Do you think Soldiers stationed in Korea should have their flights paid for by the military when taking leave?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 18:25:43 -0400

A lot of Soldiers can't afford to go home to see their families because of the cost issues. I believe the military sent Soldiers over to Korea and should pay for them to at least go home during their tour overseas. A PVT will have to save almost 3 months of pay just to get a plane ticket out of Korea, and then have some money to spend on leave.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2014 12:26 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 00:26:52 -0400

This is where you, the leader, sit down and counsel your Soldier to be financially responsible, make a budget and live within their means. Brand new Soldier in a new country, what are they going to spend their money on, trinkets and blankets to send back home, maybe decorate their barracks room, if thats allowed.

Why should the military pick up the tab for being sent to a duty location? At what point do these Soldiers take some responsibility and we quit handing them things on a silver platter? The military pays for somethings but not everything.

The internet is a great resource with the likes of PriceLine and Expedia, you can always find great airline deal. If you can maneuver thru Space-A, even better, but that also takes some planning, waiting and the resources to pay for a taxi, bus, hotel room if need be in the worst case scenario.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2014 3:41 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 03:41:23 -0400

If we're going to start paying for Soldiers to fly home from Korea, why not pay for them to travel from any duty station? I was a private in Germany, and rather than paying for a ticket that I couldn't afford, I stuck it out and did a little traveling in country. Korea is only a 1 year tour. I don't think that it will kill a Soldier to be away from their family for a year. Another option is for Soldiers to use Space A to get them to Seattle, which would save them a bundle on their ticket.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jul 28 at 2014 8:02 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:02:38 -0400

I would have to day no. Korea is a PCS move and is no different than any other PCS. Travel in a leave status is the individual responsibility of the service member.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 28 at 2014 8:18 AM

COL Randall C. — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:18:50 -0400

The military provides a cheap alternative - As SSG Private RallyPoint Member mentioned, it's called Space-A (Space Available on military transportation) travel. The only trade-off is that for regular leave, there can be competition for available seats. I've traveled Space-A a few times and it really comes down to knowing the terminal that you'll be traveling out of (both ways) to determine what factors you'll be dealing with.

For Space-A, the consideration many times comes down to 'trade leave time to get a cheap flight' and traveling at less busy times.

Response by SSG Robin Rushlo made Jul 28 at 2014 8:43 AM

SSG Robin Rushlo — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:43:56 -0400

NO No No. If I remember right Korea is a 12 to 18 month rotation. If that is still the case and you can not stick it out that long then maybe the Military is not for you anyhow. I went to Germany on a three year rotation and extended. I flew back once in the six years at my expense. Space A flights were booked most the time and it was three to four months pay to fly back. See the world you will never get the chance again. If anyone should get the flight paid for is when you are assigned to a three year or longer tour.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Jul 28 at 2014 9:27 AM

SFC Stephen Carden — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 09:27:08 -0400

I don't think the military should pay for a Solider to come home on leave from Korea, however, I also don't think Space-A is the way to go either. Don't get me wrong, Space-A is a great benefit and I am glad we have it, but it may not be the right option for SM going on leave. So here is a story: My family and I were stationed in Korea for two years from '07-'09. We decided to come home on a "mid-tour" leave, but flying 4 people back to the US was cost-prohibitive. We decided to Space-A. We traveled by train to Osan AB and waited around for 2 days to get a flight out to Hawaii. Once in Hawaii, we had to wait for three days for a flight to Tampa, Florida. This was very lucky because we were going to Tampa, and there was only, like, one flight a year that went direct from Hawaii to Tampa. Unfortunately, it was a KC-46 or KC-10 (can't remember which). This aircraft has a small passenger area just forward of the fuel bladders that is unheated and uncomfortable. What the heck, it is a free flight, right? Except for the fact that it was summer and we were all dressed in shorts and t-shirts. That sucked. So we got to th eUS just fine. The problem was returning. We drove to Charleston, and waited for 2 days to get a flight. There were no flights returning to the west coast, so we flew to Delaware. After waiting in Delaware for 3 days, we decided to drive to Joint Base Mcguire/Dix because we heard there were more westward-bound flights. We waited there for about 3 days until we got a flight to Travis AFB. We waited there for four days before it became apparent that there were going to be no flights out to Alaska, Hawaii, Korea, Guam, or Japan anytime soon. By this time, I was a week late getting back from leave and had to extend by phone. I ended up having to call my mother to front me the money for one-way tickets from San Francisco to Seoul. We had to take a taxi from Travis AFB to San Fran International. Once we landed in Seoul, we then had to take a train down to Daegu. So, we got back to Korea a week late and dead broke from having to pay for hotels, food, and rental cars for an extra week and a half. I had to develop a class on Space-A travel to present to the rest of the Brigade HQ (as "punishment" for being stupid enough to go Space-A with no backup plan. If I wanted to buy tickets as a "back-up" I wouldn't have flown Space-A in the first place! Oh, and I missed a Battle Staff class because I was late.) In summary, Space-A is great for people with no fixed timeline and no specific destination in mind. Nothing is guaranteed. If you want to go home on leave from Korea, I suggest you either start saving money as soon as you get orders, or resign yourself to the fact that you are going to not see your family for a year and spend the money on Bulgogi and Soju instead. When I retire in about 8 months, I plan on using Space-A a lot! It would be a nice gesture for US carriers to offer a significant discount to Soldiers in Korea, though. It is REALLY expensive to fly home. It would also be great if we could get the rotator flight back in service instead of flying everyone over commercial. That was a guaranteed flight in and out of Korea when it was running.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2014 10:24 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 10:24:41 -0400

Definitely not. As has been mentioned, space A is an option and financial responsibility is a key concept which is severely lacking. Leave and travel is a privilege, especially during peak seasons on a budget... If troops really need to travel, do so off-season (not mid summer and not Christmas, for example). Prices are lower and space A is more available. Enjoy the region overseas, you may never have that chance again.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 28 at 2014 11:47 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 11:47:34 -0400

Depending on when they go on leave, there is a good chance that the Freedom Bird will have Space-A slots available. That is a FREE ride back to the US. Also because of the proximity to other interesting places, a lot of soliders don't go back to the US but instead opt to travel to places like Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, China, Etc.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 28 at 2014 6:59 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 18:59:30 -0400

Back when I was there, they had a goodwill program where you could escort infants being adopted in the states home. You made a "donation" to the orphanage - at that time $400.00 which was less than 1/2 the normal ticket price and you got a cheap ride home while doing a good turn for someone else. I took 2 children with me and got to hand them off to their new parents back in the states, Most wonderful moments I ever experienced.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jul 29 at 2014 12:08 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 00:08:35 -0400

In the immortal words of someone "suck it up buttercup". Negative on paying for leave. There are just some duty stations that suck. Make the most of them, work on your career development, work on your education etc.

Plus with todays technology, you can communicate daily.

Obviously it will be much tougher for a young enlisted troop to travel than anyone else. The young enlisted troop also has the most to gain by staying and working through the tour and gaining everything that they can from the adversity.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2014 7:36 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 07:36:51 -0400

If the Army pays for Korea, then please ensure you pass along my desire for them to work on Italy next. LOL!

The Army should not pay for Soldiers in Korea to fly home. If the Soldier wants to go home, then they pay. The Army assists in E-Leave for them to go home.

Ciao!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2014 5:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:20:49 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I've been meaning to hop on this.
From my time at the BOC i had a grand total of 3 soldiers that actually while stationed at Korea.
When bringing it up to them at our meetings they said they either didnt want to or didnt have enough money or leave.
When I told them about Space-A they were worried about getting there and back and how reliable Space-A really was.
Most 1st duty station soldiers dont have the leave days to take.
14 leave days + 2800$ round trip ticket. Not very affordable for E1-E3's

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 11:28 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:28:28 -0400

Absolutely not. Find Space-A. But that's just my two cents.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 11:42 AM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:42:36 -0400

There is a program called COTs (consecutive overseas tour). What this does is pay for a flight to the first stop in the US. This is open to personnel who are stationed overseas that either transfer to another overseas duty station or extend another rotation at their current duty station.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 7:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:01:18 -0400

No the biggest complaint I have for 2ID Soldiers and European Command Soldiers is this statement. "....I have several deployments...2 Korea and 1 Germany..." WTF .... Better to not take any leave and use it after 12months when they PCS.. Screw having the military develop or approve a free R& R program for Korea command Soldiers...NO Freakin Way

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2014 11:46 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 11:46:30 -0400

For Korea I say yes, here is my reason.

Korea is a hardship assignment for the majority of those who are assigned there much like a deployment to Kuwait. The service member is not allowed to take their family. In this case I think the government should pay for a ticket so that the service member can take leave (14 days) to see family in the states just like we do when a soldier is on a 12 month deployment. Now, if the soldier is on a command sponsorship and able to take his/her family, then no ticket should be paid for.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2017 9:47 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 May 2017 21:47:12 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member No. Leave is the responsibility of the soldier.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 7:15 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 07:15:02 -0500

I absolutely think so. Not saying that korea is terribly bad, but I highly doubt many service members "wanted" to come to Korea. At least they could do is pay for their flights to at least one destination wherever they decide to take leave to.