Can the Army force you to do a tour unaccompanied in Korea if you are married?

SGT Ronnie Warford — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 22:08:18 -0500

My brother is in AIT, he has a intelligence mos. He married his high school sweetheart whom he has a child with during AIT. He informed me that his leadership told him his family would be unable to go with him. I have been to Korea and I remember soldiers having family with them. So is his leadership giving him wrong info and should I call someone?

Response by SGT Ronnie Warford made Jan 12 at 2016 10:08 PM

SGT Ronnie Warford — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 22:08:27 -0500

TIA

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 10:15 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 22:15:01 -0500

Where's he going? I'm single and therefore don't pay much attention to the policies involved, but you need to apply for command sponsorship to bring family, and I think it's pretty hard to get that in Area 1.

Some possibly helpful links.

http://www.2id.korea.army.mil/soldiers/csp.asp

http://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/g1_ag/g1/eusa_csp/csp_website.pdf

2D Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division- Command Sponsorship Program

The official website of the U.S. Army's 2D Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division, the last remaining permanently forward-stationed division in the U.S. Army, Command Sponsorship Program.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 10:18 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 22:18:02 -0500

Your brother will have to request command sponsorship. He can go online and get the requirements and get request submitted as soon as possible. If he doesn't get it done before he gets here he can do it after he gets to his unit. I can be found on the global if you would like some assistance. I am serving as the G1 SGM for 19th ESC in Area IV ROK.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 11:02 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 23:02:23 -0500

Yes

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 11:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 23:07:02 -0500

On my second tour a soldier showed up with his family. They weren't command sponsored and they stayed...at his expense. No schooling or medical support provided other than emergency. That was back in 2004-05 so things may have changed. My spouse and kid came to visit for 45 days and I probably could've had them stay longer. But command sponsorship would be the way to go.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 12 at 2016 11:30 PM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 23:30:50 -0500

Yes, they can. Needs of the Army superceed all other considerations. He needs to request command sponsorship as 1SG Private RallyPoint Member recommended. You should not become actively engaged. Help your brother figure out what is best.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Jan 13 at 2016 12:28 AM

SSG Todd Halverson — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 00:28:45 -0500

Yes they can send him on an unaccompanied tour, buy he can request command sponsorship. If they Army wanted a Soldier to have a family. .... They would have issued one. ....lol

Response by CW4 Angel C. made Jan 13 at 2016 1:17 AM

CW4 Angel C. — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 01:17:15 -0500

It depends on where in Korea. I know a few places (Kunsan is one) command sponsorship is not an option. and of course the Army can force you to go to Korea or wherever unaccompanied if you're married. Those are mostly installation and international policies; not usually company level.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2016 9:02 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:02:37 -0500

If he is going to Area II-IV, command sponsorship is easy. If he is going to Area I (near NK), it is almost impossible to get command sponsorship. That being said, your brother can choose to bring his family without command sponsorship with the following caveats:

1. Although the Army MUST pay OHA to his family for housing, his chain of command has no obligation to allow him to live with his family and not in the barracks.
2. Your niece/nephew will have a hard time enrolling in on post daycare/school
3. Your brother will not be able to have a car on post without an exception signed by the garrison commander
4. The Army will not pay to move household goods or provide plane tickets for his family

There are a few more but these are the main points I brief my Soldiers who want to bring family to Korea non command sponsored.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 13 at 2016 11:32 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 11:32:24 -0500

Absolutely...he is the property of the US Army. You wear the green tuxedo you dance to the beat of the band! Unfortunate for him if he can't get command sponsorship but he will just have to go.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 13 at 2016 3:00 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 15:00:20 -0500

Yes

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jan 14 at 2016 11:27 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 11:27:29 -0500

Yes, and they have been doing so for almost 60 years.....

Sponsored dependents in Korea has always been based on command sponsorship and the amount of slots is limited. This is due to the relative lack of space in housing and in DODDEA schools. Command sponsorship was typically reserved for folks who needed to be in key positions longer than 1 year (ie. commanders, key staff, key senior NCOs). Some Soldiers bring family over on their own dime, but typically that is because they have extended family support on pen (ie one or both spouses are Korean and have family they can stay with).

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 12:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 12:23:52 -0500

Happened to me 3 times in 20 years... they certainly can.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 2:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 14:06:35 -0500

I was in Korea in 1997-98 (non command sponsored) and my girlfriend at the time came over. We were married at the US Embassy in Seoul. Times may have changed since, but a lot of guys brought their wives and kids on their own dime, but it wasn't without challenges like everyone is saying. Not saying telling him to do it, but make sure he researches everything involved.... Best place to contact is the Army Community Center. They will have a ton of info and even help with the required visa issues. With all that being said, it isn't cheap or easy especially being E-4 and below... But, it is possible.

Response by SSgt Paul Esquibel made Jan 16 at 2016 1:48 PM

SSgt Paul Esquibel — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 13:48:54 -0500

Well, first and foremost you really don't have any rights within the military, remember we volunteer for this, so you are willing accepting that your life is within the hands of the government to do as it pleases. Your brother can apply to an accompanied short tour however it will be based off the number of slot available and his rank and what the branch can support. He can amend his orders from an unaccompany tour to accompany if approved by command. However he will not receive a Base of Preference (BOP) after his tour which is the incentive they give you, so draws down to what he's willing to accept, I've done two tours in South Korea and I can tell you 12 months goes by extremely fast including if you take a mid tour and go home or not.

Response by SGT William Wolfe made Jan 17 at 2016 5:25 PM

SGT William Wolfe — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 17:25:30 -0500

Yes they can. They did it to me

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 9:00 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:00:38 -0500

This is very true. It is very hard to get command sponsorship here in area 1. There are many bases in area one and it depends on which one you get sent to. For example if you get sent to Camp Casey there is a higher probability of you be able to get command sponsored, whereas Camp Stanley you have about a 1/1000 chance that you get command sponsorship. Now if you are upper enlisted you have a much better chance or even an officer. But Lower enlisted have a next to none chance to get command sponsored unless in other areas.

Response by SFC Fred Muller made Apr 18 at 2016 9:47 PM

SFC Fred Muller — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 21:47:54 -0400

Yes. It is a hardship tour unaccompanied

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2017 10:43 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 22:43:37 -0500

I would recommend have him get in contact with his sponsor, and have him do some research online. The logistics to move a family to Korea can be challenging, and many times a headache for a new Soldier. After his tour in Korea is completed, he could have a chance to pick his next duty station and bring his wife to a place they both want to be.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Feb 2 at 2017 7:20 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 07:20:55 -0500

Yes.