Can my husband extend his unaccompanied tour to S. Korea so that he could move us out there?

Question

I've heard that if you extend your one year tour to a 2 year tour, that you might be able to move your family out there with you. Is this true? Please only answer if you have knowledge of things like this. Thanks! He is in the Army, and is in AIT right now, so he's only an E-2 (will be E-3 when he goes to Korea). I've heard that if you don't have a high rank, the odds are unlikely?

Answer 1

rank does matter (you have to be E5 or above),
http://area3.korea.army.mil/FAQ.htm
and it does depend on where they station him there. Certain camps don't have the resources to allow family members to move there. He can try and put in for command sponsorship once he gets there and sees if that will work.
http://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/G1/CSP/Command%20Sponsorship%20Program.htm
http://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/G1/CSP/CSP%20Info.htm
1perscom.army.mil/S-Gate/.../Documents/Command Sponsorship Apr 04.DOC
Now if he does end up getting command sponsorship, then he will have to extend his tour there.

You can also go over there without being sponsored but you will lose benifits and not get as much money as you would if you were sponsored.
http://www-8perscom.korea.army.mil/NewsandInfo/Sponsorship_tricare.asp
This has some good info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osan_Air_Base#Command_Sponsorship

Good luck with what ever decision u make

Answer 2

Ashley--- Your husband is very lucky to be going to Korea. Best kept secret in the military. Korea is third-world country. It is not like the USA.. With walmart and grocery stores. In Seoul, food shopping is done at the open market. Everything is laying their. Just tell how much ---pay and they wrap it up in newspaper and go home to fix. No AC no central heat furnace. If you pay enough for an apt american conviences will be their. Water is not as plentiful. You husband will not be able to live down town. He will be needed when ever they want him. Yes he will have some time off ---but when??? The army will not pay for you to move to Korea. Very good reason why is that it is a hadrship for you and your husband. stay at home keep the home fires burning. He will be back in about 6 months and then he will return to finish the tour...Then on to the next assignment...STAY OFF THE CELL PHONE...
YOU DO NOT NEED A $1000 A MONTH BILL...You will need that money for other things...When he comes home...

Moving to Korea is at your expense--plane tickets --- shot records and all. Pass Port---Visa

Answer 3

I would not recommend him exstending or you moving there. 1st even if they said yes there is a good chance the army will "change their mind" after he has already sighned to exstend then you are missing him for 2yrs and not just 1. Secondly there is a reason they don't want you to move there. It's not because they are mean eather. It is becasue at your pay grade you could not afford to live there. And they don't have the services there for families such as addiquit medical and housing etc. I know this is a hard time for you. But there are a lot of agancies that can help you through this. go to www.onesource.com and see what is there. I know that you can make it through this but you don't have to do it alone. The military now has councilors and many other things to help you if you need it.

Answer 4

ive honestly never heard of someone that low getting the opportunity to turn a remote into an accompanied....i know my husband is an E5 and hes not allowed to .....of course hes AF but im sure the army has similar rules..the AF you can only take your family on long tours......overseas tours are automatically made long tours if you are married and you can choose to shorten them to 2 years and go unaccompanied if you want. (accompanied overseas tours are usually 3-4 years) but you may want to have him ask someone in the army

Answer 5

he can request, but they don't have to grant it.