Several weeks ago, we were all wondering about the implications of a memo that was passed around on base..

I talked to a friend of mine who is in a good position to know some things today, and made some inquiries...

She confirmed that the memo was indeed what I had thought it was, that CS families who are affected by the MVV mess, either those who are unable to get into housing yet, or those who are being moved, are now being authorized *two* cars. I haven't had the chance to read the fine details of the memo, so I'm not sure if it applies to only CS or unaccompanied, but if it applies to unaccompanied, I'd wager it applies to those who have permission to live off base,and have the privilege to drive. I'm also not certain if the two car privilege is extended to those currently living on base or not, the way I've heard it is that no it is *NOT*, however, I haven't seen that in writing ,so won't comment.

Funding has been released for families in MVV to move off base voluntarily at this point, as apparently no official results of the negotiations have been released as of yet... if they're releasing funding for moves right now, however, given the budget crunch here, I'd say that just might (and this is a conjecture...and *ONLY* a conjecture) bode well for the possibility of the move becoming a definite thing.

Building F is already being vacated, moved off base, to allow that building to be renovated to TLF's , a part of the master plan, so to speak , to make Osan a much more family friendly/ more heavily CS tour.

I'm also told (LOL.. I love sounding like the gossip queen here) that the residents of MVV that are not being moved are *not* going to be moved into the towers upon their completion, news that has more than a few residents who were apparently promised by a former housing office person (who has now been fired, hmmm) that they would be moved in there , a little unhappy at the moment.

Annnnd that's all I've learned, I'll update as I find out more :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Dee :)

So this is a Osan only thing? If that is true then the $hit is going to hit the fan over here....

Waiting to see the memo....

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

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

It's an Osan only thing, due to the extraordinary situation with the housing at MVV... basically,the theory being that the military can't keep up it's promise of housing to those who have already been in there, since those families in MVV have to be dislocated due to the lack of progress in the negotiations between the military and the Korean Housing Authority that owns the buildings there, causing an extreme inconvienence to them, and a hardship in getting transportation to and from their new off base housing, the military is trying to give them a little additional "something something" for their trouble, and the 2nd car is that little gift.

The idea of authorizing a second car was glossed over briefly by General Reynes during his final town hall meeting... but at that time, it was just a possible -idea-, nothing set in stone. Apparently this memo was distributed last week, and it became "official".

As I said, I'm not sure if the 2nd car is authorized for those still remaining in base housing, or for those on unaccompanied status who live off base, but..it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Dee :)

Chuck-What would cause Army to be involved with AF Housing Problems?

It is not a USFK thing is it?
You won't get any AF memo.
Does the Hump have Housing operated by the Korean Housing Authority?

Not the housing issue....the 2 car issue, just becasue they don't have enough housing for them they get another car?

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

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

The reasoning, or at least my interpretation from what I got at the Town Hall meeting, for the AF's decision to allow those moving off base to get another car was that these people were basically having move due to the AF's failure in negotiations, and that the AF recognized that this move caused an "undue hardship" to those families.. If a family lives on base, and they have only one car, it's still feasible to get everyone around on base, there are easy and relatively inexpensive methods of getting everyone where they need to go. Dad can drive the car to work,and Mom can still manage to get the kids to school, either by hoofing it, or taxi or base shuttle bus (rare as they are these days).

HOWEVER, now, due to the family being forced off base due to the AF's inability to provide them with housing, it creates a situation that could considerably affect the family's quality of life. If Dad takes the car to go to work, Mom may not be able to drive kids in to school, etc, kids would have to drop out of extra-curricular activities,etc, let alone be able to reach the base to utilize their entitlements to shop at the commissary and BX, or get medical care.

Again, these are not my points of view, this is my understanding of why the additional 2nd car would be authorized, as it was discussed at that town hall meeting.

Given that it's an issue that falls to AF leadership, over AF people's welfare, I'm not sure that the effect it would have on Army folks was considered, but I would -assume- (key word there, assume, I don't have any concrete proof of this,and admit it!) that General Bell was at least consulted on the matter, given that he's been brought in as a part of the committee negotiating this whole thing,and that the plan has his stamp of approval.

Now, that being said...having seen how limited the parking seems to be even downtown, I'm not sure where a family would *put* a 2nd car... even in the larger complexes, it seems to me like they're only issued one space for parking.

Dee :)

Sounds like a strange deal to me! One situation comes to mind, back when I'm probably the only American in Korea who remembers. There was a Hotel off base near Osan Air Base, where Airmen were housed when the BOQ got full. They ran a blue bus out there every few hours. That was before any American had civilian clothes, cars or dependants. That might work.

The Army might still get jealous, though!

The problem with that particular situation, Mr. Joe, is that you've got 35 families or so that stand to be displaced...so to house them all in one place would practically require the equivalent of either building or buying another tower, and either one of those solutions would take time that the powers that be don't have at the present time, and might be too cost prohibitive.

If everyone was housed all in one place,as they were in the situation you were speaking of, a bus route might be a feasible solution, but with folks scattered all over, you're looking at having to establish one *massive* bus route,that I'm not certain would be practical, especially given the current financial concerns.. that are warranting the cutting of already established bus routes.

Dee :)

I am supposed to be getting a copy of this memo tomorrow so I will see if amybe I can put it on here or something.

Would it only apply to those who are being displaced from MVV?