My husband just got word today that he is going to PCS to korea in september. We didn't see this coming at all..which is a very long story but we really didn't see it coming at all. We were supposed to be going to Texas.....long story short.
Is there anything we can do? Our first child is going to be born on thursday (im being induced). Is there ANYTHING AT ALL that we can do to keep him here? We would much rather be at ANY base in the US. He knew he was going ot be going to iraq in december if we moved to texas. So..hes ok with that. But we really just dont want him to go to korea.
any advice AT ALL on what we can do to get them changed would be amazing. Thanks in advance. and please..no stupid answers....
2007-05-01 04:59:43 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I wasn't saying Iraq is BETTER..im saying he already knew he was going there anyways. Of course i dont want him to go to either one. If i could work that out..trust me..i would.
2007-05-01 05:12:18 · update #1
the whole we were supposed to be in texas thing is because of my brother. We had a request put in for us to be there..which i have found out since i posted the question that his request can actually out-weigh the korea orders.....we'll see i guess.
2007-05-01 05:13:43 · update #2
You can go if you get a command sponsorship, if you get this then you will be stationed in the Southern part of the country, actually there is pretty nice housing for families. That would be a two year tour. If he goes alone, you should be able to stay in housing there if he returns there, if you request Texas as a homebase assignment you will have to move. He should get briefed on all of this in his levy briefing which you should be able to go to. Make sure he schedules it ASAP as if you want a command sponsorship it takes some time. Good luck
2007-05-01 17:21:59 · answer #1 · answered by mar036 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might look into a duty swap with someone who has the same MOS and pay grade as him. Some folks love Korea, others hate it.
In reality, Korea might be a better bet for you, though, if you think about it. You can stay put where you are at, and he might very well have the option of returning to the area when he leaves. Korea is only a 12 month tour, unlike the 15 months tours the Army is looking at in Iraq. Either way, you are not going to be with him, and his creature comforts will probably be better in Korea then in Iraq.
Good luck. In general, the Army will best be served by your husband, not the other way around, so there isn't a whole bunch of options for you.
Of course, I am assuming that he was given a 12 month unaccompanied tour to Korea. If he is command sponsored (thus you go with him) the tour is 24 months.
2007-05-01 05:05:58 · answer #2 · answered by Robert N 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This happened to me.... I was in a unit called Red Horse - the 554th in Kunsan Korea and then with the 819th in RAF Wethersfield, England. After that I went into Recruiting.
When my 5 years was up in recruiting, I wanted to go back to England but they were closing that base. In the meantime, the AF gave me orders to someplace in Mississippi.
I said "Woooa" and made some calls to some of the upper ranks that I worked with in my earlier days with Red Horse. They were able to manipulate the system and have my orders changed for me to go to the 823rd Red Horse at Hurlburt Field Florida.
So.... if your husband has some contacts, maybe he can get them to help him out. If this is his first overseas assignment, you might be out of luck. It is only a year, but you have to admit, a year in Korea is much better than a year in Iraq.
With my experience in Korea, I didnt think it was too bad. The time will go by quick and before you know it, he'll be back home. If he wants, he could take leave and come back at the 6 month point. That is always an option.
Again, you mentioned, if you went to Texas, he would be heading off to Iraq. How long would his tour be there? I don't know if you have heard, but people are getting killed over there. I think his chances are better in Korea.
Wish you the best in what ever happens
Additional note: during my first term, I did receive orders for a 3 year tour to Elmendorf Alaska. I thought at that time I would get out of the AF and declined the orders. About a week later, the AF gave me a new set of orders, actually two sets of orders, the first to Korea (1 yr) with a follow-on to England (2 yrs). It didnt take much for me to accept since I had always wanted to go to England.
2007-05-01 05:16:02 · answer #3 · answered by Bob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's his MOS? If he's PCSing chances are you can go too. Korea's really not that bad of a place.
And you have to remember, in the military there is no "we were supposed to do this" there's nothing you're supposed to get. It's the military. They send you where they need you.
Lastly, if you're REALLY adamant about not going, he can always refuse the orders. HOWEVER there will be a big black mark on his record book AND he will most likely not only have to stay with the unit he's currently serving with, but he will probably not get ANY future requests for PCS orders. Something to think about.
2007-05-01 05:08:12 · answer #4 · answered by rocknrobin21 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he is enlisted and it is his first enlistment he can decline in. If he declines it and it is not his first enlistment, he can do it but will be barred from enlistment. He can also contact his gaining unit. If they are going to Iraq they may be able to "pull rank" on the rank in Korea. He can also trade with someone of the same rank and MOS that has a stateside duty station that wants to go to Korea. He should go to his S-1 shop to do any of this.
2007-05-01 05:05:14 · answer #5 · answered by dglaze11 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not much you can do except what the others said about swapping with someone, but i would not refuse the assignment because that will pretty much end his military career from being anything good.
also my husband best friend just returned from Korea and you can NOT take your family unless you can really pull some major strings!!
why would you want him to go to iraq for 15 months and have possibly die or Korea for 1 year and hell sit on his *** and not be dead!!
2007-05-01 05:20:04 · answer #6 · answered by khymelove 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
probably not much he can do. tell him to call DA and see if he can have hi orders rescinded.
but quite frankly - he's better off in Korea than IRAQ
2007-05-01 05:02:53 · answer #7 · answered by island3girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Needs of the military trump all the desires in the world.
short of finding somebody the same paygrade and MOS who is willing to swap orders, and do it at no cost to the military.. you are TOL.
2007-05-01 14:35:32 · answer #8 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is the reason that everyone should be nice to the clerical type soldiers.
You get a friend in the pentagon and you'll be amazed at how they can help.
Only advise i can offer, is have him go talk to his CSM, and hope his CSM will be willing to help.
2007-05-01 05:36:04 · answer #9 · answered by jeeper_peeper321 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
See if he can get the family sponsored then you all can go over there.
2007-05-01 06:09:48 · answer #10 · answered by Erica R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋