Clarification/misconception: Just because you are a Captain does not mean you are CS (Command Sponsored). CS at Osan is the minority (by far) compared to NCS. Example: My squadron has 20 officers, of which, two are CS. That's it.

Cheers,
Chuck

USFK-wide, I believe it's 9% of the active duty are command-sponsored. You can pretty much assume all O-5 and above and E-9s are command-sponsored. Subtract them from the 9% and that doesn't leave very much for the rest.

My all-time favorite line of mis-information that often gets fed to people thinking about coming to Korea in NCS status: "You're on your own for medical care because you won't be allowed to use the on-base hospital."

The hospital makes no distinction whatsoever between NCS and CS - CS does not have priority over NCS for appointments. In fact, when you call up for an appointment, the subject of command-sponsorship status is never brought up.

The biggest difference between being CS and NCS is on-base schooling for the kids. Of course, CS kids are automatically enrolled. NCS kids have to get in on a space-available status. It's seems like most NCS kids who try to get into the on-base school are able to do so. But I'm sure there are some that aren't able to. In you can't - then your options for English-speaking schools are very expensive private schools, and home-schooling (which has become fairly popular over the years, even with some CS families).

LOL.. Oh, I've heard that one too! As I mentioned previously, I was with dh when he stopped by outbound the other day, and a comment was made about my going with him to Osan NCS, and the lady he was talking to looked at me,and said "Oh,that's going to be so hard for you though! No BAH, no using the BX or Commissary, no medical.." I proceeded to tell her nicely that I didn't think it was going to be that hard, especially since I *could* use all facilities,and according to a new reg that went into effect in January of this year, we'll be getting OHA with dependant rates,etc. (info that I'd gathered in no small part from you awesome guys here!) Anyway, the lady seemed rather flustered,and said something to the effect of "oh, I guess they haven't updated our information yet" while another rep in the office who knew my husband from her prior assignment looked up to him and laughed, saying "you're right, she *has* researched,and knows what she's talking about".


We'll be bringing our 8 year old with us, so I can't deny that education wasn't a concern when we began to consider going the NCS route. I'm honestly still hoping that he'll be able to get into the DoD school on base- the time of our arrival could either work for or against us, depending on how things go... the RNLTD of November is a little out of the cycle we're seeing in the orders that we've known of that came down in hubby's office (and we're talking a *bunch* of orders coming down!)...most of the other rnltds are at least a month or so before ours, or at the beginning of the new year.

However, if we can't get our little one into the school, I have no problems at all with homeschooling-I've already picked out a curriculum- and we're still also looking at the option of maybe enrolling the little one in an online school if necessary, just to have the sort of umbrella of the whole "accreditation" thing.

Honestly, though,either way, I can't help but think that not only will the time in Korea offer an opportunity for my son to experience academics, but to experience *life* in a different country, different culture,etc. It's going to be a once in a lifetime experience.


One interesting, though unrelated, note about the private schools in Korea... I have a friend who, accompanied by her family, went over as a civilian, and lived in country for a year. While she was there, her freshman in high school aged son attended a Christian school in Taejon (excuse my poor spelling!), and when he returned to the US, and the local school system, they refused to accept any of his credits from Korea, saying that Korean accreditation was different than US, etc. (and honestly, his choices in classes didn't help, either, most American high schools don't have the equivalent of Korean history :) *G*).

Dee :)

I knew it was *really* rare, although there is hope in the future that more slots will open in the E5/E6 range, to offer more continuity in the performance of duties there, etc. I know several people who have applied for CS status, and out of that entire group, only 1 that I know of has received it and that was due to extenuating circumstances, I think.

We decided we'd rather brave the NCS thing,and stay for a single year, and get the follow-on preference than chance risking everything and throwing all our eggs into the basket of trying for CS, knowing how rare it is to get it. Besides honestly, though the NCS experience is no doubt a bit challenging, *G* Have you tried to wade through AF paperwork for clearances,etc lately? LOL! :) I'll stick with the NCS experience, thank you very much! :)

Dee :)

could someone please let me know if my wife and I will be able to wait and get our 1 year visas when we get there in July? Or should we use our passports now and see the nearest SK consulate???

Hey, Mon Capitane *G* (Sorry, couldn't resist, I've always wanted a good excuse to say that! :) LOL :) )

The lady at the Korean Consulate that I'm working with recommended that I get mine before we leave the US, so I'd pass that recommendation along to you. :)

The A3 Visa is an incredibly easy process, the application is very short, sweet and to the point, and I believe, is downloadable from the Korean Consulate website. If it isn't, and you need the form, let me know, I can scan a copy in,and send it to you so you can just print, fill,and send in. You'll need supportive documentation, as you do with any official document, including your marriage license, passports, birth certificates,etc..there's more specific info on that available from the Korean consulate.

On the whole, from everything I've heard, it's fairly quick, and painless...it's even offered at *no cost* to American citizens!

I've been told that if you show up in person by 9 am at the embassy, you can walk out with your passport by 5 pm that same day, so if you're nearby that may be an option you want to consider, although, I think earlier in this thread, briebrie described her ease in getting it by mail as well, so that I'd say would be a matter of personal choice and convienence... one recommendation about doing it through the mail, though.. make sure to allow yourself more time , just in the event that documentation gets lost etc., and also always send things, and have them returned to you by some postal method that can be traced! :) Some things are just too important to have lost in the mail. :)

Hope this helps...

Dee :)

Quick question--when you say that TMO will ship your goods once, do we have the option for them to ship all our goods to Osan at their expense if we are willing to foot the shipping to our follow-on? I was told that my husband would have a 600 lb limit (air) or 800 lb limit (freight) for shipping, and anything over that would need to be shipped at our own expense. Needless to say, no matter how much we minimize, there is no way we'll be able to fit our stuff into either of those limits. Our last move consisted of 12,000 lbs! Help!

Actually Dee, rank has nothing to do with command sponsorship. My husband is also a Captain and we are heading over there in August NCS. I'm more than a little upset since he has a 2-year stint and we are still not command sponsored. So, my three kids and I are going on our own. I've been reading all the stuff about the car issues and I'm getting a bit worried. We are shipping one car and were hoping to buy another smaller car once we arrived because I plan to work (I am ethnically Korean and speak Korean fluently) as an English teacher (I am a college English professor). Can anyone give me the official line on drivers' licesnse for NCS spouses? Will I really be blackballed from driving for two years because I'm an NCS spouse? Also, will we even be able to register two cars on base?

I've been enjoying and learning much from this forum and appreciate everybody's input. Thanks.

You will not be blackballed if you do not have a USFK driver's license. They don't check for driver's licenses at the gate. So theoretically, you could drive here the entire time without a USFK driver's license. Now that I woke up the flamers... I wouldn't recommend it. Probably no one knows if you have a license or not until you get in an accident. Then all heck is going to break loose. Your spouse will get into trouoble. You won't be covered under the SOFA agreement, etc etc. You always have those who skirt the rules and I know several folks whose spouses did not have a USFK driver's license the entire time there were here. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
Bringing two cars? Only one can get a USFK sticker to get on base. People of the forum, am I wrong on that one?

Cheers,
Chuck