Yongsan may have a different test, more in depth, I couldn't say but that is getting away from the point. The capabilities in the ROK do not matter. It is the fact of this guy and his family PCSing and being held up because he works in a high noise area and apparently has a hearing problem. being able to be tested in the ROK does not matter, if he has a real problem, he must be removed from the high noise environment, and if his new job is in a high noise environment and can't be changed to another position out of the hi noise, he won't be able to PCS unless he slips through the cracks or passes a new test, which is the problem the thread poster alluded to. If the system has flagged him and is preventing his PCS due to this, he has to get tested before he can PCS. They may waiver him if the gaining command opts to stick him in a no noise environment job and put another qualified person in his original slot but, managers don't like to do this kind of juggling unless they are stuck, they usually prefer to just cancel the assignment and find someone else to fill the slot.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

First Turk, you are making assumptions that he has been STOPED from his PCS move. Dee never stated that they were being stopped, he just needs another hearing test before his PCS. Second the "SYSTEM" as you call it has not flagged him. Do you actually think that this COL called his branch manager and said hey this guy is gong no where until he gets a hearing test? I doubt it. I also doubt that if Richard is in a speciality job they just won't cancel his orders, that's why you are put on orders 4 - 6 months out so your branch manager knows where people are going.

All I stated was bring all the capabilities that the ROK has (which IS the point) to this COL and say let me PCS and we will finish it in Korea. He will say yes or no. Especially if there are no places to have the test done in the local area.

I just brought up a point to make it easier for the family to PCS.

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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

Chances are that this is all moot. It's probably just a PCS overseas clearance letter that has to be completed. If there's a problem, they'll waive it and let him come on. I've worked flightline and intel for almost my whole career, and the AF doesn't really care as long as you can keep doing your job. They'll waive everything until you're used up, and then the VA gets ya. Yippie!

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Joeninpo

The tyrant custom, most grave Senators,
Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war
My thrice-driven bed of down

All I'm saying is that it never hurts to ask, That COL may not know the capabilities of Korea?

Here is what I mean.....

This is a true story that happened to me.

I'm an E-6 living in the barracks, the barracks get to full and they want the senior E-6's to move down town, so they can move in more of the junior enlisted. So I move down town per Army request, Paper work is signed by the Post Commander. Army is paying my rent and electric.

Someone asks me did I get my moving money? He said I should go check with finance and housing. So I get on my bike and ride down to both and GUESS what!! Because the Post Commander approved me to live down town because of barracks being full I am authorised almost $1100. Which is now being EFT'd to my account.

$1100 to move out of my barracks room into a fully furnished APT. a whole 2 1/2 miles down the road.....

So it never hurts to ask and................

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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

Whoa... LOL.. I started something again, didn't I? *sweet innocent smile*

An update,and maybe some clarification:

As of this time, there's no talk of cancelling Richard's orders, apparently, this Colonel wants to verify the results of the initial hearing tests. They think they're going to be able to fit him in to see the doctor at the nearby Army base before we pcs, so although it's a rush thing for us, it still looks like it's going to be able to be handled locally, and if they can't get to it, then he'll just have to do a follow-up in Osan...they likely won't be delaying orders at this point, although if they do get to do the testing here, and they find something that looks like it may be an issue, they do always have the option of putting Richard on a medical hold and delaying the rnltd until a course of action is determined. At this point, everything's still a go though, and proceeding as normal.

Apparently, Richard's hearing has bumped him into a new "numerical category" on the 1-4 hearing scale, and that *has* been noted in his medical records,etc...he wrote his first shirt in Korea to ask if he could check into the matter and see if there was any way possible that given the situation , he could be assigned to one of those areas that don't have direct exposure,etc, but..surprise, surprise, have only gotten one response saying "I haven't forgotten about you". :) So, I guess we'll wait and see how that all works out. One problem that seems to be having an across the board effect, but in particular seems to be having an effect on him being able to get that sort of assignment is the down-sizing going on in the AF as a whole... people whose manning numbers are stretched are loathe to actually move someone into positions like that...or at least that's what we're getting from the base we're at now.

I did note some commentary about how hearing loss is normal in the flightline careers, and certainly that is true.. however, the hearing loss Richard's incurring is *not* a normal hearing loss, but a rapid, extreme sort of situation.. an example of what we've been told is that most people in the career field lose about as much over the course of their career as he's lost in 3 months time.. so it's definitely something that is beyond the norm,and is demanding attention.

Ideally, it would be great if the powers that be would allow him to go to that sort of position or crosstrain into another career field.. we've been advised to try to put in a crosstraining package/apply for a special duty assignment as an instructor/etc, while we're in Korea.. so we may give that a go.. but we're not optimistic.

Thanks everyone for your input, your thoughts, and your patience in letting me vent. I think part of the nerves are simply the typical rush that comes at PCS time... I really do appreciate everyone's help, you guys were *awesome*! I'll keep you updated on any changes

Dee :)

P.S. Neither here nor there, but we were actually told that the med group here dropped the ball on this one big time.. they were supposed to have done another, second routine job hearing test, and didn't do it.

I read it as- call the folks who said get the test before you PCS and talk to the head guy.
It may boil down to even losing the assignment and changing career field, but you two will have to decide what is more important! Know that losing this assignment and gaining a job that will preserve the hearing may be best.
I havr known a lot of flight line guys that love to work 12 hours and weekends, but realize that your health comes first. Best of luck.

To easy Mr. Joe!!

Just so everyone knows, I went to the real EENT DR. at Yongsan, a civillian he was GREAT!! He done test's on me that have never been done, he stuck plugs in my ear that put pressure on my ear drums, sent frequencies into my ears and a number of other test's that I have no clue what he was doing.

Then he done the actuall hearing test (where normally you put headphone over your ears, RED goes on the right and BLUE over the left) well he put earplugs in my ears with the leads attached and then done the hearing test where you push the button when you hear a tone.

So why am I saying this? Because I went from a P3 profile to NO profile at all, he did not understand why I was even on a profile for hearing? When I done my hearing test I was laid back in a VERY comfortable recliner, the sound proof room was actually SOUND PROOF.

Just letting everyone know what Yongsan has.

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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

Hey, Chuck!

*G* I had to laugh hearing about the hearing test you had from the EENT, with the plugs ,etc... that's *exactly* what Richard's been getting at the EENT downtown, which is why it actually strikes me as kind of funny that they want him in with an audiologist who's going to do the "Put the headphones on and hold up your hand if it beeps" thing. :)

At any rate, they've told Richard that they think that he should be able to get into the military doc before we leave, to just keep checking back with the referral office to see what's up..but if not, we'll just get the testing done at Osan. If he does get in, and something's shown.. then we'll find out from there where to go. LOL..And..if something should happen to cancel the orders, it will, -of course- be noticed -after- we pack up all the hhg's and get everything ready to go! :)

Yet another wonderful chapter in the world of military life, no doubt! :)

Mr. Joe,

Oh, trust me, worrying about losing the assignment was never an issue here.. quite frankly, what we're *hoping* for is that they'll do something for Richard's hearing before it's past the point of no return, we'd *love* to cross-train, or even be medically discharged at this point.. we were non-vol'd anyway, a Korea tour was never our "choice" so to speak, but since it happened, we're making the most of it, as you have to do with all things in life.. so if the assignment was cancelled, it truly wouldn't be a disappointment at all. Our priority here is Richard's health, his hearing, and the long term rammifications of what continued exposure on the flightline will do to that health and hearing. At this point, if nothing changes, if there *isn't* crosstraining offered, if there's no movement to put him at least in some support, off-the-flightline position this year in Korea will be our last year in the military *period*. We've weighed and measured the consequences with the benefits, and the benefits have been found wanting! :)

Thank you everyone for your input.. you guys are amazing.. :) I appreciate you "listening" to my vents... :)

Dee :)

P.S. People like y'all were listed in that benefit category I mentioned above :)