Hubby just found out he is on assignment.
Anyone have any info on the sponsorship wait?
And any other info would be appreciated.
Thanks everyone. 

My husband got sent to Casey in September of 2008. It was non-accompanied. That January, we took our tax money and bought tickets for the 4 kids and me to go join him. We lived there in Dongducheon (where Casey is) for 1.5 years. Even if you aren't command sponsored, you will get OHA, MIHA, etc. You still get a rations card and can shop at the commissary and PX on any military base there. You still can get a job on post if you want (I worked at the small commissary there). It is very easy to afford to live there. I don't know how long command sponsorship takes. We didn't even think of applying for it until we had been there for a year, and we would have had to commit to another 2 or 3 years I think. The only real difference I noticed by not having command sponsorship is that we had to pay for our own airfare in and out of Korea. Oh, and his weight allowances were lower for shipping, but it wasn't bad...we didn't get charged overages with 4 kids. The Army stored most of our stuff in the US until we got back. If you end up going, you can message me for more information. There were good things and bad things about Korea, as will all assignments, but overall I am glad we went and gave the kids the experience, and I would be ok with going there again. 

My husband just got there last month. I opted to stay back and he is doing a one year tour (if I went, he'd have to be there for 2 years and he doesn't have that much time left on his contract. He's not sure if he wants to stay in, so he didn't want to extend, which was fine). I have no info on sponsorship as I didn't even look into it. Last I heard, it was still frozen. My BFF just got back about 6 months ago and she went over NCS. She really enjoyed her time over there. I'm hoping to make it over there some time this fall. Any specific questions? 

My husband is there and a good friend moved with her family. I hear from most everyone to not do it. It's up to you, if you do go sponsorship is the way to go. Don't go without it. My husband doesn't like being there at all bit is making the best of it. He has said a few times that he is very glad we didn't go because it's not where he wants his family to be. Of course he misses us, but we both agree for him to do the year and then be done because we don't want our kids to do without plus he is in the field ALL THE TIME. 

I didnt go with my husband yet we have friends who did go and loved it alot, and even had babies there. Its up to you, the waitlist when my husband left was over 9 months. So it really was not worth it when he was gonna be home three months after.

You can go on your own expense and still be able to get medical there etc.

My husband was always out in the field he didnt really get to travel, so he really didnt enjoy it as much as he thought he would.

He did have a cell phone I could call him on, text etc and vice versa interent in his room and his own room w bathroom at that. 

I have no info to add :)
but I'd go! Do you have children? I would definetly go if they were 5 or older.
My dad was AirForce and I love that we were able to live with him in all these different places. I think it made me a better, more rounded person.
It might not be as wonderful as America, but it isn't forever and would let you experience it with your husband. Then when you are 80 you can say, remember when we lived in Korea?
My brother was stationed in Korea, and he did not enjoy it-but mostly because he was lonely. Looking back now he said he was happy to have been able to go. 

I went and lived there. This was back before CS and all the nice housing. Was teh first american wife to come and live there from our camp (Castle). OMG let me tell you it sucked! If you don't have kids then it's not that bad. Definitely a culture shock, for me anyways. Now they have all the nice apartments and whatnot. I hated it and will never go back. But then again I'm sure that's because we had our son over there and it was sooo difficult to be able to do anything with him and not having a car (which they are now allowed to have). If you are open to adventures and that kind of thing then it might be for you, but most people I talk to hated it. There is a lot to do there and the shopping there was freakin' awesome! I do have to rave about the hospital on Yongsan too. I had my son there. Best experience ever! I can't even imagine doing it stateside and it getting any better. 

I say go for the experience, especially if you have kids. It is a different culture but that if part of the reason you should go. Command sponsorship really only makes the difference of the airfare. I loved the fact that we didn't maintain a car...and the train system is excellent. We went everywhere with 4 kids. Also, there is a place called the ville right outside Casey which is full of bars and prostitutes (many of whom become Army wives)...it is definitely not a place I would leave my husband alone for a year. 

I have no issue with my husband being there alone for a year. I trust him 500%. 

I don't care who's husband it is. The things I witnessed people doing over there...and I'm sure those men loved their wives and families. But alcohol and loneliness will cause temptation for even the best man. The soju also can get someone drunker than they expected really quickly. Not to mention the barracks are co-ed over there. Out of everyone we knew there, the only married men who weren't so completely miserable they did something stupid were the one's who had the comfort of family there. It was a real eye opener for me as a spouse to see how all the married men handled the assignment. The ones who didn't want to cheat talked their wives into coming. About half of the rest asked their wives for a divorce and the other half considered themselves TDY (temporarily divorced for a year) I'm not making a statement about anybody's husband on here, I'm just telling you what I saw. But the main reason I suggest you go is for the experience you will have. Not everyone gets the opportunity to live in another country...take it while you can! 

^Totally agree. I was one of those woman who trusted their husband 100 percent. After korea and what it did to our family, I can honestly say I trust him negative 100 percent. That place is ridiculous. There were only 2 guys that I knew that hadn't cheated on their wives. It was insane. Was a good place to experience a lot of stuff and just to know I went and saw "the world", even if I didn't like it all that much. If you choose not to move there, I do highly recommend at least going to visit! 

There is no way that ALL the married men cheated, talk about a broad statement! My marriage is amazing, we were married before he enlisted, he doesn't drink and he isn't stupid enough to get himself into a situation like that. He's a man not a boy. 

There is no way that ALL the married men cheated, talk about a broad statement! My marriage is amazing, we were married before he enlisted, he doesn't drink and he isn't stupid enough to get himself into a situation like that. He's a man not a boy.
I men sister!!! My husband is also in Korea and when his friends go out, he is in his room on skype with me and our son. Just because you may not have trust in your marriage doesn't mean the same for everyone. I have an amazing marriage, we love each other, he loves his son, and would NEVER EVER do anything to ruin those relationships. 

Amen to you! I know your husband and your relationship and you know mine... It's just not going to happen, simple as that! 

I didn't mean to step on any toes or open a can of worms. I never said I don't have trust in my marriage, I just choose to be practical. Why would I be separated from him for a year when I could be with him? My husband wanted me there with him. No, not ALL men cheat, but what I witnessed first hand, I'd say 99% of them do. And some of these men had their wives come visit and were all lovey dovey when they were there. I'm sure there are some men who would never cheat, no matter what the circumstances...and there are some men who will cheat no matter the circumstances (I've known several women whose husbands cheated while deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan)...and I say most men fall into the category of they don't want to or intend to cheat, but when it is thrown in their face, they end up giving in. I will also say that I have witnessed many women cheating back home when their husbands were deployed, so I'm not man-bashing here-I'm just talking about what I have seen. The women I've known whose husbands cheated were absolutely blindsided by it and would have sworn it wouldn't happen. I wasn't going to go to Korea...but my husband got there and said he couldn't be away from us for a year when it wasn't a war situation...and we missed him too...so we went. 

But...this post has gotten way off topic. @WASucks, I stand by my original comment, which is Korea is an experience that you and your children should go for if you can-and that command sponsorship isn't necessary to do it. If you do end up going, I can tell you some things to check out while you are there. 

It kinda sounds like you should get new friends, lol. My husband has been in 5 years and we've made a lot of friends and none of them have cheated. We didn't go because the wait for sponsorship was 9 months and why the hell wonky we just wait another three after that?!? Plus, we both don't want our kids that close to the N Korean border, and we think their quality of life would be much better here. With the wait for sponsorship and the other issues it made since. I have friends there who regret it. 

Kathryn-you made the decision that you guys were comfortable with. Korea isn't perfect, but quality of life there is not below what it is here. Korea is very child friendly and the parks there are amazing. As far as the horror stories-the people I saw cheating in Korea were not our friends, but it is a small community at Casey, so everybody knew everybody else's business. The women back home who cheated were just in my neighborhood or wives of people in my husband's unit, not friends (2 moved their boyfriend's in). 

So I have to say that I told my hubs about this post and he wanted everyone to know that yes, it's true everyone cheats over there. In fact he has been there since December and has gotten two girls pregnant and has a one night stand every weekend:) 

Hubby just found out he is on assignment.
Anyone have any info on the sponsorship wait?
And any other info would be appreciated.
Thanks everyone.


If you are going to go please assure you and your family do it the correct way WITH COMMAND SPONSORHSIP.

Command Sponsorship versus Non-Command Sponsorship Benefits Comparison Matrix

http://www.usfk.mil/usfk/Uploads/120/CPVNSBComparisonMatrix6.pdf


USFK Command-Sponsorship Program

http://www.usfk.mil/usfk/hot-topic.usfk.military.command.sponsorship.program.491


Not only can your husband get in trouble with the military for not signing his family up you could end up without healthcare and no rations cards.

My husband is there now and he absolutely hates it and from what he has described I can understand why he does.

I have heard from those who like it too. But Casey is up North and about a 2 hour drive from Seoul. The traffic there is horrid, it smells there and is very different from the states. It all depends on how well you think you may transition to living in an area which is very different from the states.

Since my husband has been there the Korean's have been protesting they protest every weekend. They set up large speakers and play very loud annoying music and scream into loudspeakers. They have an entire sound system dedicated to blasting music and screaming at the base and surrounding areas. This can be heard everywhere and constantly wakes everyone up in the mornings and makes it so one can't think. This is allowed by Korea and can't be stopped by anyone on post.

I can hear it speaking to him on SKYPE and it is irritiating as all get out. I can't imagine being there and hearing it in person.

The other thing to keep in mind even if his orders say Camp Casey that does not mean that is where he is headed. It could be any of the bases there. Try to see if you can get pinpoint orders to assure that Casey is where he is headed.

They had horrible floods there this year during monsoon season, much of Casey was underwater. Yellow China dust or Asian Dust covers everything.



DO not allow people to scare you into believing that 99 percent of men and women in Korea cheat. 

So I have to say that I told my hubs about this post and he wanted everyone to know that yes, it's true everyone cheats over there. In fact he has been there since December and has gotten two girls pregnant and has a one night stand every weekend:)



LMAO!!

Amazing how one can make such sweeping comments. I wonder how many kids my husband will come home with? LOL 

I can make sweeping comments about what I personally witnessed while I was there. I can't say for everyone but from the people I saw, it held true. And going non-command sponsored will not get your husband in trouble or leave you with no rations cards. Several years ago, that was the case, but not anymore. 

I think its pathetic to say that 99% of men that go over there cheat. I have been married to my husband for almost 17 years and I know without a doubt he could go over there and never even consider cheating. He is a grown MAN not a child! Assuming is so much fun!! 

My husband is at Casey but I don't worry about him messing up. He is a wise man and avoid trouble so he mostly stay to himself. Lol, they think he's boring! I went to Casey to visit him last year so WASUCKS I can give you advice if you decide not to go on visiting him. I flew Space A and Casey was boring too me. I enjoyed Osan, Seoul, and Youngsan area. It was a great experience although I'm glad that I didn't stay. He will be home soon :). 

I can make sweeping comments about what I personally witnessed while I was there. I can't say for everyone but from the people I saw, it held true. And going non-command sponsored will not get your husband in trouble or leave you with no rations cards. Several years ago, that was the case, but not anymore.


Yet you said above:

ALL men cheat, but what I witnessed first hand, I'd say 99% of them do.


You did not witness 99 percent of Camp Casey cheating. There are TWENTY thousand soldiers there.

And ALL men do not cheat. A shame you have only been exposed to those who do. Sad for someone not to know men who are decent and true. :(

And yes, you do need command sponsorship for the benefits I spoke of. I linked to the current pages above. 

I think its pathetic to say that 99% of men that go over there cheat. I have been married to my husband for almost 17 years and I know without a doubt he could go over there and never even consider cheating. He is a grown MAN not a child! Assuming is so much fun!!



Where is the "like" button!! 

You did not witness 99 percent of Camp Casey cheating. There are TWENTY thousand soldiers there.

And ALL men do not cheat. A shame you have only been exposed to those who do. Sad for someone not to know men who are decent and true. :(


AMEN!! 

99% is an alarming rate if that was true. She should've stated many not 99%. Don't say all men either because I am confident that my husband ain't cheating. 

Ok to all of you who keep twisting my words: I said 99% of the men *I observed or knew of* at Camp Casey cheated when I was there. I stand by that. No, I didn't observe all of the soldiers, and I DIDN'T claim to. I did not say all men, so stop jumping in and correcting me on something I didn't say. So, you can think it is pathetic that 99% of the men my husband and I knew in Casey cheated...and it is sad, but it is true. The fact that you react so emotionally and defensively is telling. 

CHHL-
You cut and pasted part of what I said to make your argument.

You made it look like I said "ALL men cheat" but the actual quote was "No, not ALL men cheat."

Please stop twisting my words so you can argue against something that was never even said.