Hi everyone! I stumbled across this site and I am hoping that I can get some useful information. My husband is in the army and just received unaccompanied orders to South Korea. I have spoke to some of our friends and they have previously paid their own way and moved over to Korea to be with their spouses for the length of their orders. My question is where do I even start?? He has to report in January and I presume the kids and I will follow a month or two later (want to give him some time to inprocess) I need to know everything though. Such as will we be able to receive OHA even thought we are not sponsored. What steps I have to take to get all of us ready to go etc. I just don't even know where to start. PLEASE HELP!!

Thanks

There is a thread "non command sponsored" in the Osan AB forum under the Military in Korea forum subject that you should read. Get in touch with one of the other NCS spouses on that thread. You have many things to consider. Good Luck!

__________________
Turk Quid Pro Quo

Hello, msprice, and welcome to the forum!

As Turk mentioned, there is a forum called "Non-Command Sponsored" under the Osan section of the board.. and what a found of information it is! :)

I'm dee, my husband is in the Air Force, and I'll be heading to Osan in early November as a non-command sponsored spouse, if we can be of any assistance to you here, or help with any of your questions, please don't hesitate to ask..feel free to pm me, if you wish!

While I can't address specific Army issues, I would highly recommend you get in touch with a board member named chucksnee, he is Army, currently stationed at one of the army bases in S. Korea, and his wife and son are accompanying him NCS (and yes, chuck, I'm talking about you like you're not here again! :) LOL :) ).

To answer your question about OHA, (and to give you a grass-roots, summary of some other benefits :) ) yes, as of this past year, you, as a non-command sponsored spouse are eligible to receive OHA (at the "with dependant" rate) and you will also be receiving a utiiliity allowance. You will receive COLA, as well, though I've heard some say it's at the single rate, and some at the "with deps" rate. You will receive medical care, you will receive BX and commissary privileges, you will receive your ration cards. You will be responsible for procuring your own passport,and visa, as well as your own transportation, and with NCS status, your children are not guaranteed entrance into the DoD school at Osan, but will be on a space available basis. :)

There are plenty of other specifics to talk about, but seriously, if you do decide to come NCS, I think you'll be surprised to learn that while coming in that way has certain challenges, it's much easier than you'd ever thought. :)

You're off to a great start here , the people are awesome, very supportive and willing to share, and what a great source of info!

Welcome, once again!

Dee :)

General Bell has recently said that he is in favor of 3 year tours in Korea.
It may be a possibility that you can be changed to Command sponsored in Seoul. Maybe not.
Your husband should raise this idea to his gaining commander, and get the name of a sponsor in his unit ASAP to make sure you get the right info.