Posted on Feb 6, 2023
What advice would you give someone prior to going to their first duty station?
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As of today, I have my official orders to report to Camp Humphreys for my first duty station after graduating from Fort Eustis. Graduation is a few weeks away in March, but I don't have a worry that I'll fail. As a lowly little private, I'm not sure what to expect from my first duty station in Korea and was wondering what tips I should put in my tool belt. I'm currently training to be a 15T UH-60 Helicopter Repairer. Any advice would be much appreciated.
South Korea
Duty Stations
15T: UH-60 Helicopter Repairer
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 7
Two things - Keep an open mind and learn a lot of patience! Enjoy the experience - Korea can be a fantastic experience - just try to avoid turning into a barracks rat (i.e., spending all your time on base). You're probably going to a country and experience a culture you've never visited or have been exposed to before.
Things that are going to become second nature to you will be very new and confusing right now. There's the right way, the wrong way and the Army way is something you'll likely hear, if you haven't already. Each unit you go to will have their own way of doing things ... learn what they are sooner than later.
As a private, you'll be told to what to do a lot more than be asked what you want to do. That open mind and patience come into being. Learn, learn, learn, learn!
Most leaders in the military treat a new Soldier "according to his rank". That is, you're a private, so most leaders will assume you don't know a lot and will need to be told what to do, and in many cases, how to do it. Expect that, embrace it and show your leaders that you take your responsibilities seriously and are committed to the job/mission.
Be proactive, but not a 'butt-kisser'. Show initiative in getting the job done and if there is something that gets in the way of that, try to see how it can be accomplished a different way or bring the impediment up to your leadership as soon possible. Trust me - even if you don't plan on being a rock star and going "110%" all the time, establishing your reputation as a dependable Soldier early will go a LONG way in making your life better while there.
Some general comments about heading to Korea:
• Read the policies and regulations of USFK* and your unit.
• Make sure you contact your sponsor if they assign you one.
• You'll likely head to Korea on the Patriot Express and land at Osan air base*
• Make an effort to learn the language while there. You can easily excel if you put your mind to it, and if you use Headstart2, you can rack up 16 promotion points!
• Ditto on the Korean culture. USFK and 8th Army offer many different cultural outreach programs - check them out!
Above all, and this is critically important, enjoy yourself! I've seen Soldier that come in with an attitude of "I wish I was back in Texas .. this place sucks". They had a really lousy experience while there (to put it mildly). Find another battle buddy while there that wants to enjoy the culture as well and team-up!
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* USFK Policies/Regulations/Etc - https://www.usfk.mil/Resources/#2
* 8th Army Blue Book - https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/assets/doc/resource/8A-Blue-Book.pdf
* USFK Cultural Welcome Brief - https://www.usfk.mil/Portals/105/Documents/Cultural%20Awareness%20Training%20v3.pdf
* DVIDS story - https://www.dvidshub.net/news/323202/usfk-members-receive-korean-cultural-experience
* Arrival in Korea - https://www.2id.korea.army.mil/Newcomers/Arrival/
Things that are going to become second nature to you will be very new and confusing right now. There's the right way, the wrong way and the Army way is something you'll likely hear, if you haven't already. Each unit you go to will have their own way of doing things ... learn what they are sooner than later.
As a private, you'll be told to what to do a lot more than be asked what you want to do. That open mind and patience come into being. Learn, learn, learn, learn!
Most leaders in the military treat a new Soldier "according to his rank". That is, you're a private, so most leaders will assume you don't know a lot and will need to be told what to do, and in many cases, how to do it. Expect that, embrace it and show your leaders that you take your responsibilities seriously and are committed to the job/mission.
Be proactive, but not a 'butt-kisser'. Show initiative in getting the job done and if there is something that gets in the way of that, try to see how it can be accomplished a different way or bring the impediment up to your leadership as soon possible. Trust me - even if you don't plan on being a rock star and going "110%" all the time, establishing your reputation as a dependable Soldier early will go a LONG way in making your life better while there.
Some general comments about heading to Korea:
• Read the policies and regulations of USFK* and your unit.
• Make sure you contact your sponsor if they assign you one.
• You'll likely head to Korea on the Patriot Express and land at Osan air base*
• Make an effort to learn the language while there. You can easily excel if you put your mind to it, and if you use Headstart2, you can rack up 16 promotion points!
• Ditto on the Korean culture. USFK and 8th Army offer many different cultural outreach programs - check them out!
Above all, and this is critically important, enjoy yourself! I've seen Soldier that come in with an attitude of "I wish I was back in Texas .. this place sucks". They had a really lousy experience while there (to put it mildly). Find another battle buddy while there that wants to enjoy the culture as well and team-up!
--------------------------------------------------
* USFK Policies/Regulations/Etc - https://www.usfk.mil/Resources/#2
* 8th Army Blue Book - https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/assets/doc/resource/8A-Blue-Book.pdf
* USFK Cultural Welcome Brief - https://www.usfk.mil/Portals/105/Documents/Cultural%20Awareness%20Training%20v3.pdf
* DVIDS story - https://www.dvidshub.net/news/323202/usfk-members-receive-korean-cultural-experience
* Arrival in Korea - https://www.2id.korea.army.mil/Newcomers/Arrival/
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COL Randall C.
I would be remiss in not giving you a financial tip.
You should have it easy right now. Since you're new to the military, when you came in they enrolled you in the Blended Retirement System. I believe that your default contributions are 5%. The government will kick in another 1% now and after you've been in the Army for two years (after the 25th month of service), they kick in up to another 4% (so, if you keep it at 5%, then the military kicks in another 5% for 10%!)
At the beginning of my 32 1/2 year career, I had a officer in my unit explain a savings concept of "Pay me now; Pay me later". What he meant was save money for now and save money for your retirement.
What I would advise for you, is that every time you get a pay bump from longevity (i.e., pay increase based on time in the service), promotion, or cost of living, or really anything else ... take 1/2 of the pay bump and enjoy it as extra spending money (Pay me now) and take the other 1/2 of the pay bump and increase your TSP contributions!
Trust me - if you get the money taken out up front, you'll never rely on it and because of that you'll never miss it.
If you make the military a career (or even if you don't!), you will be thanking your previous self for doing the investing.
To this day, I say a word of thanks to (then) Captain Charlie Torok - he's the guy that got me started on savings and yes, my present day self is very thankful that my young 2LT self listened to Charlie when he gave me that advice.
You should have it easy right now. Since you're new to the military, when you came in they enrolled you in the Blended Retirement System. I believe that your default contributions are 5%. The government will kick in another 1% now and after you've been in the Army for two years (after the 25th month of service), they kick in up to another 4% (so, if you keep it at 5%, then the military kicks in another 5% for 10%!)
At the beginning of my 32 1/2 year career, I had a officer in my unit explain a savings concept of "Pay me now; Pay me later". What he meant was save money for now and save money for your retirement.
What I would advise for you, is that every time you get a pay bump from longevity (i.e., pay increase based on time in the service), promotion, or cost of living, or really anything else ... take 1/2 of the pay bump and enjoy it as extra spending money (Pay me now) and take the other 1/2 of the pay bump and increase your TSP contributions!
Trust me - if you get the money taken out up front, you'll never rely on it and because of that you'll never miss it.
If you make the military a career (or even if you don't!), you will be thanking your previous self for doing the investing.
To this day, I say a word of thanks to (then) Captain Charlie Torok - he's the guy that got me started on savings and yes, my present day self is very thankful that my young 2LT self listened to Charlie when he gave me that advice.
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As an AIT instructor I got this all the time. I'm sure you are going to be nervous but try to remember that everyone has had a first duty station and everyone there will be as helpful as possible because everyone there knows the feeling of going to another country for the first time so most soldiers will be empathetic. When you get there people will try to hold your hand through your inprocessing and your daily duties should be clear. No one wants to see you fail. There is so much to do in Korea so go experience it, just don't do anything that can get you in trouble. Again, the things that can get you in trouble will be stated clearly. You're going to have a great time and I hope this experience gives you the bug to continue to travel because there is alot to see out there and the Army can help you see it. Good luck.
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Korea is a GREAT assignment! Everything Col Cudworth is correct. I spent 13.5 months there and more TDY time that all together exceeded the 13.5 months. Travel - get away from the post, as it is a different world. What I liked about oversees assignments is that the units are tighter. It makes learning faster. Take advantage of every cultural outreach program. The Korean people are friendly and generally enjoy foreigners. Remember you are a guest in their country treat it and the people with respect. Take the time to learn the cultural and a little history and some of the language. On the practical side - when you try a food you are unfamiliar with decide if you like before you ask what it is. Even then you may only want to know its name. Also it the Food has red flakes in it it is HOT. If you do get something to hot eat rice not any liquid as that just makes it worse. Have a great first assignment!
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