Posted on Aug 29, 2018
How can I get my orders to Korea deleted or changed?
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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.
Re-enlistment
79S: Career Counselor
PCS
New Assignment
South Korea
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 46
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SSG (Join to see) 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 (Join to see) 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.
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.
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SSG (Join to see)
That’s great advice Sir. That’s where the wife and I are right now. If we can get them changed, cool, if we can get an accompanied tour, even better. But we are prepared for the worse case scenario, I go serve and come back. I think everyone would try to fight to keep their family together, but also prepared to answer the call of duty. Thank you again for your input sir.
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SFC Larry Jones
LTC Jason Mackay, I was at Ft. Irwin from May 82 to May 84. My next door and a lot of my other neighbors were OPFOR. I know exactly how cushy y'all had it. Let me see, dust for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a constant snack at all other times. Sleep? What's that? And when you do get to sleep, you may have to share your bed, whatever it is, with some critters you can really do without. When you do get to go home, your dog growls at you because he doesn't recognize you. If you have kids, they say, "Mommy, who's that strange man coming in the door and why is he sleeping in your bed?" Sounds like your Branch Manager could have used an assignment there himself, ha ha. Blessings to you and your family.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SFC Larry Jones - so I do everything the hard way. I showed up at Irwin single and left married. When I dated my wife, the women she worked with thought I was made up, until a Company event lined up with a 4 day weekend.
Her Mom thought I had mono. We would roll in from the field on TD14, I'd go to Regimental Call, sleep it off, then roll to her house for the 4 day. I'd sleep for like 20 hours.
I killed a tarantula with a tool box downrange...best story is my MST Chief cutting a coyote out of our camo net.
My branch manager got the last laugh....he's a General now.
Her Mom thought I had mono. We would roll in from the field on TD14, I'd go to Regimental Call, sleep it off, then roll to her house for the 4 day. I'd sleep for like 20 hours.
I killed a tarantula with a tool box downrange...best story is my MST Chief cutting a coyote out of our camo net.
My branch manager got the last laugh....he's a General now.
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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.
However, you can apply for command sponsorship and bring your family for two years.
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SFC Bob Johnson
SPC Javontae Eaddy - Depends on where you get stationed really; I was like many before (and sure many after) who heard all of the horror stories of being stationed in Korea. However, once I arrived and was settled into my unit and started to explore explore the country, I found that the Koreans were awesome and very accommodating and that was in 1997. The last time I was there (I ended going over three times) was in 2009 and I ended up being command sponsored and actually saw how much effort the military had put into trying to make the assignment one that troops request instead of decline. BLUF, any assignment is all in what you make it and the attitude that you carry; if you don’t like the assignment or unit, make the most of it until you can PCS doing things like furthering yourself and preparing for the eventual time that you transition back into being a civilian. This can be done through education, experience or training. If you’re overloaded with debt and are stateside (and your command will support you in it) get a part-time job to pay off your debt. I hope that my rambling has helped, just remember the best assignment you will ever have is always the one you just left.
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
I was Camp Casey - 9 miles from the DMZ - I would have gone back in a heart-beat. 2AG was as different as night/day from Stateside, but I loved it.
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
SSG (Join to see) - It took me 11 mos to actually receive my orders. I knew that long ahead of time because of my team and our raport with the other team. I was at Casey 76-77 and even then we had "married barracks" back behind ours. My ex and l lived in the Ville (TDC) - but he was also AD and was assigned to Camp Hovey - up the mountain from us. 1/9 inf.
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SPC (Join to see)
I heard all the horror stories about being stationed in South Korea back in the 1980's and dreaded it at first. It turned out to be better than I was told and I wish I could have stayed longer. I have a lot of respect toward the good people of South Korea. I used to spend more time off post than on by getting to know them. It was a great experience.
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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!
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SGM (Join to see)
Depending on the location and the command you are going into, you could be approved Command Spondorship. EFMP screening is a requirement for all family members. If your have no EFMP members, it is just a routine check.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SSG (Join to see) - exceptional family member program (EFMP). If you don't know what it I is, you likely don't have an issue. EFMP tracks families with members that have special medical requirements, helps you get services/treatment, and ensures they don't assign your family (notice I said family) to an area where there is no civilian or military treatment for your EFMP issue(s).
That check is between the losing and gaining medical system to ensure that your family will be able to live there without issue.
The output of the EFMP check is a one page form. You can get it done at EACH.
That check is between the losing and gaining medical system to ensure that your family will be able to live there without issue.
The output of the EFMP check is a one page form. You can get it done at EACH.
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