I opened a savings account at the bank on base, this allows me to cash checks from my other bank account with no limit, no problems. The only thing I'd say is to not exchange your money there. I was getting 906 at the bank but I was getting 917 downtown. It doesn't seem like much of a difference but when you getting the money for your rent (if you have any) it makes a big difference. It saved me about $30, and I don't care what rank you are, only crazy people don't like saving money

If you do decide to go this route, make sure you call the kennel well in advance because it seems like they are always booked. It's been awhile since I looked into the cost but I think it was $20 a day

Hi, a lot of your questions have been answered I see, but I will give you my take on things as well :)

1) Where is Officer housing located? Apartments? Houses?

- As mentioned there are brand new towers that are almost complete. They should be ready before you come and you shouldn't have a problem getting in. With 3 kids you will either get a 3 or 4 bedroom, I'm not sure. Tower one is already complete and has families, tower 2 last I heard will be ready in the next month or two, and tower 3 I think is set for next spring.

2) Size of housing?

-I have been in a 3 bedroom in the tower and I think there is a lot of space for all your things. Unless you have a giant house back home, your furniture should fit. And if some things don't, you can always donate to the thrift store.

3) We are bringing our car, but it is a Suburban... Is this bad?

-I have a Chevy Blazer and I haven't had any problems getting around with my car. I live off base as well. No one has treated me any different or touched my car. They love Americans here.

4) Does anyone know if it would be easier for him to take the dogs with him or if I should bring them with the kids and myself?

-Be sure to take in your dogs ASAP to get the shots they need. I think that one of the shots has to be given a year before they can travel. I don't have pets so I can't be sure. But start asking questions right away.

5) How helpful is the Housing Office? Will they send us floor plans and be able to answer questions that we have about storage and things like that?

-Not sure about floor plans but I can tell you the 3 bedroom I was in had to be at least 1500 square feet.

6) Does anyone know if you are allowed to store household goods in the states at Govt. Expense if you are allowed your full shipment weight? Because we currently own things that require a garage... 4-wheelers, tools... that sort of thing... Should we get rid of all of that stuff or would it be better to store it?

-Can't really help there.

Question about off base living

- I'm CS, my husband is a Capt, and I live off base. It was not an option for us as that there was no room at the tower when we arrived and the old housing is being shut down. That being said, I am soooo happy to be living off base. I LOVE my apt. I live on the 17th floor of a brand new 18 floor high rise. We have 4 bedrooms and beautiful hardwood floors. Everything in my apt is brand new and so much nicer than anything you would see in the states. The locals are so friendly. I live about 15 mins (drive) off base. It is nice being amoung the culture and away from base.

Heather,

I'm glad I was able to help! :)

I would , however, advise you not to take my word for things ...contact your TMO office ASAP, and confirm everything. They can also give you specific weight limits,and advise you on how to begin. There may also be some special situations in play that I don't know about since you're doing a COT thing. Fishe, who's a regular here, often has wise counsel in that regard, but since your office is closer, and from his last posts, I think he's on a secret mission down at Kun, seeking out and destroying all the best hooch (drinking is a form of destruction, isn't it? :) ) I would beat on their doors first.

As far as the housing situation goes, I doubt very seriously you'll have any trouble at all getting into the towers. The last I heard, Tower 2 was scheduled for grand opening in February 2008, with Tower 3 to be completed in April. From what I've been told, most of the exterior construction is pretty much completed, now they're working on the interiors. Given that fact, the winter shouldn't affect progress too much, so they may actually even be done ahead of time.

Either way, quite honestly, if your hubby is key/essential personnel.. you'll have a place. *G* They'll *make* you a place, you're a priority! :)

I -completely- understand your reservation about your pets and Tower living..we adopted a lovely little pup during our time here, and honestly, my only regret has been that we haven't been able to offer him the "outdoor yard time" he desperately needs and wants. We have full roof access at our place and a small court yard,so I'm able to get him out and exercise him a bit,and I do take him for walks to the base, and the dog run, but I will be so glad when I get to get him home,and actually can turn him loose and let him run through the grass. :)

There are kennels here on base, and although space and vacancies are limited, they're *very* good from what I hear. As I mentioned before, the care we've gotten at the vet clinic here has been awesome, I don't doubt the kennel would be any different! I'll be able to tell you from personal experience here in a short bit, we're kenneling our furbaby while we're in the PCS sing out process next month. The rates are $20 bucks a day, and you're authorized 14 days while you're PCSsing, you provide food, toys,etc. Your furbaby will have to be up to date on his shots,and have a bordatella shot (kennel cough)... those are usually good for 6 months.

Now, that being said, as nearlywild mentioned, space is limited, the kennels serve more than just the Osan area, and fill up quickly, especially in the late spring/summer, when the DODDS teachers go on vacation..many kennel their pets while they're away, and it's also, of course, heavy PCS season. You can now register your pup for the boarding online at the 51st Services website.. www.51services.com.. if you're registering a bit out, you will have to pay a small deposit ($60...which counts for 3 days of your stay!).

If your furbabies are unable for whatever reason to get reservations, however, I would *NOT* and I highly emphasize *NOT* recommend kennelling them "on the economy". Korean dogs, as a whole, are not as well cared for as American pets, nor are they immunized as thoroughly.. as a result, parvo and distemper run rampant, and I just wouldn't take the chance. A pet, especially a much loved furbaby, is too important to take those chances with.

As far as the OSC goes, *yes*, I would highly recommend you getting involved with it here.. the ladies there are a fun bunch,and they work together to plan pretty much *all* the fun events on base (and there are definitely quite a few!) From cookie crunch to Old West Night, the OSC ladies have a great deal of fun,and it's a great opportunity to be active in your new community! In all honesty, I don't know if each unit has their own spouses group....I haven't really heard publicity about one, so my gut feeling is that no,they don't..it all falls under the umbrella of the OSC, and the spouses from specific squadrons work together to host a monthly meeting/event for the OSC, etc. That's not to say, however, that unit spouses can't be active..my friend who's here CS is a part of a squadron that offers a lot of trips/visits, etc for the spouses...but it's also the squadron that has the highest percentage of CS billets.

Again, welcome, these next few months are going to be so exciting,and also overwhelming.. you've stumbled into an excellent source of support and information here on this board! :) Great people,and a great "second family" while you're away from home and experiencing the Osan experience! :)

Dee :)

P.S. If you'd like , I can see if the AFRC has any info available? Or perhaps you can put in a request there on your end?

LOL.. One of these days, bro, one of these days.. I'm going to surprise all of y'all and do a one or two word post.

*G* Maybe around Christmas..it's the season of miracles, you know! LOL :)

Love ya ,too, Chuck, and the wifey and Chucklet too :)

D. :)

I thought you might like to have a look at the new towers at Osan.

http://www.rao-osan.com/osan-info/on...st/housing.htm

Chucksnee,

Thanks, I'm going to give USAA a call today to find out the particulars. As for extending, I don't think that will be an option. We are trying to get back to the Midwest to retire. Our next move may be our last??? We are going to do this until we can retire or it's not fun anymore... Plus I'm not sure what the extra 20k is from. Is that cola that you are refering to? Because I don't believe he is eligible for a bonus for extending. Even if it was, our son will be going into his freshman year when we leave Korea... We want him to be able to finish highschool in one spot if possible... But I guess we will have to wait and see what happens and see what tickets get punched and what plans the AF has for him next.

Again THANKS for all the replys:)

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Heather

Is that per pet??? I know when we moved up here to Alaska we were paying more a day to board the pets than we were staying in TLF.

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Heather

I believe that's per pet...however, there may be some special rates for more than one, you'd have to talk to the kennels directly to find out about that.

We only have the one,so the 20 buck/day rate applies to us..and yes :) We're only paying 8 dollars less a night for him to be in the kennels than we're paying for us to be in Turumi those days! :)

Dee :)

Yeah, I thought it was expensive too. Back home I only paid $8 a day. When I was in Cali, I paid a professional pet walker $15 a day. She came to my house, watered the plants and checked the mail.