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lastat06513
Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Location: Sensus amo Caesar , etiamnunc victus amo uni plebian
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: What happens when a soldier is stopped for teaching? |
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I went to drill this weekend and I met a guy who was also in Korea around the same time I was living there and just recently got out and joined the national guard.
I told him I was a teacher there for a while and said he did that too on the weekends up until May of this year.
I asked him if he had any problems and he told me that whenever he was stopped (which was a few) he just pulled out his ID card and they just walked away. Then he mentioned a reservist over there that was working solely on privates and when asked to show some ID, he just pulls out his ID and they magically walk away.
The only reason I can think of that could explain why they walk away is because they don't want to deal with the pesky MPs, who seem to be more professional in their work.
Keep in mind, Army reservists don't get SOFA visas yet have an ID card that allows them on base and to use various facilities (including the PX and commissary).
So....a reservist who transfers to Korea from the states can easily come to Korea on a tourist visa and work without having an E2 visa or without fear of getting caught because he has a military ID and the Koreans can't tell the difference between who is on active duty and who is a reservist......sweet~!
I guess there is some advantages to doing this
Seriously, I know there are some reservists here on this board, do you pull out your ID if you are stopped by immigrations? and if you do, do they walk away?
Curious people want to know.... |
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ChuckECheese

Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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I'm on IRR and never thought about that before. What you explained perfectly make sense though.
When I was in active duty in Korea and rented a car several times without Korean drivers license, I was stopped by traffic cops several times. When I showed my military ID, they just waved me on. It seems the Korean law enforcement people just don't want to deal with you if it's just an minor offense or violation. |
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passport220

Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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The funny thing is I have a sense that it has nothing to do with the fact that you are willing to lay down your life in defense of their country and maybe you should not have to be bothered with minor (in comparison) administrative rules. |
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Otus
Joined: 09 Feb 2006
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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By golly ... ! Just wait until Homer finds out about this! |
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lastat06513
Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Location: Sensus amo Caesar , etiamnunc victus amo uni plebian
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:00 am Post subject: |
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The one thing that makes me wonder is just how will Koreans know who is on active duty and who is a reservist?
They can't ask for the names of those reservists due to OPSEC concerns.
FYI- I just got my AKO account and my ID card, yippie!! |
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heeheehee
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Location: Canada
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:31 am Post subject: |
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I love how the Korean government makes US servicemen feel like they are above the law.
I wonder if that could be the partial root of some of the problems experienced in Korea with American soldiers... |
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ChuckECheese

Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:38 am Post subject: |
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heeheehee wrote: |
I love how the Korean government makes US servicemen feel like they are above the law.
I wonder if that could be the partial root of some of the problems experienced in Korea with American soldiers... |
We're not above the law, but we're well protected from some of Korean non-sense by our government.  |
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the eye

Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:39 am Post subject: |
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heeheehee wrote: |
I love how the Korean government makes US servicemen feel like they are above the law.
I wonder if that could be the partial root of some of the problems experienced in Korea with American soldiers... |
Korean poilice are useless turds all around.
The root of problems with soldiers stems from the SOFA agreement. They have a lot of protection in that agreement.
To the OP:
Soldiers cannot be prosecuted for teching because it doesn't violate their VISA.
An English teacher's visa prohibits privates specifically. |
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ChuckECheese

Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:47 am Post subject: |
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the eye wrote: |
To the OP:
Soldiers cannot be prosecuted for teching because it doesn't violate their VISA.
An English teacher's visa prohibits privates specifically. |
I don't think people in the reserves(IRR) and national guard are covered under SOFA agreement, but I may be wrong. |
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Hyeon Een

Joined: 24 Jun 2005
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:45 am Post subject: |
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How much are fake military IDs in Bangkok? |
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lastat06513
Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Location: Sensus amo Caesar , etiamnunc victus amo uni plebian
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
I love how the Korean government makes US servicemen feel like they are above the law.
I wonder if that could be the partial root of some of the problems experienced in Korea with American soldiers... |
But you know what? With the way the Korean government keeps on changing the rules at mid-stream, it would be good to know that there would be one good constant way to stay and work in Korea.
I have a valid degree, yet with all the smack being said about ETs and FTs and the ever-present sh^t that hogwon bosses put teachers through, it is almost not worth going through the process of getting an E2.
Canadians have their 6-month stamps and their Working-Holiday visas, Americans with reserve affiliations have this to protect them.
Sounds like a balance to me....
And no, SOFA doesn't cover reservists, ONLY under times of mobilization due to national emergencies (such as the month succeeding 9/11 and the day the US started the war in Iraq) will troops be mobilized overseas for such things as auxilary gateguard or patrol (a reservist friend of mine did that while staying in Korea at the time).
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How much are fake military IDs in Bangkok? |
For discussion's sake, I've heard that before 1994, a person could get a DD form-4 (the actual military ID) outside most bases for about $50.
Then they issued the newer version (used from 1994 to 2002), then the price jumped to $2000 to $5000 because the material and technology was difficult to get. But now with this new type of ID (that has biometric data on it), it is impossible to get unless you steal from someone who looks like you. |
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hellofaniceguy

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!
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Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:47 am Post subject: |
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Hyeon Een wrote: |
How much are fake military IDs in Bangkok? |
Sure...anything can be copied...but....one still needs the "codes" that will allow it to be read by the military scanners, the passport readers, etc.
Access to military bases in korea and Japan.....the cards are "read/scanned" before entry...so a military ID card is usless otherwise, except to maybe someone trying to scam someone off base who would not know the difference...then there is the issue of the ration control cards to also get around.
Besides....it's so easy to verify a valid ID. In the past...fake military ID's were a big thing in korea...but the past few years.....they have gone downhill due to the security measures. It's hardly ever making the news anymore. |
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lastat06513
Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Location: Sensus amo Caesar , etiamnunc victus amo uni plebian
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Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Actually I knew a guy who worked at the Dragon Hill Lodge for a few days and then quit to go back into teaching.
He did give back the ID card, but they didn't take him out of the BIDS (Biometric Identification System) system and when he went to the gates, all he said was that he left his ID in the office and gave them his SSN number to verify on the computers, sure enough he was still in the system and they let him go in. True, he wasn't able to use the PX or Commissary, but he did go to the movies FOR FREE and was able to buy small things at the mini-mall at Hannam Village |
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