care you are getting now in NJ? Also have you checked with TRICARE to see if off base care is covered if your NCS?
I think there may be significant costs involved. You may end up having to pay for medical care off base then applying for reimbursement through TRICARE.
Is the Korea assignment a volunteer assignment? Based on your son's medical condition have you thought about an EFMP assignment?

redsonja · #9 07-13-2008, 01:52 AM

I just want to say that the medical care in Korea is something I would trust over the medical care we get in the states any day of the week. My daughter is Korean and the care she received in Korea before she was adopted by us was leaps and bounds better than the care she gets at the base hospital. Korea is not some third world dirty country with quack doctors that don't know what they're doing. It's a very modern industrialized country with fantastic medical doctors, and to insinuate otherwise shows a lack of education I believe. Not meaning to be snarky, but it seems like you're trying to influence someone without really knowing the ins and outs of the quality of care.

As for the tricare issue, that I agree with, but just not the quality of medical care issue that was raised.

willy · #10 07-13-2008, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsonja

I just want to say that the medical care in Korea is something I would trust over the medical care we get in the states any day of the week. My daughter is Korean and the care she received in Korea before she was adopted by us was leaps and bounds better than the care she gets at the base hospital. Korea is not some third world dirty country with quack doctors that don't know what they're doing. It's a very modern industrialized country with fantastic medical doctors, and to insinuate otherwise shows a lack of education I believe. Not meaning to be snarky, but it seems like you're trying to influence someone without really knowing the ins and outs of the quality of care.

As for the tricare issue, that I agree with, but just not the quality of medical care issue that was raised.

I suppose the next thing you're going to try and tell us is that the story about the roving bands of dog poachers who overnight wipe out entire populations of dogs in a town and then have big dog barbecues down by the river isn't true either?

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The Following User Says Thank You to Mr. Joe For This Useful Post:
nfraush (07-03-2008)

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