ok iv been in korea frovera year i was supposedto leave on aug 16 2010 but i AIP n now i want to commnd sponsor but im not quit sure how i start the command sponsorship…if u have any helpful infrmation to get my wife n 1month old over here so we can be together again please let me know

*****
Generally, you have to have a certain amount of time left on your orders or be willing to extend in order to have your family sponsored for a move. Your best bet is to talk to your chain of command to find out what your options would be. If they are command sponsored, they will need an EFMP exam and secure no-fee passports before moving to Korea. Good luck.

1. Your name (as you would like it to appear):
AJ

2. Army Post Name:
Ft. Richardson, now called JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson)

3. Army Post Location:
Alaska, just outside of Anchorage

4. Dates When You Lived Here (please include year):
09/2008 – 05/2010

5. How is housing? On-post? Off-post?
Our BAH was approx 1800.00 – we lived in on post housing, but on the Elmendorf side due to insufficient housing on the Richardson side but the Richardson housing office was very good about getting us to the Elmendorf housing office to get housing. From what I now understand ALL the housing on Richardson & Elmendorf has been privatized and the standards of housing are improving on the Army side.

Off post starting at around 1500.00 for two bedroom and this doesn’t even include the extras like cable, electricity, internet and landline phone service, other possible charges are garbage pick-up and natural gas used for heating and hot water usage in most areas.

Personally I recommend on-post/on-base housing there because it is so costly to live there.

6. Rate the PX and Commissary.
Commissary serves its purpose but is sometimes limited in selection of some items, depending on what time of year it is and distribution.
The PX serves its purpose as well but again, some things are limited due to AK being detached from the remainder of the US.

7. Are there activities on post? Is there lodging on post?
There is on-post lodging on Richardson as well as the Air Force Inn on the Elmendorf side.
Most activities are during the brief summer months which are usually the end of May thru August. School starts back in September (or late August). They do have baseball leagues and soccer leagues for the children, some FRG’s have leagues as well. During the winter there are some ski/winter activity lodges on both sides of post/base as well.

8. What is there to do in the area?
If you enjoy the outdoors there is fishing, hiking, kayaking, skiing. There are also some tours with the Alaska Railroad and glacier cruises out of Whittier and Seward, skiing and other things at Aleyska, Denali Nat’l Park as well.

9. Rate the school system.
On post and Eagle River area schools are fine. I do not know of off post other than ER so I cannot say for certain.

10. Are there colleges in the area? Please list.
University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) – several Army wives are attending there and say it’s a good school
There are some other, smaller colleges/technical schools as well in the area. I believe there is also a branch of a couple of colleges on post.

11. How is the job situation? What types of jobs are in the area for spouses?
The economy isn’t helping right now but I do know of some wives who have worked or work at places like Starbucks, AT&T, Michaels, Best Buy, and for professionals, the State of Alaska and local city/municipality agencies are usually hiring as well.

12. Favorite aspect of the post and surrounding area?
It’s located in what is called “The Anchorage Bowl” – scenic and beautiful for those who have never been anywhere like AK or somewhere comparable.

13. Least favorite aspect?
Not a lot to do during the winter months except go to the gym or the movies.

14. List any local websites.
www.mwrarmyalaska.com
www.usarak.army.mil

http://fortrichardsonhousing.com

www.anchorage.net
www.alaskaanchorage.net
www.adn.com
www.muni.org
www.dot.state.ak.us/anc

Greetings from Osan AB, South Korea. We are an Army Family stationed on an Air Force Base here in South Korea and this is something that is common here. So you coming to South Korea. There is nothing to fear about here. If the Army didn’t feel Korea was safe for families to being approved to living here they wouldn’t approve Command Sponsorships. South Korea is in the process of becoming a Tour Normalization which is like Germany your soldier and family will be stationed here for a few years.

A few things I can tell you about Korea and what don’t expect and what to expect. Don’t expect that you will get the chance to be living on post because such as for Osan AB we live on base but we got lucky since the Air Force gives there housing basically to the Air Force families and with the Army the units here get only 10% of the families that are command sponsorship. At Camp Humphey’s there new housing is full, and at Yongsan if you have a pet you will not be allowed to live on post housing. But that is perfectly fine, because we are Army Families and we can survive anything.

Living off post is not bad at all. My husband, our two dogs and I did live off post at first. There are a lot of apartments that are fully furnished in Korea so leaving your good furniture in storage and on the Army’s bill just do it. I will just give you one suggestion if you don’t like a stiff hard mattress and your mattress that you have is a pillow top mattress I would suggest you bring that. The mattresses are stiff as a hard rock and take time to get used to.

Here are a few more things I suggest for you to bring with you that we where advised not to bring and we regret for not bringing them along. We left behind our microwave, toaster and toaster oven. The outlets are different then US outlets but your Realtor will give you converter boxes to use your American appliances so if you want to bring them then you know you can.

We are here on Command Sponsorship and I am an FRG leader here. So I want you all to know that there are FRG’s within the units in Korea and they are active and should be active.

If your coming to Korea, Non Command Sponsorship, a few words of advice from my knowledge and learning of being here. You do get a rations card, your allowed on base, but there are chances where you might not get into seeing a doctor with making a doctor’s appointment since you would have to try to make a same day appointment on space available. Another thing is that your soldier would need permission from his command to allow him to live off post depending on his rank and since your in Korea as Non command sponsorship. The Army will not pay for your flight to Korea, for your stuff in storage since you decided to come here without the Army’s approval for Command Sponsorship.

I am just letting you all know what I have learned since I have been in Korea since April 2009 and love to share my experiences with you.

Ronni F. Newton

Your Name (if you would like it to appear):

Dreamy

Base Name:

Yongsan

Base Location:

S. Korea, Seoul

How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present)

2008 – 2010 Command Sponsored

What is housing like? On-post? (waiting list, conditions, etc.) Off-post? Any areas to stay away from? Average price to rent or buy?

On Post

Lower Enlisted and Junior NCO’s are in High Rise Housing at Hannam Village, which is about a 15 minute walk to post but shuttles run hourly. The housing is based on rank and family size. There is a waiting list and it will depend on when you get here as it changes all the time. The housing is small and a little cramped. AC is provided by individual units in each room. The heat is controlled by the post and usually runs from October-April. No pets are allowed at Hannam Village so do not bring them with you if you plan to live on post.\

Senior Enlisted and Officers have several areas that are open to them. Hannam, South Post, Black Hawk Village, Burke Tower and Itaewon Acres. Type of housing that you receive does depend on where you live. It is best to research at the Housing One Stop once you know what you qualify for. Pets are allowed on South Post.

Off Post

There are several different types of apartments here in Seoul. High Rise, Villa and Single Family Home. The single family homes are VERY hard to find and super expensive so don’t even try it.

Villas are usually in 4-8 story buildings and some don’t have elevators. The villa is large and comfortable and the price is comparable to the highrise. Most of the time utilities are not included in the price of rent. So please be aware of this when you are making your choice of where to live. Rent is usually 2000-4000 dollars a month. You are paid OHA and a deposit

My Apartment:

I live in a high rise. My rent is almost 3500 a month and that includes utilities. What we don’t use out of our utilities it is given back to us at the end of the contract year. In the winter it is roughly 400 dollars and in the summer 600. The amount you get for utilities does change. So don’t count on it until you get your housing contract.

I do have in floor heating or ondul. This is my FAVORITE thing about our apartment. Our heating bill is usually 80 bucks in the winter and that is keeping the house at 72 degrees all day long. The toasty warm floors do come with a price. You feet will dry out faster so make sure to keep them moisturized!

Summer is HOT here so make sure to plan ahead of the AC costs. We went hog wild with AC last year and we paid for it later. Our electricity bill for July and August was 1000 dollars. Only use it when you have to. Buy lots of 220 fans. We didn’t use the AC at all in June and our bill was 150. In Seoul you are given a certain amount for eletricity and each unit you use over that amount they can double and even triple. So make sure you talk to your realtor about the rates in your building.

Video Link to my apartment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub26Msz4Hxs

Housing does provide nice furniture but I would bring your own bed and couch. You only get 50% of your move allowance for the states so please be aware of that amount when moving here. There isn’t always a lot of storage areas in some places.

My suggestion

When choosing a place to live look at traffic, bus and subway accessibility and how far it is from post. Most people either live in Itaewon, Park Towers or CJNine Park. If you are wanting to truly absorb the culture living off post is the best way to do so! I like the high rises but others want the larger SQ footage of the villa. It is all about personal preference. Make sure to check for mold, since it gets extremely humid here in the summer mold is often found everywhere. Do not rent a place that has mold.

Rate the PX & Commissary.

PX: It is okay. I am not a fan of the clothing selection. Unless you are a size 0 or a 90 year old Korean lady, you will not care for the women’s clothing. There is barely a maternity section and the shoes are not that great. It will be a good resource when you have no other option and need something that day.

Commissary is great for frozen or prepackaged items on the shelf. I do not recommend their produce at all, it goes rotten after a day and frankly poor quality. Buy it off post and wash it with produce wash.

Activities on base?

Movie theater, bowling alley, a couple bars and nice restaurants of course. There is a family fun center, a driving range, several pools and one indoor pool. There is a decent Arts and Craft shop that has classes and plenty of things you can do on your own. The children’s clubs are very active during the summer and has something going on at least once a week.

Since we are in a foreign country, we limit our time on base. We spend a majority of our time off post and exploring.

Active Spouses Club?

Yes! There is the American Forces Spouses Club! I love this organization and have volunteered through them since I got here. They always have something planned and have monthly luncheons. You also have volunteer opportunities and the ability to work in the Chosun Gift Shop. I would highly recommend joining!

Things to do in area?

What isn’t there to do!?! Seoul is a large wonderful city that always has something for everyone.

Shopping

Itaewon, Nandaemun, Dondaemun, and Insadong are just a few of the shopping districts here. Seoul is a large city and shopping is one of the favored activities here. You won’t find as many “American” style malls but there are a couple great open air markets like The ones I mentioned above. Insadong and Dondaemun are my favorites.

Insadong is the most fun in the summer on Saturdays. There are traditional tea houses, antique stores, restaurants, and demonstrations everywhere. I love the homemade jewelry and pottery that you can get here. Plus it is much cheaper than Itaewon for souvenirs and the vendors are always willing to bargain.

Dondaemun is where some of the best shopping is found. There is a fashion district, a fabric market, a toy center, and book and craft alley. It is one big open air market and it is best to go on a Saturday. Sundays are slower and not as many of the shops are open. I have gotten some great deals on fabric, clothing and pet supplies here.

Restaurants

Beef and Leaf/BBQ places are the best to enjoy. The meat is cooked in front of you and you get unlimited side dishes to fill you up. Do not be afraid of trying everything in the little bowls. Kimchi is the staple of Korean food, while it can be spicy it is something you can not come to Korea and not try!

I love trying all the little hole in the wall restaurants. They are small with one or two tables but the food is homecooked and amazing. My favorite dish is Cheesy Ramen with gimbap.

Stay away from “American” type resturants like Outback. It is very expensive and the portions are smaller and they do not taste the same.

One thing you will see everywhere are food stands. Korean Street food is everywhere and very yummy! I love dokbokii and gimaree. I eat it exclusively in the winter time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzjajL1lOh0 : introduction to street food.

Waterparks

This is something new to Korea. The parks are not always the same as the ones in the states but they can be a lot of fun. They are a little expensive but still have the basic slides and wave pools. It is worth going to if you love waterparks!

Amusement Parks

Everland and Lotte World are the largest ones in Korea. I would suggest going to both.

I like Lotte World but only if you have small children and love long waits in line. The park is inside so avoid going in the summer or during Korean holidays. I went on a Tuesday and found it wasn’t as crowded. It is a popular date spot. There is a great museum that is also included in the price of admission. I would compare the rides to a decent state fair.

Everland is more a long the lines of Disney World. There are more rides and shows than Lotte World and it is completely outside. But the rides are not as exciting as some of the parks we have in the states. Do not expect large roller coasters. They do have a sledding hill there in the winter and a smallish zoo. I went in the winter and found it to be not crowded and I was able to ride almost anything we wanted more than once.

Sauna/Spa/public Baths

I love them. I have gone a couple times and found them to be a wonderful relaxing atmosphere. Since I can’t comment on all I will just recommend the one I went to. The Dragon Hill Spa(not affiliated with the Dragon Hill Lodge on post) is clean and hygienic. It is located next to the Ipark mall in Yongsan and close to the Electronics Market. It wasn’t expensive, about 12000 won, for one person to go swimming and enjoy the baths, steam rooms and sweat rooms. Bring your own towel and cleaning products. Also, this is a naked area, so be aware that many of the people in your bath area will be naked. I got over it rather quickly, just as much as you aren’t looking at them, they aren’t looking at you.

They do have several packages but I would skip the massage. The Asian massage is very different then in the states and you will feel like they are beating you up. I have gotten bruises before, so I recommend skipping it.

Other Cities

Osan: I love Osan, they have the best purses off post and their BX is a little better. This is an AF base so IMHO the facilities are nicer. They also have a Chili’s on post. Also this is the best place to purchase Mink blankets. Do not get them in Itaewaon.

Sokcho: Quite possible my favorite place in Korea. It is a smallish seaside village that has beautiful mountains for hiking and camping and the Sea of Japan for swimming and fishing. Mt Soraksan is here and is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Korea. It is about 2 hours drive from Seoul with no traffic and is a little on the expensive side, but very worth going to. We love the Seafood market where you can get fresh(like just off the boat) fish and crab. I had a crab that they just got off the boat and it was steamed right then and there. It was amazingly good.

This is just a small slice of things to do. There are tons of museums, historical sites and even folk villages(think Williamsburg VA) that you can go to as well. I could write a book about all the places we have been to. Do not be afraid to get lost here! You often find the best stuff when you are, I know we did!

School System?

No children. There is an elementary, middle school and high school on post.

Any colleges in area?

There is an education center on post that has some classes and offers online classes as well. It is the typical online schools of UMCC and Central Texas. There are tons of wonderful local colleges off post but I am not sure of the requirements for enrollment.

Jobs? (on post and off)

Off Post: If you are planning to teach English, get the proper visa, talk with the US Embassy for this. Do not do so without it. You can get deported, fined and your spouse will get in trouble. Is it worth it? There are several schools that will hire you if you have a college degree. I loved teaching here off post and one family has become so special to me. They have even planned a visit to us in Germany(our next duty station). If you speak Korean and English there will always be companies that would love to hire you. There is also the US Embassy as well.

On Post: Just like in the states it is who you know. There are jobs at the commissary and the PX but those are usually taken by Korean Nationals. It is getting better for spouses here to get jobs but the process is slow. If you are a teacher, in the medical profession or childcare you will find a job easily.

Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city?

Being in such a large city. There is a great public transportation system and there is always something going on.

Least favorite aspect?

Nothing. Korea is a wonderful tour. It does suck to be away from family and you can make any situation negative, but Korea is one of the best overseas tours available.

Any other tips?

There are tons of little booths that say “Tourist Info” all over Seoul. Do not be afraid to go in one! They have maps, magazines, tourist pamphlets and discount coupons.

Links to help you on your journey to the Land of the Morning Calm.

http://www.eatyourkimchi.com – a foreingers guide to Korea

http://www.facebook.com/youryongsan – Yongsan FB page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yongsan-South-Korea/US-Forces-Korea-Official-Page/425064710222 – USFK page

http://yongsan.korea.army.mil/ Yongsan Main page

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10400-planning-your-move-to-korea/index.html plan your move

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/24/11206-what-to-expect-when-you-arrive-at-incheon-airport/index.html Airport FAQ

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10406-shopping-with-a-ration-control-card/index.html Ration Control

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/23/11109-yongsan-readiness-center-adjusts-newcomer-orientation-program/index.html – Newcomer info

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/14/10840-commanders-corner-sponsorship-is-a-vital-mission/ Sponsorship

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/02/10551-acs-explains-sofa-stamp-a3-visa-procedures/index.html Visa info

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10398-bringing-a-pet-to-korea/index.html Pet Info

1. Your name (as you would like it to appear):Buckles Family

2. Army Post Name: Fort Knox

3. Army Post Location: Fort Knox, KY

4. Dates When You Lived Here (please include year): Oct 2009 – August 2010

5. How is housing? On-post? On-post housing is nice and has quite a few neighborhoods of new houses. Also, most of the barracks were built within the
past few years.

Off-post? Just outside of post has some bad neighborhoods and maybe not quite as family friendly but there are also plenty of nicer areas. There are a lot of
places out in the country which I think would be ideal in an area like this. Prices vary but are all reasonably priced.

6. Rate the PX and Commissary.
Well I honestly can’t say that I have ever went into a PX or Commissary that I didn’t like. I could care less about how old the building is, prices are better
than any other off post stores.

7. Are there activities on post? Is there lodging on post? There is a bowling alley and the MWR offers programs for the soldiers and families and things for
teens and children to do.

8. What is there to do in the area? Since it’s Kentucky there is of course a lot of fishing, hunting, some hiking, etc. They also have the Patton museum and a
lot of historical things to see.

9. Rate the school system. I don’t have any children in school.

10. Are there colleges in the area? Please list. Kentucky University and Elizabethtown Community College.

11. How is the job situation? What types of jobs are in the area for spouses?

I haven’t had to job search in this area but I wouldn’t say it’s good because I have never seen any places that i would even considering applying for. They are
building a new Human Resource Center soon, not sure when it is supposed to open and it could already be open and i don’t know it as i am staying with family in
Illinois while my husband is at NTC but the center should be opening up around 4,000 jobs. The only problem i see here is that the 3rd Brigade of 1st Infantry
Division has been relocated from Fort Hood, TX to Fort Knox. So around 3,000 soldiers and their families, including mine, were recently moved to the area.
Like any post though, I’m sure that ACS is very helpful.

12. Favorite aspect of the post and surrounding area?

For me, I love Fort Knox because it close to where I’m from, Illinois. The weather is similar and there is plenty of fishing, hunting and the other outdoors activities that i love and have grown up with.

13. Least favorite aspect? The appearance of everything. I feel like the area just needed updated. New landscaping, buildings, signs, etc. and to take care of
things and keep them clean.

1. Your name (as you would like it to appear): Tina

2. Army Post Name: Fort Rucker

3. Army Post Location: Alabama

4. Dates When You Lived Here (please include year): June 2010 – July 2010 (expected to be here until 2012)

5. How is housing? On-post? Off-post?  We live on-post.  The houses are nice.  They are in the midst of getting them all renovated at updated.  There are club houses and pools in all of the neighborhoods as well as lawn care, pest control, etc. all provided just like you’d expect from a HOA type residence.  The only downside to living on post is that the helicopters fly over all hours of the night and it takes a little getting used to since it will wake you up the first few weeks you are here.

6. Rate the PX and Commissary. The commissary is great.  Good selection and great prices.  The PX is a little small with limited selection but still has most necessities.

7. Are there activities on post? Is there lodging on post?  Activities include a lake with water sports and boat rentals available, equestrian center offering riding lessons, movie theater, bowling alley, chapel, restaurant/bar, water park, and probably a few others I haven’t gotten around to exploring yet.  Army lodging is available in a renovated “hotel” (what looks like they used to be old barracks) and also at the lake they have two types of cabins available.

8. What is there to do in the area?  Fort Rucker is surrounded by 3 very small, rural towns.  Enterprise is the biggest of the three and has a few small movie theaters (2 screens each), indoor ranges, and some restaurants. In Daleville there are some very good “country” restaurants.  And in Ozark you have to drive pretty far to get to anything.  Dothan, a larger city, is about 30 minutes away and has a mall, more big chain restaurants, movie theaters, etc. (typical of a good size town).

9. Rate the school system.  We do not have school age children.

10. Are there colleges in the area? Troy University is a few towns away.

11. How is the job situation? What types of jobs are in the area for spouses?  Jobs are scarce and low-paying.  Lots of restaurant jobs and real estate office jobs, but the pay is low.

12. Favorite aspect of the post and surrounding area?  The people are very friendly here and hardly anyone will pass by without waving or saying hello.

13. Least favorite aspect?  There is not a lot to do most of the time.

14. List any local websites.  dotanmeetup.com

15. Any other tips or information?  Keep and open mind and you’ll be sure to find something here that makes you happy.