Korean Job Discussion Forums

[longsack22]

I was going to post this in the below topic:
Is it easier for Western men to date here?
However I decided to just start a new thread because I did not want to hijack that one.

Now, thank all of you for your inputs on Dave�s, I find it refreshing, a good source for information and an enjoyable read, thank you.

SORRY FOR THE MANAFESTO BELOW.
Now moving on, I make the statements above because I am not English teacher in Korea, however I'm in the military.
I was reading the post above and I did not get angry or even upset with some of the military comments, I'm cool with them. However I do feel a need to provide a better education for those that may not be "in the know".
I read that those in the military make peanuts, are in low social class, come from low income families, are uneducated and may be a little crazy for even joining the military in the first place.
If you wish to take my input that is great, if you do not wish to take it that is fine as well, I'm no less educated by it.

Let�s start with income of the military member:
Military Pay Chart
It is free to view for all the public to see should they wish to view it.

Additional income provided:
- BAS 2009 rates 2010 rates are about 20.00 more (Food money provided) - $323.87 (Enlisted) / $223.04 (Officer) a month.
2009 BAS Rates For Military

- BAH/OHA (housing money provided) - Rates vary based on the location you live in and rank, mine for example in Seoul is: $ 2881.95 a month.
- Utilities - $ 678.91 a month to pay gas, electric and so on.
Both Utilities and OHA listed at this link.

- COLA (cost of living allowance) mine for example in Seoul is: 16.62 daily X 30 = 498.60 monthly.
COLA Rates Search

- Job bonus (Bonus because of the job I do in the military - Air Traffic Control) � Basically it is base pay (listed above) X number of years enlisted X SRB Multiplier = a lump sum payment of � the other payments spread out over the number of years. (SRB Multiplier is usually a number between .5 and 7 based on your job). Say for example 3,000 X 4 X 6.5 = 78,000 now divide by � = 39,000 up front, divide by 3 (years reaming) = 13,000 every year on the date you enlist. This payment will continue up to your 16th year in the military with about the same structure (every 4 years a large sum payment, every year a smaller lump payment).

Adding it all up monthly for me is about: 9,200 (not actual, rounded down) a month divided by � and paid on the 1st and 15th of each month, - 20% for taxes.

I am an enlisted member of the Air Force, Officers (those that have applied for and been accepted) make a great deal more. This information is all freely available on the web if one should chose to look. I may be wrong but I do not consider my income to be on the "low end of the scale" when it comes to "average pay".

Now, let�s look at a member of USFK who joined the military right out of high school and has been in for 3 years and currently lives in Seoul, shall we?
Base Pay: 2094.00
BAS: 324.00 (Rounded up)
Housing: 2593.00 (Rounded up)
Utilities: 509.00
COLA: 11.98 A day = about 359.40
TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME: 5879.40 - 20% tax.
For a person with 3 years on the job at 21 years old this is a good income, I think? Again this is all freely available for all to see if you wish to check my math or have any questions, check the links provided above.

- Benefits no medical expense and 100% tuition paid. Two of the big ones for me.

Now let me talk a little about myself again, this is not a "look at me" post but more of a "education post" for those that may not know. My mother dropped out of school when she had me at 17 years old. My father left when I was 2. When my mother was 22, she got her GED and went to college. Up to that point life was rough for her and I, but after that things for obvious reasons became less difficult. Why did I join the military? Even though I was young I still saw the hard work my mother went through in life, it made me appreciate the hard work more and I did not want HER to give me something I feel I had to earn, an education and a start in life. The point I make out of this is each person has his own story, why should anyone assume they joined the military because they are from the "low end of the social ladder"? Some do join for this reason, others do not. To even assume "most" would be no different then me is like assuming "most" English teachers come to Korea because they cannot find a job at home. This would leave out a great deal of people I'm sure, some who want the adventure, some who want to save money, some who like Korea, some who using the above post may find it less difficult to get a date I don't know and I would not assume to know.

I know my pay is not going to make me rich, but I have never wanted for anything. If you are a US tax payer you have paid for my degree. I also have a GI Bill that should I decided I can give to my kids or wife that will pay 100% of his/her college education and housing. I'm 6 years away from a retirement that at 41 will provide me with � my pay (whatever it is in 6 years) for the rest of my life.

Have a look at the education stats for the US Air Force, they may/may not be what you think they are.
Officer academic education (all have 4 year degrees as a minimum).
-- 53 percent of the officers have advanced or professional degrees
-- 42.5 percent have master's degrees,
-- 86.8 percent of field grade officers have advanced degrees
-- 70.7 percent have master's degrees
Enlisted academic education
- 70.2 percent have some semester hours towards a college degree
- 18.7 percent have an associate's degree or equivalent semester hours
- 5.4 percent have a bachelor's degree
- 0.9 percent have a master's degree

US Air Force Stats

I cannot speak of family backgrounds only my own, so I will skip that. However I will say you should consider at what point a person is at now, not what they came from. I would also argue against the �debt� theory of joining the military. Part of the security clearance that every military member gets requires a credit check; most will not get into the military if they have major issues. Also to add to that if while in the military they happen to have major debt issues they will be counseled if that don't fix the problem they will be kicked out. How many jobs hold you to that standard?

Now look at the small snapshot most (not all) have of the military, Korea! NOT a good place to get that picture from. In most cases you have put a young man/woman 3 years from high school into a new country. You have given them a home and food, just like mom and dad. Then you provide them an allowance of about 2,000 a month, most of that is disposable income to them. The results are predictable.

Murder & Rape one poster put in the above listed thread. To this my answer is: The US Military member is also a member of American society, only at a smaller percentage. While the military tries to weed them out through selection, basic and so on, you are always going to get some of that 1% that engages in criminal activity. I do not agree with the criminal activity at all, however to remove it all you must remove it from the society that the person comes from as well.

I cannot speak for the whole military I only wish to speak for myself and a little for the US Air Force, I would agree some crazy�s must join the Army - LOL. If you still don't agree with me that is fine, I just hope I have educated some members of the forum about the military. The biggest difference between my job and yours? If you don't listen to your boss you get fired, if I don't listen I get to break big rocks into little rocks.

Thanks for the read and thank all of you for the wonderful board. I gain a lot of knowlege and enjoy each of your opinions.

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[plynx]

awesome post.

[longsack22]

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[rollo]

The U.S. is in Korea because both China and Japan, it guarantees that the Japanese do not feel threatened enough to rearm and this suits China, it also prevents the Russians from playing games on the penninsula.

[Stalin84]

Whhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaattttt?

There is no way a 21-year old could make that much without being a boy genius or something! Christ.

Back home most people I know make less than $2k per month and pay higher taxes. Young military officers in Canada get paid substantially less than you do except when deployed to a conflict (I checked a few years ago when I was thinking about doing it, I think your average 2nd Lt. in Canada makes $1800 monthly after taxes). High ranking enlisted men in Canada had to go to the food bank all the time to feed their families until the government raised the pay.

All I learned from this is that the US forces are overflowing with $$$!

[GwangjuParents]

[Stalin84]

[longsack22]

[Stalin84]

[Konglishman]

[djsmnc]

I've had some enlisted fellows say htey were jealous that I was so free as an English teacher. I told them I was a bit jealous that they could save up a lot of cash and easily send it home. We got along and it was cool.

[Cerberus]

kudos to you longsack.

as I mentioned in the previous thread, I have nothing but respect and goodwill towards the military upon any initial contact.

I also think it's a terrific way of overcoming some long odds in life for many people.

I actually considered joining at least the Reserves since I was definitely going to college.

You have my best wishes.

I do think the AF generally speaking attracts a higher grade of recruits and their standards are a bit higher than for the other services, especially cannon fodder units like infantry.

[longsack22]