I'm beginning to think people's experiences with going Non-command sponsored are as widely varied as the people they represent...

I've heard from several wives who have gone to Korea NCS that they experienced no difficulties whatsoever in obtaining medical care,etc, while they were there (one of them even got pregnant and miscarried while they were accompanying their husband at Kunsan, and had excellent care through the whole experience)... and I don't doubt your experience at all, lwwb..drastically different experiences, all from those who've "been there, done that".

I think the bottom line is that yes, you're going to have obstacles to face going non-command sponsored...whether it's in wading through the paperwork,and researching the necessary matters such as the financial rammifications of such a move, dealing with foreign consulates to get visas, or even our own state department to get passports, or obtaining medical care, or even just in -attitudes- that you face from those who would discourage you. However, even if you choose to stay at home for the year, there are -still- going to be obstacles and challenges, just of a different sort. It just comes down to a personal decision (and I think it -is- a very personal decision) as to which challenges your family can better face. No matter what a spouse decides, to go NCS or stay, they have my admiration... because anyway you slice it, whatever you decide in the matter, it's a difficult situation for all families involved.

Life is full of challenges, it's just how you face them, I guess.

*G* Good thing I'm one of those who doesn't get sick very often,anyway :)

Attitudes are the largest obstacle at every base I've been too. MPF personnel who do not understand the rules... just ran into that here at Barksdale regarding my ability to extend for 48 months under an SRB (I can) and for a troop trying to get a BOP accomplished joint (a single line in the AFI was overlooked). So am going off on a tangent...

The attitude obstacle grows larger at Osan because bringing NCS dependents somehow violates the warrior spirit...

Medical care (AFI 36-2110 A20.4.4 makes this clear) is actually an entitlement that cannot be denied. While routine care may have to come on a Space-A basis, treatment must be forthcoming. Of interesting note, I had come across some information on the Osan website indicating that NCS dependents are only eligible for Tricare Standard in country. Not sure on how this is applicable or where it could be costly, so everyone may want to bone up on how Tricare Standard works (I have a micro-clue).

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JIMMY JOE

Here is a link to TriCare Standard Web Site

Mike

As of OCT 2005, unless you are CS you will be tricare standard. There has even been talk about everyone becoming standard.

The biggest difference is that if you have to go to a hospital down town for an emergency, the money comes out of pocket. All appointments are on a stand by basis.

I have checked this out because my wife is on EFMP and she will be tri care standard. But all the facilities that she will need are here, Osan or 121.

__________________
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 all, my name is Tony....I have been researching this "Non-Command Sponsored" thing for the last week...I am so glad to see the information on this forum. Very helpful. Now I am just trying to figure out how to get all this started. My wife is supposed to report to Osan NLT 10 Aug 06 unaccompanied of course. A few questions....

1.) Are we supposed to start the request process after she has gotten there?

2.)Does she have to extend to a 2 year term?

3.) Do we have the option of just sending our household to storage or to the follow on?

4.) I have a 6 and 9 year old, is the home schooling a good option?

5.) Do we have to pay for the ticket over there or does it still fall under the "space available" travel of "Non-Command Sponsored"?

6.) Do I need to be added to her orders to obtain a Visa and Passport for me and the kids?

7.) Is there employment over in Korea for NCS's?

8.) Is it advisable to be almost debt free before making that move?

I know that is a lot of questions, I just want to try and get everything together before she leaves to try and make the transition smooth as possible...Once again, the information through this forum as assisted in the entitlements, now I just need to know what I need to do to get this rolling....thanks...

Buddah
A.K.A.
Tony

1. No
2. No
3. Don't know
4. Personal choice. They do have an International (religious) English speaking school here. Our kids go to Korean Kindergarten with no fluent English speakers. They do bring in an English teacher twice a week (only 30 mins a day). Home schooling would be a valid alternative.
5. You are flying a civilian airline, they can't make you Space-A. You will pay for you non-command sponsored dependents to fly.
6. Any citizen can apply for passport/visa. You are no different and do not need to be on orders. You will pay for all fees to get both.
7. Slim to none. Why? Mostly the language barrier. Closer to Seoul or a military base your odds are a little bit better.
8. We sold everything before we left. Cars, home, etc. You don't have to be debt free, but you will need a chunk of change for this. It's tough once you get here on cash because they won't accept checks or credit cards for my rent or kindergarten (daycare), so I have to get won (Korean currency) from an ATM. My bank is great (USAA) and will allow me to use any ATM in the world from any bank and they pay me back any fees I incur. The bad thing is I have a $300 per transaction limit and a $600 a day limit. I have to make several trips to get enough money for my bills.

Good luck. Keep a good attitude, because there will be trying times ahead. Most obstacles are worth keeping the family together.

Cheers,
Chuck

Hi, Tony!

I'm Dee, a spouse who will also be going with my hubby to Korea... I think Chuck pretty much answered your questions completely and accurately, but I had to throw in my two cents worth, so here goes :)

1) I wasn't really clear which process you were speaking of beginning...if you're talking about the process of starting a request for command sponsored status, yes, I'd *definitely* go ahead and start that *yesterday*, since as typical with everything in the military, bureaucracy takes time, and depending on how up to date your MPF is on policy,etc, you may have to have them research the process of even -how- to apply. If you're anticipating going without command sponsorship, which is honestly, the most likely situation, and you're about the process of starting to get your passwork/visa paperwork done, I would also start that asap, just to allow time for any glitches to be worked out etc. A passport, if not expedited, takes about 4-6 weeks to obtain, then to get your A-3 visa to stay in country for the duration of your spouse's tour theoretically takes another up to a week. If you're talking about the process of applying for her to live off-base officially, I'm truthfully not certain whether you have to wait til you're there, or can send in your request beforehand, but if anyone has that info, I'd love to hear the answer!

In any case, in any situation, remember, the more you can do and accomplish now, the easier it will be in the long run...it's much better to start early, I think, and avoid the stress of having to rush, it's a stressful enough siituation to begin with.

2.) In order for you to travel with your spouse without command sponsorship, no, she won't have to stay the two years.. if you wish command sponsorship, and it's granted to you, then yes, you do have to stay for a 2 year tour. (at least, as far as ADAF, not sure about Army)

3) Even with command sponsorship, the amount of household goods you can ship is a little more limited than you would be able to send on a normal pcs. Without command sponsorship, yes, you do have the option of having the military pack your house,and put it into storage, but you run the risk of losing your follow on. Many people just pack themselves and pay for their own storage, but I think it's more or less a matter of personal preference.

4) As Chuck mentioned, homeschooling is a matter of personal preference. If you're going non-command sponsored, you aren't guaranteed a slot in the DoD school on base. I'll be travelling non-command sponsored,as of right now, with an 8 year old, and yes, I do plan on home-schooling. If you do plan on home-schooling, and integrating your child back into a public school system upon your return from the ROK, I would recommend checking into curriculums, and getting a good solid one, so that they'll be able to re-integrate more effectively. Once there, you can also look for a homeschooling group, (or start one :) ) and that helps sometimes in sharing the responsibilities for teaching with other parents,etc.

5) Plan on flying civilian,and paying for your own travel, unless you receive command sponsorship. Only your AD spouse will have their expenses taken care of.

6) You don't have to have your name on your spouse's orders to get your passport or A-3 visa, per the Korean Consulate in Atlanta, GA. For your passport, you'll only need documentation , such as your birth certificate, etc...you'll need a copy of your spouse's orders for your A-3 Visa, but that's only to confirm that your spouse actually *is* going to be there for you to accompany. Your name doesn't have to appear on the orders at all.

You mentioned that you will be travelling with two children, who you'll also need to obtain passports/visas for... at the risk of sounding personal, are the two children you'll be travelling with biological children of yourself, and your spouse? Or are there other parents involved? If the children are biologically yours and your spouse's, you -both- will have to sign both applications, for passport and visa, or provide a notarized affidavit if your spouse is not present, so you may want to take that into consideration when you're making your plans ,and beginning the process. If you're not both the biological parents of the kids,and there are non-custodial parents involved, you'll have to the non-custodial parents' either sign or supply a legal statement of permission for -both- your passports, and visas...you'll need to contact a passport office,and the consulate for what is and what is not admissible legally in those circumstances. You can download the forms and find out more information about what documentation you need, where to apply, etc. at travel.state.gov As far as cost, for my passport,and my 8 year olds, through the US Post Office, non-expedited, it was around 200.00 or so. If you're a US citizen, naturally, for your Visa, the good news is that that's -free-. If you're not a US citizen , there are fees, but quite honestly, I don't know what they are. To get apps for your visas, you'll need to request an app for an *A-3* visa from the Korean consulate which serves your area. Make sure you specify the A-3, as that's the one necessary for mil dependants to stay for the entirety of your tour, instead of 30-90 day ones :)

7) *G* Nothing else to say. :)

and 8) It's always wise to pay down your debt as much as possible, even if you're staying on station.. but no, I know people who are there, and still paying on cars,etc. :) It's up to you and your personal finances, etc.

I hope this helps...as I've mentioned, hubby and I are working on applying for command sponsorship, we've submitted a letter to his commander here and are waiting for that to be signed, to be sent to the commander at Osan, but I'm not counting on that at all, so have already begun preparations to travel on command sponsored status. Your first step, is to do what you've already done, begin gathering information such as you'll find here on this forum,as to entitlements, etc... and to begin the process of getting your passports in order.

If I can be of any further help, please feel free to ask, I'm always here :)

*hugs*

Dee :)

Well cannot say anything else, they have it covered.

Chuck,

Call USAA and have them "UP" your limit on you ATM withdrawls. You can do a 1 time or ask for a reaccuring limit increase like on the 1st of every month so you don't have to keep going back.

Also check their web-site out and under "contact us" there are 3 phone #s that are espically for Korea and are toll free just have to figure out which one. If you call the wrong one it just won't go through, get the right one and you'll be talking to USAA. Of course if you have a home phone it's toll free.

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

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

One thing about paying for plane tickets: the gov't will reimburse non command sponsored dependents to the nearest port of departure/entry (depending on the circumstance). After that the member will pay out of pocket.

Tap

REALLY??? Do you have a reg on this? Becasue that would be great as i'm paying for 2 tickets. And how would i go about putting the paper work in for that? I would need to have that reg in hand with the paper work.

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

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