How can I get my orders to Korea deleted or changed?

2018-08-29T13:54:39-04:00

I just received orders to Korea. To be frank, I don’t want to go. My wife and I just had our first baby, and I get it “everyone has families“, I should “suck it up and go”, I “chose to be in the army”. I get it, but if there’s away that I can stay with my wife and daughter I want to do it. I’m sure Korea is fun and traveling is great, but I personally feel that it’s not worth it if you can’t share it with family. I am coming up on my second re-enlistment period, I’ve been at my current station for 5 years, I wouldn’t mind going anywhere else that is accompanied. Is there anyway to get my orders changed, or deleted? Everyone has different experiences, and I value everyones input, and thank you all.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2018 2:05 PM

2018-08-29T14:05:31-04:00

You have almost no chance of having your orders deleted, especially from Korea. Literally every single person who comes on assignment for Korea calls their branch manager and tells them they don't want to go to Korea. You also cannot reenlist for a duty station or Reclass when you're on assignment.
However, you can apply for command sponsorship and bring your family for two years.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2018 2:31 PM

2018-08-29T14:31:08-04:00

As estated on the previous comment, you should apply for command sponsorship as soon as possible. You need to do this during your Levy process. While you are waiting for that to happen, make an appointment at hospital for an EFMP screening for your dependents. Don’t wait!

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Aug 29 at 2018 5:25 PM

2018-08-29T17:25:01-04:00

As far as I know you can talk to your branch manager at DA but you chances are pretty slim getting it changed. I went to Korea roughly 90 days after returning from an 8 month deployment to Desert Shield/Storm. It wasn't what I wanted to do but I did my time and came home.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2018 5:31 PM

2018-08-29T17:31:27-04:00

Request command sponsorship, then your family can accompany you but your tour will be two years.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Aug 29 at 2018 6:01 PM

2018-08-29T18:01:59-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I know where you are coming from. I had been married for about 10 months when I received the great news that I would be serving overseas in the Land of the Early morning calm, unaccompanied. I sat down with my Branch Manager to talk it over. I was informed that I had been sitting on my ass in CONUS (stationed at Ft Irwin, OPFOR 11months/year in the field sitting on my ass...) and I needed to get to Korea. Assignment turned out to be pretty good professionally. I got to Command a Company really early. Moral to the story: if you can't get out of it, you might as well get into it. SFC Private RallyPoint Member comment is pretty spot on. The only alternative would be to volunteer for something your branch manager needs filled worse.

Realistically, I would start working a command sponsored tour, meaning you would be accompanied. If that doesn't work out: get in, hit it, and get out. Take your mid tour leave 2/3 of the way through, so when you come back, you change hand receipt and then bounce. I had my wife come visit at Christmas. I got there in September, saw her in December, saw her again on leave in July, and I was on my way home in October (extended 30 days to get 13 months in command). Don't fall for the bait of command sponsorship on the tail end of the assignment although you could get an incentive for a COT. Because you are coming from Korea, you will have more leverage where you go afterward. You will also be off the radar for overseas assignment for a while. Get your KDSM and move on.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2018 6:54 PM

2018-08-29T18:54:22-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member when you find out, let me know. In all seriousness though, I recently just got projections to Korea as well. The paperwork I received (I forget the exact form) has a block on it for you to check if you are single, married accompanied or married unaccompanied. You are going no matter what but you can pick 1 year (married unaccompanied) or 2 (married accompanied). I'm just gonna suck it up and do the 1 year tour and put it behind me as fast as possible. Good luck and if you end up going to Carrol, look me up, first beer is on me!

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Aug 29 at 2018 8:27 PM

2018-08-29T20:27:33-04:00

Your chances are slim to none unless you decline and that is a bad Idea. VERY BAD IDEA!!!!! My sugestion is to get with your branch manager ASAP and begin a command sponsorship. Other wise do your one year and try to request a good follow up assignament afterwards.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2018 8:56 PM

2018-08-29T20:56:14-04:00

Have you applied for Command Sponsorship?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 29 at 2018 10:22 PM

2018-08-29T22:22:35-04:00

1. Have you even checked about requesting concurrent travel/command sponsorship of your family? 2. Have you even looked into requesting getting changed into an accompanied tour? Instead of asking us for hankies. You have on approx. 6 yrs or so, it used to be retention would not let an E4 go over 8 yrs. Have you been to the board yet, or does the unit feel that you are not NCO material. If that is the case, then you would not have enough service time left for an accompanied tour.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2018 10:58 PM

2018-08-29T22:58:54-04:00

Volunteer for SFAB. One of my soldiers came down on orders to Korea not long ago and he requested to go to SFAB. He went and then got his orders changed from Korea to Ft Bragg. Best of luck to you.

Response by SGT Ernest Huerta made Aug 29 at 2018 11:22 PM

2018-08-29T23:22:57-04:00

Served 13 months in Korea (29 Dec 1965-19 Jan 1967). The 2nd Inf. Div. AO went from Camp Howze
(Div. HQs.) in the south to the DMZ north (north of the Imjin River). One Bde. was north of river Two Bdes. south. Two bridges crossed the Imjin in 2nd AO, "Liberty Bridge" and "Freedom Bridge". Spent one night "Up North" (Jan-Feb 1966) when the 4/7th Arm. Cav. did a night march (black-out lights) on road parallel to DMZ, and in small spaced out groups. The 2nd MP Co. provided armed security points the whole length. Armistice Commission Regs, allowed NATO forces to conduct these (prior notice) operations BUT said units weren't allowed to have AMMO!. My team consisted of an NCO, 5 EM & a Deuce/half trk. We were armed with M-14s, basic load and .45 Cal. pistols. It was a cold, black night & snowing. The NK had large speakers that played music & propaganda messages. Weird. Was taking my turn warming in cab (NCO never got out) & others standing in front of trk. radiator catching war air., only helmets visible.
Suddenly & all at once the helmets disappeared and I could see "forms" advancing straight at us. Bailed out and joined the chorus of M-14 bolts sliding forward. SGT turned on headlights and the
forms started waving their arms. Lights out. Turned out they were a Div. Recon/Ambush team who
thought we were their ride. They walked abreast, NO POINT or security. Learned much later GIs
were killed by NK ambush, mines, etc. more often than anyone back in the world ever knew. Vietnam
had all the attention.
Today, S. Korea is like being HERE. Even the prices are the same. Don't know why ANYONE would
want to avoid duty there. It's not Iraq or Afghanistan, that's for sure!
I served 3 years in the Nam after Korea. Nicer climate.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 30 at 2018 6:40 AM

2018-08-30T06:40:00-04:00

Simply apply for a change of station, not even remotely likely to happen. How sure are you that your tour is not accompanied anyway? Thank you for your service.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2018 9:53 AM

2018-08-30T09:53:53-04:00

SGT Martin Cardenas,
I didn't really want to read all of the responses, so if I'm being redundant here then disregard. Based on webedas you are coded as priority #3 out of 5, so with #1 meaning (hell no not a chance) priority #3 means you have a shot. First, do not say you want to delete your orders due to the family thing you mentioned above. Certainly, a situation most of us can relate with, that will not work in your favor with approval process. Best advice i can offer is to find a different job that is in demand for what you do and volunteer or think hard about a solid excuse. I hope that helps, good luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2018 9:53 AM

2018-08-30T09:53:54-04:00

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Aug 30 at 2018 10:37 AM

2018-08-30T10:37:58-04:00

Just be glad it's not one of those bullshit Korea "deployments" they've been sending entire Brigades on.

Response by SFC James Heath made Aug 30 at 2018 1:49 PM

2018-08-30T13:49:58-04:00

Soldier, everybody goes somewhere sometime. Face it, it is your turn to go overseas. You did not mention a valid reason for non deployment, therefore you sound like a whiner that wants to be close to momie.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2018 2:01 PM

2018-08-30T14:01:24-04:00

Sign a Dec statement.

Response by SSG Louis Ritter made Aug 31 at 2018 6:15 PM

2018-08-31T18:15:53-04:00

Korea was one of the best times in my career. I didn't want to go but when I got there, I made the best of it. My leadership skills got stronger and I got to serve with some of the best of the best!

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Sep 4 at 2018 2:18 AM

2018-09-04T02:18:21-04:00

The be a man and suck it up rrally does apply here. Not wanting to be too harsh, it's a one year tour (unaccompanied), everyone gets one or two. Yes your family doesn't go with you unless you volunteered to go accompanied. It will be especially tough since you're having your first child. If your MOS allows you to trade with some one in your MOS, and he/she has orders to somewhere that is accompanied, that would be the way to go. Talk with your company first sgt to see what you can. There's no promising he'll be sympathectic, but it's worth a try. My ex got orders to Iceland unaccompanied for a year and I was at home with two children (ages 3 &1). We were both in USAF at the time and she tried to get me up there for an accompanied tour. Didn't happen. Again sorry to be so hard on you in the begining, but it's one of the negatives in military life. Best of luck.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Sep 4 at 2018 8:23 AM

2018-09-04T08:23:39-04:00

If you don't want to go my first instinct is you need to ETS. However if you are due for Reenlistment check with your Reenlistment NCO and Try to Reenlist for duty of choice.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 9:38 AM

2018-09-05T09:38:50-04:00

Ask Branch about the possibilities of taking your dependents. I feel your frustration brother. I got married and two months after I was on my way to Afghanistan with zero options. If not, it is important that you assist your wife in establishing a good support system to facilitate this transition. Take every opportunity to visit eachother. A year goes by pretty quick. You have to mentally think about the positive (i.e. goals, money, and etc.). Go to school!

Response by SGT Cort Landry made Sep 6 at 2018 9:12 AM

2018-09-06T09:12:41-04:00

Not sure if this applies, but I was on orders to go to Korea in 1995. I asked my retention NCO if there was a way for me to refuse assignment to Korea. He told I could but I would lose my promote status, forfeiture of reenlistment. I ended up going to Korea, losing my marriage while there and then ETSing out after my stint in Korea. I hope this helps. The Army supposedly promotes family and all that but when it comes to mission and soldier numbers, not so much. I am not sure if this works in today's Army.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Sep 6 at 2018 10:09 AM

2018-09-06T10:09:04-04:00

I think maybe you should consider separating. There is absolutely no shame in it at all. You have a family now and it sounds like they are a major priority to you. Military service is going to make it so you are frequently away from your family. If not Korea then deployments, tdys, etc. It's not for everyone, and frankly, families often suffer A LOT from military life. There's absolutely nothing wrong with making the decision to be close to your family and work a civilian job. You'll always be a Vet and that is honorable --but you have to do what is right for you and your family.

Response by SFC Mark Bailey made Sep 10 at 2018 6:40 PM

2018-09-10T18:40:03-04:00

Came down on orders for Korea six months before retirement, actually on orders to retire, and still came down on orders....Retirement Branch actually had to step in and get it deleted.

Response by MSG Justin Kuchar made Sep 12 at 2018 11:17 PM

2018-09-12T23:17:49-04:00

If you are five years stateside, you are due OCONUS PCS depending on MOS density/needs.

Response by CPL David Gutierrez made Sep 19 at 2018 12:35 AM

2018-09-19T00:35:15-04:00

Korea is not as it used to be, i was there in the 90's and took my family with me. Enjoy the overseas experience and exposure to other cultures.

Response by SFC Larry Jones made Sep 23 at 2018 5:48 PM

2018-09-23T17:48:00-04:00

Other than praying for a miracle, I don't have any suggestions. You didn't say how close your ETS is. You could allow your enlistment to expire, then go into the Reserves to maintain contact with the military//work toward retirement if that is what you want to do. Understand, I have been retired for 23 years, so I am way out of touch with how things work now. During my time, I did one overseas tour, Germany, and my first three months there without my wife and two small children almost killed me, so I can certainly empathized with you on that count. How did I only do one overseas tour? Well, my next assignment was Ft. Irwin. I had been there a year when I volunteered for recruiting. It took a year for those orders to come through. I did well, was asked to stay, and did so. I don't recommend doing that. Some people have a blast. I got severely injured, had a change in CoC, and everything went to you know where. I finally had to bluntly explain to the BN Commander that instead of wasting money on a PCS for me, he needed to help me retire. Lo behold, two months later, after a much needed MEB, I was out, retiring only four months later than I had originally planned to when I started BCT in May 1975. Dos les bendigan, sargento.

Response by Capt Jose R made Sep 24 at 2018 9:54 PM

2018-09-24T21:54:59-04:00

Perhaps you could see if you could get orders changed from 1 year short tour without family to 2 year tour with family. If not possible, think of it as a deployment where you are a lot less likely to get hurt/injured. It's a lot better than living in a tent or CONEX box in 120 degree desert heat.

Make the most of the opportunity-99% of Americans either don't qualify for military or don't get the opportunity to travel the world and get paid to do it.

Response by Sgt Thomas Proctor made Oct 3 at 2018 9:51 PM

2018-10-03T21:51:33-04:00

Not to sound ugly but as they would say in the old Army, "Stop pissing and moaning, accept the assignment and make the best of it". I was in Korea 1962-1963 on a remote assignment, P.Y.Do Island, The Rock in the Yellow Sea up on the 38th parallel. We lived in quantset huts, slept on WWII bunks no AC and oil heaters for heat in winter, had to sleep under mosquito nets to keep out the mosquitoes and frogs and a central shower in the middle of the compound. Everything had to be at least 4 inches off the floor because when the monsoons came, the water came in the back door of the hooch and ran out the front door, could not wear civies when outside the compound. You will probably have the privilege to live in a barracks with private rooms and bath, nice dinning and recreation facilities. Take the assignment and enjoy because you may not pass this way again.

korea

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2018 11:11 PM

2018-10-05T23:11:50-04:00

Volunteer for the sfab it's the army priority right now.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2018 9:21 AM

2018-10-06T09:21:33-04:00

You can ask branch to accompanied tour to Korea but that’s a two year deal instead of one

Response by MSgt Brian Williams made Oct 6 at 2018 12:33 PM

2018-10-06T12:33:18-04:00

Does the Army allow people to swap assignments. If A wanted to go to Japan but had orders to Korea and B had orders to Korea but wanted to go to Japan with everything being equal (rank etc) could they swap?

Response by SFC Bob Johnson made Oct 8 at 2018 10:23 AM

2018-10-08T10:23:44-04:00

SGT Cardenas,

First, congratulations on the birth of your Daughter and your desire to be the best Father possible, that’s a commendable thing. In regards to your orders and assignment to Korea... The first step would be not to listen to all of the negativity that everyone seems to have; however, talk it over with your Wife and then as a couple, make a choice on your assignment, she may surprise you and say, please go... The next step would obviously be to contact your assignment manager and schedule a time that you, your Wife and the assignment manager could speak by phone so that the best decision possible can be made. BLUF; although SFC Boyd is partly correct, the 22-years and 14 assignments (3 of which were in Korea) I had tells me to talk to your assignment manager, sometimes assignments can be deferred, deleted or maintained. But, it starts with talking to your assignment manager. What is your MOS?

Response by SSgt Michael Bowen made Oct 14 at 2018 6:18 PM

2018-10-14T18:18:52-04:00

I don't think GOD takes Requests for orders changes but you can give it a try . LOL

Response by SSG Brian G. made Oct 22 at 2018 10:29 AM

2018-10-22T10:29:53-04:00

Nope, short of you screwing your military career up or knowing someone like secdef or secarmy that would be compelled to pull those strings you have no option but to go.

I get it, you have a new family and you want to be there and spend time with them but you signed the dotted line and you have a willing obligation to the Army and the nation to do your duty and go.

Now, that said, no you cannot get your orders deleted or changed but you might, MIGHT be able to swap with another troop. But BOTH of you have to be willing to do this, if they even still allow such a move.

Response by SGT Law Marshall made Oct 26 at 2018 9:27 PM

2018-10-26T21:27:51-04:00

I can relate to this myself. I came down on orders for Korea in 2000 while serving at Ft Bliss, I was freshly married 1 year at the time. I took a temporary job of orderly room Nco. The orderly room was trashed sqaured it up. When the orders came down my commander came to me and asked if I wanted to go, in other words he would have gotten me out of it. I was a hard charger back then and told him I wanted to go and I would reenlist over there and come back. After getting over there reporting to Camp Casey 2-9 Inf, I wish I would have took my commander up on that offer Korea was the worse country I was stationed at. A true hell on earth and insult to injury when I reenlisted I was never able to get back to Ft Bliss.

Response by PO2 Thomas Bodine made Oct 29 at 2018 8:39 AM

2018-10-29T08:39:19-04:00

When I was finishing Radar "C" school,
I had orders to the Kitty Hawk which was stationed in San Francisco, since I wanted to go over seas. I simply found someone in my school with orders to the Midway, who wanted to stay stateside. We called the detailer and had the orders switched.

Response by PO1 Alan Sparks made Nov 13 at 2018 11:04 AM

2018-11-13T11:04:09-05:00

Navy here, things may have changed, but we were issued orders 6-9 months prior to our rotation date. Once you got to six months from transfer you were pretty stuck, prior to that, it was possible if you caught your detailor on a good day. However, it would be unusual for a PO1 in the Navy to do this. I don't know if Soldiers are allowed to directly contact there datailing branch, but if it was me, providing it was allowed, I would write them an old fashioned letter, and plead your case. Either they will, or, they won't.

Response by LCDR Kirk Chandler made Nov 15 at 2018 10:16 PM

2018-11-15T22:16:34-05:00

Korea is a great experience. It is the easiest of the 7th Fleet experiences (sorry I am Navy). The Koreans want us to be there, but still have detention among the younger population. No matter what the Koreans are respectful, kind, and welcoming (unless you are a JN). It is easy to travel any where from Korea or have others come to you. Please call if you have questions. V/R, (LCDR Kirk Chandler, now a civilian) [login to see] (c)

Response by MSgt Mario De Souza made Nov 16 at 2018 1:47 AM

2018-11-16T01:47:40-05:00

This may sound harsh but I grew up hearing the following statement “ if the military wanted you to have a wife and family, they would have issued you one”. I guess it’s a different military now a days. My suggestion is this: you signed up to serve in this country’s military. Nobody coerced you. So if you don’t want to go to Korea and you happen to get out of it, then the next time you have orders to some other place you don’t want to go, you may start whining also. Imagine if the whole military decided they didn’t want to go to Korea, what would happen then? Suck it up! Korea is not a bad place.
By the way, if you guys just had a baby, this is the best time to go because your daughter will not remember you being gone. The older the kids get the harder it is for them. I have saidcmy peace.

Response by MAJ Keith FitzPatrick, CPIM, CSCP made Nov 18 at 2018 1:23 PM

2018-11-18T13:23:47-05:00

I know where you are coming from, but if you don’t go then someone else will separated from their family. In the Army, everyone must share the hardships. Do your part and go to Korea.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Nov 25 at 2018 8:38 PM

2018-11-25T20:38:31-05:00

Impossible. You enlisted and that is the way it goes. We all get unaccompanied tours. Just like me in 1970. You are fortunate that you are not going to Afghanistan.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2018 4:27 PM

2018-12-12T16:27:03-05:00

It’s much easier to get command sponsorship these days than in the past and I highly recomend any Soldier going strongly consider bringing your family, In the past korea for Soldiers had earned a bad reputation but it’s not that way, it’s a a very family friendly country with many things for young families to see and do. It’s the mentality of the Soldiers that see it as a place to endulge in the Villes and the environment closest to the camps that is just there to make money off of the Soldiers. But when you get out on the economy and experience the country you’ll see this is a great place to be assigned.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2018 6:28 PM

2018-12-13T18:28:43-05:00

I got out of Korea; How?
I went Airborne.

They pushed me out to Bragg instead. If you have the option and really need to get Korea off of your orders, see if it's a possibility.

Telling Soldiers to "suck it up" when it might mean losing their families or missing out on vital development periods in their children's lives...? For the sake of tact, I'll just say that this sort of mentality doesn't exactly motivate troops to go the extra mile to make you look good. If we can help, then let's make the effort to do so and set the right example in the process.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Dec 14 at 2018 11:13 PM

2018-12-14T23:13:25-05:00

Family will still be there when you return. You took an oath, got your orders, now, fulfill your obligation. You would not be complaining so much I think if this were a remote/isolated assignment. Korea is a great place and you should be glad for the opportunity to see it on your uncle's (SAM) dime. I see your issue as more of a I don't want family the baby's first Christmas to be away from home. Young man, you paid your nickle and this is what you got. Suck it up and go.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2018 12:03 AM

2018-12-16T00:03:20-05:00

For any wondering, I have not received official orders to Korea, I am working on a command sponsorship to have my family join me on my tour, also I am planning on applying for the SFAB because it seems to be a good career choice for me. Thanks for everyone’s input, some of you were were very helpful i appreciated everyone’s help.