Hi,all!

By way of introduction, I'm the "d" in the rndspringer, aka Dee, spouse to Richard, who has just gotten orders to Osan, to arrive in November, and boy, do I have a few questions for y'all! ((Run..Run now! ARRGH! LOL))

At the moment, we're not exactly certain if I'm going to be coming over with my hubby with command sponsorship or not, we're in the process of putting in the request now,and hoping and praying that we'll be the lucky ones granted it, but after talking about it at length (practically the whole time we've been in the military...the ghost of the "dread Korea" hanging over us! :) ) we've decided that even if the command sponsorship doesn't come through, I'm going to tag along for the ride....so poor you, y'all get to put up with me for at *least* a year :)

Obviously, if we get the command sponsorship, our lives are going to be made *so* much easier... so with that being said, here comes the first question, for those of you already there: What is your perception of the likelihood of the command sponsorship being granted? (and if it helps, hubby's an e5, testing for tech 27 March) If sponsorship *is* granted, how picky are the medical...specifically *dental* clearances? Specifically, I have braces, should that affect the clearance? ((I should probably mention this is my first real PCS,anyway you look at it...what a doozy,huh?!?! ))

If command sponsorship *isn't* granted...is it better to go ahead and get your long-term visa before you leave the states, or to wait until you get to Osan? What are the regs on space a travel? As long as hubby travels with us, will my son and I be allowed to travel space A on hops to get to Korea initially, or should we just go ahead and start making reservations for a civilian flight? Does anyone have any idea how the space A status is for the dod schools there?

I'm getting very excited about this opportunity, I know that not being command sponsored is going to offer some challenges, if that's the way we end up going, but I've also never been one to run from a challenge.. the opportunities and experiences by *far* outweigh the challenges. Besides, once you've lived in a hotel room, with two double beds, and four kids, for a period of a few months... you can pretty much handle anything :)

Thanks in advance for all your help,and input, I'm sure the "other half" will log on sometime to say hi... in the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing y'all in the fall! :)

Dee

Welcome and just relax. Me and my wife are now going through this very same thing, excpet i'm Army.

Well first off, for the dental. Should be no problem, if you are non-command sponsored dental is on a space A. If you do get you command sponorship then you can make an appointment.

As for space a travel, just go ahead and get a commerical ticket much easier. If you get command sponsored the Military will pay for your ticket.

As for the Visa you will need it to get into Korea.

Space A for DOD schools is just that, command sponsors children get the slot.

Korea is really not a bad assignment, that is why i just signed up for 2 more years over here! And that is why my wife and son are on there way. They will be here is July/August. Korea is what you make of it. It really is a nice place, you just have to remember this is there country and not ours. Alot of things that you must get used to. But really its not that bad.

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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