Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lastat06513]

For those of you who have been in the Army might know that in fact a soldier has to serve a total of 8 years of service before actual discharge from the military.

I know an ex-coworker of mine who is getting out of the military and plans to settle down in Korea and teach English.
But he wants to transfer from active duty to the Inactive Ready Reserves. The retention NCO has told him that if he did that, he can keep his ID card and still have PX/ Commissary priviledges.
But the darker side of it is that Bush is now calling up IRR soldiers to fight in his wars.
I knew a guy called up right after 9/11, had to leave his teaching job to pull guard duty for half the money he was making at his hogwon.

But what is the climate for those who are still in Korea and who are in the IRR.
Is it all what people say it is?
Do you still get all those benefits that my friend was promised?
Do you feel that a call-up would hinder your career as a teacher?

[gypsyfish]

My information is old.

When I got out of the army (and transferred into the IRR) I was not authorized PX and commisary priviledges. In fact, I wasn't even issued an ID card.

I went into an active reserve unit later and was authorized post priviledges when I was on training only.

It's not a matter of wanting to transfer into the IRR; if you enlist for three years in the army and leave after your three years, you have a five year IRR committment. On the other hand, if you stay in more than eight years, you may opt to go in the IRR, but you're not obligated to. (I'm not sure that there haven't been some involuntary extensions since T W A T started.)

IRR soldiers are, indeed, being called up.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean whe you ask:

"But what is the climate for those who are still in Korea and who are in the IRR. Is it all what people say it is?"

The information I have is dated and could be outdated, but that's the way it was when I got out 20 years ago. (Jesus, I can't believe it has been that long.)

[red headed stranger]

Your friend may want to check to be sure that he will be able to get PX/Commissary priveledges here in Korea. The process for getting post access and PX/Commissary privileges is more complicated in Korea than most other militray installations, because they have an additional ration control card that has to be obtained. (This was instituted due to the amount of Black Marketing here in Korea.) These are generally only given to command sponsored personnel or retirees.

I would post a question over at http://www.usfkforums.com/ There are some guys there that are out of the military but living here in Korea. They may have a definitive answer or know where you can get it.