Posted on Sep 5, 2022
What are the housing options for single soldiers with kids in Japan or Korea?
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Just curious if anyone has been stationed in Korea or Japan as a divorced parent with only partial custody.
I know there’s family housing for married couples and if my kids were to choose to live with me I’d qualify. However, as it sits they stay with me during summer break and any other break from school. As an E-6 would I be required to stay in regular barracks? For obvious reasons I couldn’t have my kids come stay with me in regular barracks. I can’t be the only soldier who’s ever been divorced with kids but it’s not a situation that’s addressed on the websites for either duty location. What options are there at either location?
I know there’s family housing for married couples and if my kids were to choose to live with me I’d qualify. However, as it sits they stay with me during summer break and any other break from school. As an E-6 would I be required to stay in regular barracks? For obvious reasons I couldn’t have my kids come stay with me in regular barracks. I can’t be the only soldier who’s ever been divorced with kids but it’s not a situation that’s addressed on the websites for either duty location. What options are there at either location?
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
If you don't have primary custody then you are a single Soldier. You'll have to rent an apartment or airbnb like anyone else during that time. I can tell you from being in Okinawa Japan that the barracks frequently fill up and that eventually most of the E6 end up with a house off post. That's definitely not the situation for Korea now
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SSG David Gleitz
That’s good information to have. Is it the same at Camp Zama? That would be great as an air bnb or temporary apartment seems impractical but the Army doesn’t seem to think unmarried people have kids.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG David Gleitz you are either accompanied or unaccompanied when you're OCONUS, spouse, children or not. Since you're unaccompanied you get barracks as long as barracks are available.
I don't know anything about the barracks situation in Zama
I don't know anything about the barracks situation in Zama
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SSG David Gleitz
SFC (Join to see) That’s the frustrating part. You’re either accompanied or not. Being accompanied part time isn’t a thing. I’m sure I’m not the only one with a 50/50 custody agreement. It’s still fairly new to me so I’d like to see what others have done. I’d like to be OCONUS so my kids can have some cool experiences but trying to figure out how I could make it work. I appreciate the insight.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG David Gleitz unless your custody is 51% DFAS considers you not the primary custody holder. The best thing you can do is work out an agreement with the other parent for you to have 51% custody while you are OCONUS. Then you will receive BAH for their location. Some of that will have to go to them, but you can also keep a small portion to save for tickets and rentals. You'll have to figure out child care on your own during the work day
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SSG David Gleitz
No, E-6 and below stay in lower enlisted barracks which leads to a lot of fraternization but the Army still loves this idea. In Korea E-6 and below cannot have a POV unless there’s an ETP from 0-5 or higher.
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