Does anyone have any information about if a military(civilian) spouse can accompany their husband in S. Korea?

Question

We just found out tonight that my husband, a korean linguist, will be stationed at OSAN AFB in South Korea after he completes his cryptology training in San Angelo. It is just me, and my two cats, will I be able to go? Does anyone know if military spouses usually get sponsored to go? I know that if the commander of the base in S. Korea will not sponsor our move, then I can go trough an agency to try and get a job teaching english, and they will sponsor the move as well. But I'm just wondering what kind of facilities they have over there for families, as I am not too keen on being seperated from my husband for a year, as we have only been married a year, and while he is in texas for a few months, I'm going home to michigan to live with my parents so we can can save up some money.

Any advice would be helpful, thank you!

Answer 1

Generally Korea is a remote.  However, Osan does have family services available. But, that does not guarantee command sponsorship.  If you are not command sponsored and you go anyway, you will have very few base benefits.  No Tricare and no housing allowance are the two biggies.  Also, you will have to pay your own way to get there, move your things there, get your car there, and then all of it again to get back to the states.  You will also have to pay for your own passport, visa, etc.

Many of us have done our one year remotes and have lived to tell the tale.  Some of us did it before kids, some of us with kids.  Some of us as newlyweds, some of us as "old timers".  Yes, it's hard, but it can be done.  

As a linguist you need to know that hubby may be working extremely long hours and will not be able to tell you anything about his day at work.  

Good luck!  

Kingdagg... if she is NOT command sponsored there will be no BAH as they would not have a CONUS zipcode and they cannot live on base.

Answer 2

Genreally, dependents are not sponsered for Korea.  Osan is a bit different..often times it depends on rank and availability of services.  You won't know for sure until your husband gets his orders if you will be included or not.  Many spouses have opted to go anyway...the cost of the move will be out of pocket.  Since it sounds like your husband is new to the service, while you would get BAH (based on where you live ..or are suppose to be living) there is still no garuntee he will be allowed to live with you off base as the orders are for an unaccompanied tour, which generally means he lives in the barracks.  Addtionally, you will have very little support from the military...bottom of the rung for medical care, not be able to get on the base without your sponser present and no SOFA status..and out of the three I mentioned that can be the most important.  SOFA status means that if something happens involving law enforcement off base, the military will help you out.  It lets the Korean gov't know you are there under the sponsership of the US AirForce, so do not need any of the tourist or work visas you will otherwise have to have (keep in mind, since you would most likely have to use a tourist visa...work visas are not easy to get..you will have to leave the country every so often and re-enter again...which will mean the cost of travel three or four times at least during that year).  SOFA status is a huge thing to have...especially in a country where the legal system is different from our own.  Be sure you are comfortable with all the possibles..no husband at home every night, frequent travel fo visa purposes, no legal assitance from the military, limited access to base facilities...before you decide to go.  Yes, many have done it but it is not an easy path to take.

Answer 3

We went to Osan with my husband (for 30 days at the time). We LOVED being there!! It was me and our three young kidos (at the time). The base is very small, but we LOVED it there and if given the opportunity to go again we would opt for the 2 year command sponsored and even extend as long as possible!

Being Command Sponsored has a lot to do with your husbands rank.

I can try to answer as many questions as possible for you. Being Command Sponsored changes the 1 year to a 2 year assignment.

I was able to use the medical facility there without a problem. The pool is nice and there's a small mall there now. Being a member of the "Club" there is well worth it (not like here or anywhere else we have been, sad to say). It's a great place to take college class (my husband said).

I would say if you have a car your "care" about, have the military store it for you and get a used car there, if you want one. Also, the housing there is VERY SMALL, so the military will store items you don't take or you can sell what you don't want to take.

I hope this was at least a little helpful. Feel free to ask me more detailed questions and I will do my best to answer them. You can also contact the Family Support Center (FSC) at Osan (www.osan.af.mil) and they can give you information as well. You can call your FSC and ask them for a contact email for the one at Osan. The FSC is there to HELP you!!

Also, check out the military one source website (https://www.militaryonesource.com).

Take care and ENJOY Osan if you make it there (even if for 30 days). Our kids loved it and so we have no problem returning there anytime (after our allowed time here).

Becky

Answer 4

if he is in osan most likey he will be command sponsper because if i remember correctly Osan is in area like 4 or 5 which means he is not in any kind of danger zone. Even if you were not sponsered he would get BAH so that you guys could live off post. It doesnt really matter either way because either they will pay you to house your spouse and yourself or they will give you housing on post. They have nice housing at osan. Good luck with everything hoped this helped!

Answer 5

You'll get better advice from someone who's actually been there, but here's what the Osan Air Base website has to say.  From what I gather, you can move there, but only after a housing unit becomes available.  I have no idea how long that may take.  

http://www.osan.af.mil/newcomers/familyh...

Answer 6

I think it depends on his rank and time in service.

There are ways. Don't take no for an answer, keep trying until you get your way. Just don't get your husband in trouble.