Ok, lately I have been getting very annoyed with the Korean security forces at the main gate at Osan Air Base. The Korean security forces at Osan are completely usess and are for show only.

Several times a week, it takes me 15-20 minutes to get through the main gate. It is about 200 yards from my house to the main gate.

When I start approaching the gate (10-15 minutes of waiting), there is always one American SP (sometimes two) checking IDs, while there are typically 2-3 Korean SPs standing there looking like idiots. They refuse (not allowed?) to check American IDs. When I go to Camp Humphreys or Yongsan, there are Korean "rent-a-cops" checking IDs, both Korean and American. I guess the Army is more efficient than the Air Force on this!

Ok, what is my point? Well, since 80-90% of the traffic coming onto the air base are American, how about having more American SPs or allow the Korean SPs to check IDs? there is nothing like seeing a line of 50-60 cars waiting to get on base, and seeing a single Airman checking IDs, with the Korean toy soldiers looking into the horizon.

Another point that drives me crazy! Since the enemy that would like to get on Osan Air Base and do some harm are obviously North Koreans, why are we so anal when checking American IDs, but lax when checking Korean IDs? It is typical for a Korean man to walk up to the gate or drive on base and get a 1 second look at his ID and not a scan into BIDs. When an American approaches, his ID is checked for several seconds and scanned into BIDs. Aren't we more worried about North Koreans posing as South Koreans and trying to get on base?

Ok, rant over!

Mike

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Not to be a weenie about this and don't take offense, but if you live so close to base, why not just walk? Not only will this cut down on your frustration level, but it'll also help with traffic and parking spaces on base (that's my pet peeve).
Now on to your rant - yep, you're right, I hate the way business is done at the gates but the difference between Osan and Humphreys is that the Army pays Korean contractors to help man the gates and check ID cards, something the AF doesn't do. The ROKAF guys at our gates are not allowed to check SOFA ID cards, only the AF guys are allowed to do that.
I also don't understand why the AF guys look at your license plate, scan the decal, then scan the ID card, while the ROKAF cops only look at Korean's ID cards real quick and then wave them through. It wasn't really a big problem until everyone and their brother started driving and bringing their cars over here. Now there are too many vehicles, yet the Hill 180 gate remains closed, and the main gate just can't handle the amount of traffic it gets during peak times.

I'm assuming mike's unit is a pretty lengthy walk from the gate which is why he needs to drive. That's my case...I live right outside the gate, but it'll probably take me a half hour to reach my unit on foot (crosswalk/traffic signal delays incl.). And it's cold out there!

mike, why not park nearby the gate (inside the base)? That way you can walk the 200+ yards, walk through the gate past all those suckers in line, and take off in your car from inside there. No, wait...I've been there and I can't quite remember any place near the gate with parking spaces...umm, nevermind!

I thought of that idea myself, but too many others do it so in the evening, the parking spaces near the gate are packed.

eddiev9,

Everything on Osan is within a 15 minute walk (unless you work somewhere out on the golf course). Most are much less. For example - main gate to commissary < 5 minutes, main gate to BX < 10 minutes. What kills me are the people who live on base like in the dorms or family housing that drive to the BX or to work when it would only take them a few minutes to walk it...and a little walk won't kill them.
I used to live out the hill 180 gate down here, and when they closed it after 9/11, instead of going through the lengthy vehicle checks, I started walking to work. At a power walk rate, it took me 30 minutes each way but I got so used to doing it, that once they reopened the main gate and stopped doing the extensive vehicle searches, I kept right on walking back and forth right until the day I retired. The ONLY time I took that car on base was for grocery shopping or for buying something big from the BX...I'm not saying that everyone should start walking and leaving their cars sit, but some of those folks on base could try it once in a while.
Actually, since you got me started , I once made the suggestion to the commander's hotline that because of the parking problems we have down here, they shouldn't allow anyone who's single, and living on base, regardless of rank, bring or own a vehicle over here. You can walk anywhere on base in a short amount of time, there are base shuttle buses that run and taxis. For off-base travel, Korea has plenty of cheap and readily available transportation plus the bus that runs between the bases/posts. They also need to do something about the amount of non-SOFA vehicles on base - it's ridiculous. The BX parking lot is over 1/2 full 1 hour before the BX even opens, and at least half of the cars are either ROKAF or Koreans who work somewhere on base. LOL...that ends my parking rant :)

Thanks for the replies!

It is about a 15 minute walk from the main gate to my work. I don't mind walking, but after a long day it is nice to jump in the car and drive home in a few minutes. I agree with you Nomad, the parking is crazy!

The Osan Main gate has very little parking near it. I have parked there before, but it fills up fast. Also, I use my car to drive to Camp Humphreys and other locations and need my car off base after work.

On a final note, it is not the 15 minutes of waiting that drives me crazy; it is the fact that only 25% of the SPs at the gate are checking IDs! If it is a SOFA issue, that is silly! Also, it should be the Koreans that are looked at more close since it is North Koreans that are the threat, not Americans.

Mike

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Mike,

Why not go through the Doolittle gate? That's what I do but then I go to work at 06:15 and there isn't a lot of traffic then. But even during peak times, I always use the Doolittle gate because I can get in much faster than that long line at the main gate. The only reason I drive now is because my job takes me back and forth between Osan and Humphreys a lot, if I only worked on Osan, I'd probably walk (mainly for the exercise).