Osan AB in South Korea was not even on my radar when my husband had orders drop. We had just passed our two-year mark at Nellis AFB, a known black hole of a base, when he got the notification that he had an assignment. I was newly pregnant (we had found out the day before) and stunned.
Hang around any military spouse group on Facebook long enough and you’ll see it. The fear and loathing towards those deemed unfortunate for obtaining orders to the ROK. When I first told people, I was met with apologies and sympathy. For the first two days after hearing the news, I did what any hormonal pregnant spouse would do. I ate a lot of chocolate and cried.
Of course, it could be worse (Why not Minot?). But orders to Korea unaccompanied meant I would be spending the next year raising my daughter on my own. It meant my husband would be missing out on the precious milestones of our firstborn. It meant moving back home across the country by myself. At the time, it all seemed devastating.
Then, I picked myself back up and did what I always do any time we have orders; I ate more chocolate and researched.
Going to Korea on a command sponsored tour was not unfamiliar to me. However, my husband was an A1C at the time, and the chances of obtaining that sponsorship seemed on par with our chances of winning the lottery.
However, researching about it also led me to discover another, and dare I say better option: Going to Osan AB Non-command sponsored.
What is a non-command sponsored dependent?
Non-command sponsorship has been around for a long time. However, it just recently started gaining more notoriety over the last few years. It offers spouses the opportunity to join their military servicemember at Osan AB with a few conditions and differences from those granted the sponsorship.
While looking up the facts surrounding Non-CSP, as it is sometimes referred to, I came across some interesting things that would ultimately lead me to make the move that would change my life forever.
First, I found that the majority of those spouses and families who accompanied their service member to Korea, whether on a sponsored package or not, loved the experience. In fact, many were quoted saying it was their favorite base and that they wish they could go back. The more I looked, the more I saw this sentiment repeated over and over again. It was one that I would eventually be saying myself after our own tour ended.
Second, the majority of those who turned their nose up at the idea of going to Osan AB to others, had never actually been there themselves. They may have had husbands who had gone previously unaccompanied, known someone who had, or even visited. But most of them had never lived there. Yet, here they were telling others, like my scared pregnant self, what a horrible base it was.
Crazy, right?
Third, and perhaps most important, I discovered that there are so many misconceptions and wrong information floating around out there about going to Korea non-command sponsored. This tends to scare a lot of people away and if you are thinking about going, your decision should be based on accurate information.
So get your facts straight from the source and do your research! Check out the official non and command sponsorship regulation here.
After all was said and done, I was not only encouraged but excited. My mind was made up. I was going to Osan with my husband non-command sponsored. After a few months of planning, saving, stress, and delivering a baby; me, my husband, our two-month-old daughter, two dogs, and cat arrived in Seoul, South Korea.
It was June of 2013 and the next year would turn out to be one of the best years of my life. It has been almost four years since we’ve returned. Not a day has gone by that we don’t wish we could go back, and have actively tried. Even now, stationed in literal oceanside paradise, I would be ecstatic to get orders back to Korea.
So, whether your spouse is over there now, thinking about volunteering, or just received orders to PCS to Korea unaccompanied, I’m here to ease your mind and give you 9 solid reasons why you should start packing your bags and join the adventure!
1. Osan AB an amazing base for families
What? Osan? Family-friendly? Despite what you may have heard about Osan’s seedier past, or about the dangerous neighbors up north, or even about other bases around Korea, firsthand experience says that the Air Force has worked very diligently to clean up the Ville (the small downtown area right off base) and to make it a place that Airman and their families could enjoy.
In fact, the first day that we arrived at Osan in 2013 happened to coincide with the decision to ban all “juicies” (foreign “escorts”) from the Songtan/Ville area, and to mark any establishments that employ (and I use this term loosely as many may have been trafficked) these individuals off-limits to Airman, essentially putting them out of business.
Other than occasional sightings of the infamous Songtan Sally, consider Osan Air Base a juicy-free zone.
In addition, the Ville is filled with restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Korean culture is the absolute best when it comes to having young children and they love to give free trinkets and toys away to the kids who come to their shops.
Actually, one of my favorite things about Korea in general is how family-friendly it is. Kid cafés are scattered all around Osan and the rest of Korea and provide hours of fun for your kids for a few dollars. Seriously, I wish the U.S. had more of these.
Check out this amazing Tayo themed Kid Café in Seoul to get an idea:
2. It can be a money maker
Oftentimes, dependents may decide to move back home when their spouse is deployed, in part to save money. This is common practice during Korean tours as well.
However, going to Korea non-command sponsored can allow you to save and make a lot of money. While it is true non-CSP families will be paying for their plane tickets, this is where the major out-of-pocket expenses stop.
Non-command sponsored families are entitled to OHA, utilities allowance, COLA (at a single-rate), and in some cases, a moving allowance. They also have the luxury of being allowed to live off-base, which in my opinion is way nicer than living in one of the towers on base.
Korea is light years ahead of us in technology and their cost of living is a lot cheaper. This grants you the opportunity to snag a beautiful, upgraded and fully furnished apartment for your OHA.
Although my husband was an A1C when we arrived in Korea, his OHA still allowed us a nice 3 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment that was five minutes walking distance to the Ville and main gate.
Check out a favorite off-base option, Pasco Apartments, complete with amazing park and amenities to see what the living options are like:
In addition, Korea in general is inexpensive. You want to take the train to Seoul? Cool, the ticket is about $1. Taxi ride to base? $2 and some change. You want to buy a car over there? Cheap, cheap, cheap. And to be honest, you don’t need a car. The public transportation is amazing and everything is within walking distance.
Our decision to forgo having a car while at Osan saved us two car payments, gas money, and insurance payments for a year which added up to a lot of savings by the end of the tour. An added bonus? I dropped that baby weight pretty quickly from walking everywhere!
Also, if you decide you love Korea (and I’m betting you will), your spouse has the option to extend the tour for another two years. Doing so adds an additional $300/month to their paycheck thanks to KAIP (Korea allowance incentive program).
3. South Korea is an amazing country
I didn’t know what to expect before moving to Korea, other than what I saw on the news, which did not portray an accurate picture. In the end, I was blown away by the people, the country, and the culture.
I even wrote an article about it, which you can find here.
In a nutshell, Korea is fun, it’s quirky, and it’s technologically amazing. There is free wi-fi wherever you go. The country has an amazing mix of new advances and historical monuments and temples that blend seamlessly. They are one of the few countries that actually (generally) seems to like Americans.
(Sorry guys, but it’s true. We are known to be loud and obnoxious around the world. Ask your friends stationed in Japan or Italy how we’re perceived there!)
4. Base of preference
Ah the good old BOP. It’s hit or miss, but if you’re command-sponsored you don’t get a choice.
At least for those who are non-command, they will let you fill out a dream sheet and supposedly try to match you with the base you want.
I can tell you that BOP is the reason why my husband and I only stayed for one year and we did get the first choice on the list.
You can read more about our adventures in Alaska here.
I can also tell you that some friends we were stationed with got their first choices as well, mostly dream bases in Europe. Others did not get their BOP and were stationed elsewhere after Korea.
It really is up to the AFPC gods but it’s nice thinking you have a choice, right?
5. It is incredibly safe
It’s amusing watching people’s eyes light up at the mere mention of Korea being a safe country. Yes, I know they have been at war, technically, for over 50 years. Yes, there are tensions at the border. This is why there are base-wide exercises, exit plans for spouses, and why your Airman is being sent there in the first place.
However, living in Korea is a whole different world than how it may be perceived on the news. I cannot tell you how many times family and friends would message us in a panic when we lived there about something that the news had reported. Most of the time, we had no idea anything was even happening.
Because the news is often over-hyped and Koreans just don’t play into that.
Politics aside, the country itself, in terms of crime, is incredibly safe. Kids walk in groups after school, as there are no worries of kidnappings or other heinous nightmares that keep us parents up at night. Car doors are left unlocked, and carts and shops leave their wares out in the open overnight, without fear of theft.
I myself walked home late at night many times without fear or looking over my shoulder as I have been trained to do. I grew up in Chicago and have lived all over this U.S. and I have never felt safer anywhere in my life than I did in Korea.
Don’t just take my word for it though. Korea is consistently ranked one of the safest countries in the world. For instance, SafeAround ranks South Korea as the #23 safest country in the world, much higher on the list than the United States, which comes in at #55.
It was also listed by the online database Numbeo as the country with the lowest rates of crime and highest safety index of any country in the world in 2017.
6. There is so much to do
Osan AB itself has gone above and beyond to make the base family-oriented. There are tons of festivities and activities planned throughout the year. Liberty Fest is the large Fourth of July event that draws crowds of Americans and South Koreans celebrating American independence overseas. There are also concerts, comedy events, and celebrity meet and greets throughout the year.
The base also offers some amazing cultural activities as well. This includes Korean cooking lessons, Korean language lessons, Taikwando lessons for kids, and much more.
Also, the Outdoor Recreation department on base at Osan is top-notch. Some of the group trips they have lined up include overnight backpacking trips up the mountains, kayaking down Seoul’s Han River, paragliding, zip-lining excursions, and they have even offered trips to China in the past.
You can check out their current list of scheduled activities and get more information here.
Outside of the base, Korea is full of fun adventures. Hello, Olympics 2018?
The public transportation system, including the subway system, is easy to navigate and inexpensive. The bullet train offers the opportunity to jump over to Japan or down to Jeju in record time.
The country is also well-known for some pretty epic events, including the Boryeong Mud Festival, the infamous Ultra music festival, and the Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival, to name a few.
Whether you’re going to Korea with or without kids, there is never a lack of things to do and see.
Looking for some more awesome ideas? Be sure to check out: The Best Day Trips From Seoul!
7. It’s a new adventure
Unless you have already been there, Korea, like any new base, is an unknown adventure. Experiencing new things is not only beneficial for our own mental health and well-being, but research shows it can also strengthen relationships.
Many times, I have heard stories of spouses staying behind and realizing too late that they could have gone and probably would have had a great time. Why? Because their spouses get there and see the hundreds of families already established at the base and realize that it is a great place after all.
In 2013, we were one of 300 non-command sponsored families stationed at Osan AB. Since then, that number has risen.
There are lots of employment opportunities
Many spouses also choose to work while living there and Korea has some amazing opportunities for those who wish to do so. If you have a bachelor’s degree, teaching English is a great option and pays very well.
The VIP Kid program, established in China, is a work-from-home option to teach English as well. Although it’s an opportunity you can do from anywhere in the world, living in Korea and working for the company offers the bonus of being in the same time zone as your Chinese students.
If you’re interested in applying, please use my referral link by clicking here.
While stationed at Osan, spouses will be working long hours and participate in joint exercises throughout the year. Freedom isn’t free, right?
These times may not be fun for families but provide an opportunity to get out there, make new friends, see new sights, and do things you never would have done otherwise. Korea is a unique country unlike any other.
It truly has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.
8. You’ll feel at home
If this is not your first base assignment, then you know how the saying goes. It’s not the base, but the people that can make it great.
Overseas bases are generally known to be more close-knit and Osan is no exception. Personally, the friends that I made in Korea remain some of my closest friends.
Even outside of Osan, there are other American families and multiple military stations across the country. Just 25 minutes away is Camp Humphreys, a large Army base full of soldiers and their families.
It is also home to the most amazing splash pad you absolutely cannot miss during those hot, summer months.
Even outside of the base and other military spouses, you’ll quickly find that in general, Koreans are welcoming and friendly. A huge part of Korean culture is a sense of community. This is extended to American families who call Korea home, even if for a short time.
Aside from the amazing hospitality of those around you, there are tons of comforts from home that help ease any homesickness that is prone to pop up when you’re living far away.
We even ran into some homegrown celebrities while shopping in Seoul!
The English language is prevalent almost everywhere and many Koreans are eager to practice speaking with you. Furthermore, recognizable fast food restaurants, clothing shops, and brands you recognize from home line the streets.
There is even a McDonald’s in the Ville that delivers 24/7.
If you are worried about missing back home, be sure to check out these awesome strategies for coping with homesickness to help you make it through.
9. It beats being by yourself
Okay, it’s a little blunt, but if the other reasons didn’t compel you, maybe a dose of cold, hard truth will.
If you’re not accompanying your spouse, be prepared for the year ahead. Surround yourself with positive, supportive friends and family whenever possible. Plan your own adventures and make the most of your time, if that is what you decide to do.
You can find more tips for how to survive motherhood while your spouse is deployed here.
At the very least, it’s just good to know that you have options. You can try for a sponsorship package and it might get accepted. Yay! Or, you may be like me and decide to forgo even attempting a package and jump straight into the non-CSP world.
Either way, why let your spouse have all the fun? And Korea is a FUN base.
For more information and updates on everything Osan AB non-command sponsored, as well as to meet the spouses that are already there in the thick of it, your best resource is the Osan Non CSP Facebook group.
So, did I change your mind? Are you ready to check out everything that being non-command sponsored has to offer? Or have you already been there? Leave a comment and let us know below!
Ashley Drewes says
WOW! This seems like such a GORGEOUS place to go!! Plus, it sounds like you’re very happy 🙂
Christina says
Thank you! Yes, I absolutely loved it there and I think that’s a huge part of why I want to share the facts with everyone!
mia lee says
Christina, thank you for sharing your experience! I am glad your family had a good time! So my husband is going to Korea in May 2019, NCS tour. I am originally from Korea and I plan to stay with my family who live in another city in Korea which is 3 hours away from Osan and my hubby keep living in the dorm.( I guess this technically wouldn’t be a NCS this way) so we save some housing money. But we just found that I am pregnant and thinking about giving birth to baby on base, do you have any idea if this would be possible?
Christina says
Hi Mia, that’s so exciting for you and so nice that you have family there! Back when we were there, all baby deliveries were done at the 121 Hospital at Yongsan. I had a friend who delivered there and in those days, they had a Stork Nest program where you were sent ahead of your due date and pretty much waited on and had a few days to relax before baby. I can’t speak from personal experience, but my friend really enjoyed the experience! However, with the closing of Yongsan, I believe that’s changed. I found this article from last year about Camp Humphreys opening up a brand new hospital. My guess is that since this is also much closer to Osan, this will be where deliveries will occur. As far as I know, Osan AB remains as a clinic, and does not have a full hospital or the capabilities to deliver on base. I’ll link the article here if you want to check it out. This would also be a great question for the Non-CSP at Osan Facebook group if you haven’t checked there already. They will have the most up-to-date information for you!
https://www.stripes.com/news/camp-humphreys-hospital-nearly-complete-but-opening-day-s-still-long-away-1.531290
Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome says
The Buddhist Temple looks so beautiful 🙂
PS: How didn’t I know that Justin Loan dated Amanda??? – Hello gossip XD
Christina says
I wish I had taken a video because that temple is up on a quiet mountain and the views are just stunning! And too funny, I didn’t know either until we were talking and he told us he was there with his girlfriend, and me being me said, “Oh, who’s your girlfriend?” He was really nice about it though!
Food Diary of a City Girl says
What an awesome experience! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. It’s great to know that it is a very safe country.
Christina says
Thank you and yes, I cannot wait to go back again someday!
theobriensabroad says
Loved this article! We aren’t military, but my husband lived in Seoul for 2 years before we were married and we went back together a few years ago. We LOVE Korea, and have met a lot of miliatary families who say how much they loved living there, too! I had no idea that there are negative rumors about the base floating around, but it doesn’t surprise me it’s from people who haven’t been there yet. We’re planning to spend a month there this summer and are so excited to go back! So glad you liked it 🙂
Christina says
I’m totally jealous that you get to go back! Thanks so much for sharing your perspective, having lived there yourself. I think it’s just a lot of misinformation floating around, that’s why I really wanted to create this article and share my own experience. Hopefully people don’t let a few rumors stop them from having the chance of a lifetime!
Ashley says
Alright, so now I have to visit South Korea someday. It’s never been on my radar. I loved your military spouse perspectiv, and the playground video was a really cool watch!
Christina says
Thank you! Please go visit if you have the chance, you won’t regret it! 🙂
Kathleen C says
I’ve actually been to Osan AB. I was stationed at Kunsan AB a whole lot of years ago and went to Osan a couple of times to escape and explore. I really love Korea. The people are incredible and the bulgogi is out of this world. We lived in Korea a few years ago for a few months too, in Yeosu, and it was fun to introduce it to my husband and daughter. Beautiful place. Your post takes me down memory lane. (PS I didn’t get my first choice after Kunsan.)
Christina says
I definitely got a little sad writing this as well, bringing up a lot of amazing memories! Thanks so much for sharing your experience having actually been there yourself and hopefully others will gain from that! While we did get our BOP, well, I should say it was my husband’s first choice, I also think that not too many people were putting Eielson AFB as their number one pick. Haha
Emily says
Wow would have never thought about going here but now I want to! So gorgeous and looks so fun!
Christina says
I hope you get the chance to go. It’s such an amazing place and I don’t even think we got to see half of it!
Maggie | TotallyTeenTravel.com says
Thanks for this fascinating, fun to read insight into life in South Korea!
Christina says
Hi Maggie, you’re so welcome and I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Marissa says
How interesting! I don’t know much about South Korea, so this was very insightful.
Christina says
Honestly, I didn’t know much about it either until we lived there! I’m so glad that I went with an open mind, otherwise I would have missed out completely!
Momma To Go says
wow it must be so excited yet nerve wracking to move oversees with the military!
Christina says
It can definitely be nerve-wracking, but I think we’ve gotten a system down now after several moves and almost 9 years in the military!
WonderHereWanderThere says
I’m hoping to visit South Korea one day soon(ish!) and Osan looks great, whilst I’m not in the military there seems to be so much to do in the area it looks worth a visit. Thanks for sharing!
Christina says
I hope you’re able to make the trip soon, there have been so many big and exciting changes there this year!
adriana says
This is a great read – I can’t imagine what a change it was! I’d love to visit South Korea one day though.
Christina says
Thank you so much! It definitely changed our lives in so many great ways. I hope you have the chance to visit someday!
Caitie W says
Thank you so much for this! I am pregnant and will have a 2 month old if we get Osan, which looks likely. I’ve been freaking out.
Two questions: how hard was it getting dogs over, and did you/your child have Tricare coverage while there?
Christina says
Hi Caitie, you’re very welcome and I’m glad you found it helpful! My daughter was also 2 months old when we arrived at Osan! 🙂 Getting the pets over was not as bad as it sounds. They’ll need to be up to date on vaccinations and have a certificate less than 30 days from the flight from the vet approving their travel. We used the vet on base, let them know of our plans, and they made sure we had everything we needed. Our dogs flew in cargo for Korean Air at $200 per dog and our cat was with us in the cabin, which was $100 for her flight. Once there, the dogs were waiting for us after we got through customs. You’ll need to arrange travel from the airport and I can give you the information for our good friend who does transport if needed. This is also a great resource for checking airline requirements for pets and restrictions: https://www.bringfido.com/travel/airline_policies/korean_air/ For non-command, you still have Tricare and access to the base medical for appointments, however they give priority to command sponsored. We were there for one year and my daughter never had to wait extra time for an appointment, they always got her in to be seen when needed. If you haven’t already, check out the Osan Non CSP group on Facebook as they may have more up-to-date information and any recent changes!
Caitie W says
Wow! Thank you so much for all the info! This is incredibly helpful. We should know by February if we are going, and I will definitely contact you for the transport contact. You’re amazing!
Christina says
Thanks so much, and I’m glad you found it helpful!
Ana naomi says
I was just wondering what about the medical side to things? Being on tricare standard instead of prime as non CS? With small children how much of a diffrnece does it make?? Thanks for all the info
Christina says
Hi and you’re very welcome! When we were there, the difference meant that if someone with command sponsored needing to be seen, they would be given priority in given an appointment. My daughter was 2 months old when we arrived so she had several well visits over the year and in my experience, we never had to wait for an appointment and she was always seen immediately. The same went for myself although I didn’t require as many appointments! I would check if you haven’t already on the Osan Non-CSP Facebook group if anything has changed since we left, but for us, it wasn’t ever an issue!
Nikki says
Hello! If we choose to go non command sponsored would we still be allowed to keep the housing allowance from the original base?
Christina says
Hi Nikki, you would not keep the housing allowance from our orignal base. You are required to go through the housing office at Osan AB and will be given OHA in place. The OHA for Osan AB is pretty high considering it’s a low cost of living in South Korea, and includes a monthly utilities allowance. You can check the DOD OHA calcuator to see what if would look like for your spouse’s rank, but to give you an example, for 2019 an E-5 with dependents at Osan is looking at $1,471 OHA plus an additional $786 per month for utilities. (For comparison, I love my heat in the winter and air in the summer and our highest utilities bill at Osan was still less than $200). You can check the OHA calculator here: https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/ohaCalc.cfm
Jasmine says
Thank you for sharing your experience with NON-CS in Osan! My boyfriend got his orders for there and his date of arrival is Sept of this year… we want to get married and do the NON-CS, but I am wondering like how long does all the Non-CS paperwork/prep to get cleared to go take? We want to plan things so we have enough time to get married and get all that stuff done without being too late, I heard its a lot of work.
Christina says
Hi Jasmine, congrats on your upcoming marriage! It sounds like a lot, but it’s really pretty simple when you break it down. There is no paperwork for Non-CS, other than being added to his orders prior to him leaving. (There is a packet if you’re trying for Command Sponorship, however). You’ll need to prepare for going to Korea and make sure all of that is taken care of. Think of it as an extended trip, for example, you’d need your passport, plane ticket, and if you are bringing pets, their health certificate and immunizations, etc. You will be obtaining your SOFA stamp after you arrive, on base. There is some paperwork he will complete for the Exception to Policy for him to live off base, but I don’t believe the turnaround is that long (a few days to a few weeks at the most), and it’s done after you arrive at Osan. This is straight from Osan AB and has a lot of the differences between the two, including documents you need and where to get them: https://www.osan.af.mil/Portals/72/Docs/Newcomers/Osan%20Command%20Sponsored%20versus%20Non-Command%20Sponsored%20Matrix%202017.pdf?ver=2017-07-17-012617-977 I also recommend checking out the Non-CSP Facebook group for more up-to-date answers to any questions you have. They are also very supportive!
Jasmine says
Thank you for your reply! That definitely makes me feel a lot better understanding the process a little more and also makes me not feel as rushed to get things done. Thank you so much! I hope you and your family are doing well and enjoying travels!
Christina says
You’re very welcome! I wish you guys the best of luck and if you have the chance, let me know how it goes!
Victoria M says
This article made me feel better anout the whole process! Thank you for the positive insight!
Christina says
You’re welcome! I’m so glad it was helpful for you!
Ai says
hi. I love your article about non CS to osan. I’m planning to go to osan as Non CS. in April. but i found out that i can not store our household stuff in government storage. I need to eigher get rid of everything or store it on my expense. but I know for sure some people store their stuff in Government storage for free for a year. im just so confused
Christina says
Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m not sure why some people are able to store, but it might be worth asking them. We asked a couple of friends to come over, purged a lot of items, and moved the rest ourselves into a storage unit. Considering how much money we were able to save/make over there, the monthly cost for our storage unit was very little. It was also a tax-deductable expense. Then, the military moved our things from the storage unit to our next base. I hope that helps!
Deborah Thomas says
Hi Christina, Thanks for the info!! My hubby just PCS’d to Camp Humphreys April 10, 2019. I will be joining him 1 June 2019 due to finishing school here in Texas. Housing was giving him the run around about having to stay in SLQ (he’s a SFC) but he was trying to let them know I was coming over there soon. He is still inprocessing so any info for housing section would be great. Also, where do you go to get the SOFA Stamp? I have my A3 visa on my passport already. Just need the SOFA Stamp. Awesome article too!!! Great info!! Deborah
Christina says
Hi Deborah, thanks so much for reaching out! I’m not sure if it’s any different at Camp Humphreys, but my husband was also given the run around and ended up “ghosting” his dorm. The OHA was set up for me and my daughter as his dependents, and he then stayed with us, and kept his dorm room clean and showed up for inspections, etc. but that was the extent of it! I’m going to link to a good friend of ours at Osan, Danny Yoon, who is also a realtor and familiar with both Osan and Camp Humphreys. I encourage you to reach out and ask him if he has any insight, and if you need help finding housing or transporting from the airport, he is your guy. You can find his Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/realty1STOP/ As for the SOFA Stamp, again, I’m not sure if it’s any different at Humphreys, but we obtained ours at the Pax Terminal on base at Osan. If you need to get there, it’s not too far, maybe 20 minutes or so. I hope that helps and good luck with your big move!
Heather says
Hi there! Although you have shared a lot good info, i feel like even when i did my research and also looked at the matrix abut being command vs non command, it still left me feeling like its more suitable for dependents to want to be command sponsored because there is so many things not guaranteed for non command sponsored dependents. You mentioned that the main expense was the plane ticket. However, what advice would you have about living off base rent expenses? What about health insurance deductibles because spouses are put on standard over there for non command, or how about how much it costs to ship your furniture or shipping your pets? What about whether or not your military member may not be able to live off the base?Those things are part of the not guaranteed as well as not paid or reimbursed list. Those would be covered with the command sponsored list. Would you have any advice on those? did you run into any of those problems? How much more money would it be if it was non command sponsored (in terms of fractions or percentages, i know not everyone will get the same amount, but could you give me an idea?) Sorry, i am just trying to be thorough, I still feel like there are so many what ifs/ I would love to hear back from you.
Very respectfully,
Heather
Christina says
Hi Heather, thanks so much for reaching out and I think it’s great to be thourough and look into all of your options! I see many benefits to try for command sponsorships, it’s just not possible for everyone who wants to try that route at this time, which is why looking into non-command sponsorship can be a great alternative for those who still want to join overseas in this case. As mentioned in the post, living off base is covered by your dependent’s OHA. Additionally, those living off-base are given a utilities allowance to help cover those off-base expenses. For us at the time, we were allotted over $700 per month in utilities allowance, which is much more than our utilities ever cost us and provided us with a stipend. The rate will depend on rank and could have changed since then. COLA is also provided at a single-rate. For additional income opportunities, families are welcome to apply to extend, which provides around $300 extra per month. We also had no health insurance deductibles and my daughter and myself were both seen at the on-base clinic for standard appointments routinely. The difference for command-sponsored is that they are given priority, and non-command are seen after that when available. In my personal experience, we never had to wait more than a few days for an appointment, the same as we have had at any other base. The Air Force will cover I believe 500 lbs of household goods to take there. As most of the off-base apartments are furnished, you really don’t want to ship furniture there and ideally, would store it while you are overseas. While the government will not pay for this, it is a tax-deductible expense. Shipping for pets again will depend. We brought our two dogs and cat over and our cat was able to fly in-cabin for $100 with Korean Air. The dogs were placed in cargo and was around $150 per dog. We also paid our friend and Osan-based realtor, Danny Yoon, to pick us and our pets up from the airport to take us to the base. Osan AB has a pet lodge with boarding for your convenience. I hope I answered your questions and that it helps! You can also search for the Osan AB Non-Command Sponsored group on Facebook, which can give you more up-to-date information from spouses currently there if you haven’t already!
Ann says
My son in law just got his orders for
Osan. I’m happy for them, but nervous. This article is making me so excited for their new adventure. Thanks for the write up.
Christina says
Thanks so much for the kind words, Ann. I felt the same way when we first got orders but I’m so happy that we did! I think it is what you make of it and going in with an open mind, they can have an amazing experience! If they haven’t already, I suggest checking out the Facebook group for all the up-to-date information from spouses and families who are currently over there.
Jenn says
Hello. My husband just found out he’s headed to Osan but we don’t have orders yet. From doing my quick research tonight I see that only 8% of the base is command sponsored, which means it’s likely he’ll be doing a 1 year tour on his own. I am wondering about the likelihood of getting my 4th grader at a school on post. He loves his school here in Florida but after reading your article I’m considering a non command sponsored tour for a year so we can be with my husband. I have never even heard of Command sponsored and non sponsored before….we lived in Heidelberg Germany and I guess it wasn’t a thing over there. Also, it looks like we’ll have to live off post if I am reading the forms correctly but your article made me feel better about that. I am just worried about the school spots for my upcoming 5th grader. Any assistance is appreciated!
Don Ringling says
It sure is different now from when I was there in 1957 with the 58th Fighter Bomber Wing and the huts with oil stoves that occasionally caught fire.
Tom says
If my wife (active duty AF) is on an unaccompanied order to Korea, would I be able to live with her at all? How often did you get to see your husband?
Addie says
Hi Christina!
First off I’d just like to say thank you for writing this article and sharing all this information. I and many others greatly appreciate it.
My boyfriend is in the Air-force, he’s an A1C, and is being sent to Osan for 1 year. We don’t want to be separated from each other so we will be getting married the 30th of this month. He leaves for Korea in March, what would we need to do to prepare for our move to Korea? How can I guarantee that I get to go with him?