Something new at YONGSAN;
Child care opens
at Yongsan Readiness Center

By Sgt. Kim Sang-wook
USAG-Yongsan Public Affairs

YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea — Newcomer parents with children now have an in-house child care option while attending inprocessing training at the Yongsan Readiness Center.

A child care room opened Jan. 17 to provide free care during the last two days of the program, when spouses must attend.

The room makes the readiness center a true “one-stop shop” for everything related to inprocessing, said Capt. William Yun, commander of the Yongsan Readiness Center. “If we provide them the mandatory training, then we should provide child care, also,” he said.

This also culminates a yearlong project originally directed by Gen. B.B. Bell, U.S. Forces Korea commander, during a community visit to Yongsan in September 2006, said Steven Carpenter, USAG-Yongsan Human Resources Director.

“The commander’s intent was for us to make a user-friendly, spouse-centric program with on-site child care,” he said. “Since spouses have to attend the last two days of the orientation, it only makes sense to offer child care in the same building.”

Since August, the readiness center has served as the central inprocessing location for Soldiers, civilian employees and their spouses. The weeklong newcomer program also gives an in-depth orientation to Korea, the people and their culture.

Before the child care room opened, children were cared for at the Yongsan Child Development Center. Now, two CDC and School-Age Services child care providers come to the readiness center to look after children and provide activities, snacks and other services.

The room, which can take up to 13 children 6 weeks up to fifth grade, cost about $63,000 in renovations, furniture and supplies. Staffing the room will cost about $60,000 a year out of Morale, Welfare and Recreation funds.

Does anyone know that CS spouses who reside in or around Yongsan (incl. Hannam Village) whose husband working in 2nd ID have to/can attend sponse orientation (Day 4 & 5) in Yongsan?

I understand Soldiers (in 2nd ID) will only stay in Yongsan (1st RC) for day 0 then ship to WRC in Camp Stanley for week-long inprocessing while their dependents are staying in Drangon Hill Lodge or local hotel without a sponsor or any help. So far no one clearify about this situation.

As far as I know, 2nd ID WRC does not have spouse orientation at all.

Any help would be must appreciated.

I did attend in processing briefs on day 4 and 5 (Thurs and Fri)

Also, we stayed at the Dragon Hill. However my husband came here a month before us and during his inprocessing he stayed at the dragon hill also. I'm not sure why, because a friend of his had to go to Casey or Stanley one for his... Don't know what the difference was, but I know there can be.

The briefings that I got were mainly aimed so I could get my memo saying I took my ration briefing.. so I could get my ration card, but they covered so much more in those two days.

__________________

"To disagree with me is your human right. To argue with me just because you think you are right and want to see me wrong makes you legally retarded."

I heard that that part (day 4 and 5) of in-processing is mandatory for all spouses to receive ration card. Did you leave your child at free day care provided by 1RC during those two days? If you did, how was it?

Well, since we are approved for concurrent travel, I don't have luxury that I can bring my family after I have settled down like other NCS folks. I have talked to WRC at Camp Stanley and they (cadre) don't know the location of in-processing for 2nd Soldiers who bring their CS family members, either 1RC or WRC. They just assume that I have to go through in-processing at 1RC with my family members. I am so confused about in-processing procedure in Korea.

Where did you receive your ration card, CRC or Yongsan? I heard that we cannot even enter AAFES facilities and commissary without ration card (even though we can use our PCS orders for temporary).

We used it both days, they were good with her. There was another child her age so that worked out well.

We were approved for concurrent travel also, the passport and visas held us up. Reason why I left almost a month after my husband. I'm confused about it as well so I can't be much help with that.


After the last brief, I received a memo stating I had taken the class. Then because Freedom is stationed at Camp Stanley, we had to go to CRC to get my temporary ration card (Until they could get the actual card, they had to send it somewhere.. ? ) which was good for 30 days. It would've been ready in just a few business days, however we procrastinated up until the day before the temporary ration card expired.

I could go in the PX at Stanley just couldn't buy anything. On yongsan they seem to keep a better watch on it because I get checked everytime I go in the PX there.

Because my husband is in Area I, most everything we do is done at CRC. I had to go there for the ration card and also to get my driver's license.

It takes a lot of time to get everything done that needs to get done here (IE: Ration card, SOFA stamp, Diver's License, NEO Packet..etc) We are STILL doing all of it and I've been here since 25 Mar. It's getting done, slowly but surely.

__________________

"To disagree with me is your human right. To argue with me just because you think you are right and want to see me wrong makes you legally retarded."