PCSing to Korea (15Q)

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:31:46 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2014 5:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 May 2014 17:24:18 -0400

PV2 Kempt,

Congratulations on your new assignment! Do you know your projected unit yet? I'll be PCSing to an ATC unit near Camp Humphreys this fall.

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Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 10:11 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 10:11:12 -0400

Korea is a great place. It's better if you do more than drink throughout the weekends. I Start college. Purchase a KDSM (authorized for wear after 30 days) and OSR (authorized after 11 months). Also, figure out whether you want to AIP (Assignment Incentive Program) to stay for an extra year quickly before you get projections on your ERB. Once projections hit your ERB, its an instant uphill battle to try to stay. I can offer more info, but as SPC Shelby said, you should look to find out what unit you're PCSing to. Feel free to reply with further questions you have.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 1:09 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 13:09:44 -0400

I appreciate all the advice. Once I find out what unit I'm going to, I'll post it. But right now I'm still waiting for a response from my sponsor

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 5:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 17:08:22 -0400

I am also on orders to Humphries. I will hit in January. Not sure what to expect. Sponsorship is slow going and I am leaving my wife and sons at Fort Drum. But I am looking forward to the cultural experience and education. Plus moving from a TDA assignment back to a line unit is much overdue.

Response by CPL Corey Aldridge made May 17 at 2014 6:49 PM

CPL Corey Aldridge — Sat, 17 May 2014 18:49:37 -0400

Korea is a good duty station if you use your time productively. If you spend your free time drunk you will be miserable

Response by MSgt David Mata made May 17 at 2014 7:29 PM

MSgt David Mata — Sat, 17 May 2014 19:29:02 -0400

1. Stay away from Soju on your "Green Bean."
2. Do not patronize "juicy" Girls.
3. Make sure to see the DMZ (World's dangerous golf course)
4. Try the Food, especially the Kimchi / Bulgogi
5. Enjoy your surroundings and take it all in; these will be some of the best days of your life...

Good Luck and God Speeed, Sean...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 9:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 21:01:11 -0400

PV2 Kempt: 1) What's the fastest way to make SPC? Go to Korea a SGT.

2) You either love or hate Kimchee. Me, I love it as long as it's fresh.

3) KATUSA's (Korean Soldier who are attached to the US Military for training and duty - the acronym means "Korean Augmentee To United States Army) can be your best friend when trying to learn about their culture. They can ALSO be the ones who get you in trouble.

4) It's been a while since I was last there, but the quickest way to get into trouble there, is to bust curfew. If they still have curfew make sure you're on base in time. In some places, you can stay out so long as you're in a hotel or residence by curfew time, but as a PV2, that's not likely.

5) Stay away from the juicy girls (those are the girls at the club who get you to buy them a "juice" - which is just that - juice - no alcohol in it). The reason they do that, is they get you to pay $10-$15 for a drink for them (the "juice" again) and that increases profits for the bar. They don't see much, if any, of that profit! Plus, a lot of them are there unwillingly. You'll get that whole brief when you in process.

6) Korea is a great place to learn how to ski or snowboard if you don't know how. Make sure you take advantage of that.

7) There is a mud-fest there in the summer - the beaches there are not the greatest, but they have this one where the whole beach is mud and they have a festival there - I don't remember when it is, but I do remember it was a blast. Take some leave to do that if they'll let you.

8) Last, if you are not coming home for mid-tour, go visit Japan, Vietnam, or China! Tickets are cheap and as long as you haven't blown all your cash drinking every weekend, you'll have a great time and something extra to remember when you get as old as I am.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made May 17 at 2014 9:48 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Sat, 17 May 2014 21:48:56 -0400

Enjoy the trip PV2 K. It is a beautiful country, culture is a bit different, but like any other country, they are all different to us on our first visit. I spent two months there in 86, but sadly it was not the warmest time of the year, especially near the DMZ.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 10:34 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 22:34:24 -0400

It is great that you are getting the opportunity to travel to Korea, particularly early in your career. One of the greatest benefits I have enjoyed from my service is travel. I have been to Korea, Malaysia, Country of Georgia, a smattering of European countries and a tour of the various Stans.

Interesting thing about Korea is that it is largely populated by Koreans. My experience found that the people were genuinely warm and respectful. Take the opportunity to lean some rudimentary Korean now then commit to learning at least one new word per day. You will be fluent by the time you leave.

Kimchee. Ah yes. Never had it before I went to Korea. Could not have breakfast without it while I was there.

Soju is a Korean word that translates to "Soju want to wake up in an alley feeling like Kim Jung Il's uncle." Be warned. Soju tastes like water but feels like a hammer.

Take advantage of the public transportation. From Red Cloud, you can take a train to Seoul and instantly be in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world.

Great opportunity. Take advantage of it. Visit the DMZ and enjoy your time there.

Response by SPC Kara Sport made Jun 1 at 2014 12:25 PM

SPC Kara Sport — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 12:25:08 -0400

Enjoy the country, there is so much more to it than the bars and clubs. I was further north at Camp Casey and traveled to the Seoul area as often as possible to explore. And you must visit the DMZ, it is a bit of a shock but shows you just WHY we are there.

Be prepared for Monsoon season. It will be a mess and a lot of clean up could be involved afterwards. I don't know about Humphreys but Casey flooded often.