How hard would it be to get Korea again after my stabilization period has ended?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 22:54:34 -0400

I switched from the NG to AD in 2017 and ended up going to Korea. I extended in Korea another year and I PCS'd in Sept. 2019 to Ft. Lewis and went to the 62nd Medical Brigade. I reenlisted January 2020 for 4 years for an 18-month stabilization. My current ETS date is Feb 2024 and I want to finish out my last 2 years in Korea and I plan on working as a GS civilian over there because my wife is Korean and it would be nice to be there. I'm thinking about asking my branch manager (for 68W) for Korea again once my stabilization period ends in July of 2021. What are the odds that I'm able to go back to Korea and do you have any tips on how to finagle my way back over there?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2020 11:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 23:00:41 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I believe all you have to do is volunteer

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jul 16 at 2020 11:03 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 23:03:59 -0400

I think all you have to do is throw your sandwich clamp in the air and volunteer to your branch manager.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 17 at 2020 12:54 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 00:54:36 -0400

With as many people as do not want to go to the ROK, I bet you can go now if you want to.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jul 17 at 2020 9:24 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 09:24:36 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member you may want to look at your GS Civilian Plan. They were capped at 5year tours. Extensions were three star approval level as the thinking was that if they basically stayed there, they would become part of the problem. Also they tamped down on people basically job sharing, where a GS employee would have a wink wink process to choose their successor, who would then tag them back in at the end of five years. So two guys would trade back and forth. My Garrison Commander has to break this chain with one particularly incompetent director.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2020 1:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 13:04:23 -0400

You won't be able to leave JBLM until you've served three years here. You can certainly go back with no issue, branch managers are always struggling to find someone to fill the spot

Response by SGT Brian Ewing made Jul 19 at 2020 12:44 AM

SGT Brian Ewing — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 00:44:17 -0400

Tell them you want to go to Europe or you want to stay where you are now. They'll send you to Korea for sure then.