Posted on May 5, 2014
SGT Senior Warrior Liaison
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Should one consider volunteering for a Korea Assisgnment?

If so, what are the Pro's and Con's? Should one choose acconpanied or unnacompanied? If one is married and they go alone, how does it work with tricare, BAH, ect... Whats the good posts to get over there and any other input from you all.

thanks in advance.
Posted in these groups: Korea Korea
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SGT Squad Leader
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SGT Brooks,
I am currently stationed at Camp Humphreys. South Korea has been trying to downsize for years now to only have a handful of camps on the peninsula. Several have shutdown since I was here in 06-07.
I am unaccompanied and my wife and children are back in WA state. I collect BAH for WA. My wife and children are still enrolled in Tricare West. Camp Humphreys is in the works to becoming larger as other camps are being shutdown and soldiers are relocated to Humphreys.
My opinion for Korea? It's almost like a deployment. Time change can make it hard to communicate with family/friends. Tempo fluctuates as any regular day. You do get to experience a completely different culture and economy. I feel as a married soldier that having your family here would be more enjoyable for me, but it's only one year away. When you are accimpabied, your tour of duty is extended to I believe 2 years. There is onpost housing, but they also allow offpost, where curfew is still enforced.
All in all, I am enjoying my tour unaccompanied, but that is your decision.
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MAJ Physician Assistant
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I am currently in Korea (Camp Humphreys) and I enjoy it. My family and I use our overseas tours to visit other countries so this is a great opportunity for us all. Chances are, you won't get the camp-of-choice assignment as your orders will likely just say Korea. But you can be assigned to Yongsan, which is in Seoul and is pretty nice. Since the BAH and TRICARE has been addressed I will only add that if you decide to bring your family over here I would recommend that you do so via CSP (Command Sponsorship Program) vs noncommand sponsored. If you have a FM that is enrolled in EFMP, getting them CSP could be an issue. All in all, Korea is what you make of it. Good luck!
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SSG Intelligence Sergeant
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Sir, what exactly is the difference between CSP vs nonCSP?
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MAJ Physician Assistant
MAJ (Join to see)
9 y
CSP is Command Sponsorship Program where you are bound to a two year tour and your family accompanies you. Your family also receives TRICARE overseas Prime enrollment so it eliminates any payment you would have to make at the host nation hospitals. Non-CSP families are not entitled to the same TRICARE entitlement and would have to pay costs up front and then seek TRICARE reimbursement.
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MAJ Steve Sheridan
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I spent 3 years in Korea.

If you have the opportunity accompanies is better, why be away form your family if you don't have to.

When on leave, Korea is a great starting point to go to China or Australia. Lost of MWR tours.

Think of your career, make sure you can find a good career enhancing job.
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SGT Writer
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There was a MWR trip to Thailand just as I got to Korea. Had I gotten a passport before getting there, I'd have loved to go to China.
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