A Newcomers Report: What to Expect at Osan

OFF THE AIRPLANE

Korean overpasses and bridges: Not for the faint of heart. I thought the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was bad? That the Tobin was the stuff of nightmares? HA!!!

There are no shoulders on the overpasses and bridges here. If you are sitting on the right side of a vehicle, do not look out the window, because you're just looking DOWN. Straight plummet to your doom. I kid you not.

Korean Air: The 14.30 hour flight was pretty good, even for someone like me, who hates to fly. The flight attendants were warm, gracious, and NEVER terse (unlike American flight attendants). And the Bibimbap served as our first meal on the flight? Yummy.

Humidity: Those of us from the East Coast complain about humidity in the summer. It's our thing. Well, we don’t have anything on Korea! Humid does not even begin to describe it. I couldn't even tell that the AC was on in the airport and when I finally felt it (after changing into a tank top and sitting for a while), it was still so muggy, I could have bathed in the Korean air.

ON THE BASE

Moving In: Thursday was my first long contact with one of the civilians who works on base. He was very thorough in explaining everything to us, and also exemplified the strong Korean work ethic. These folks are VERY customer service oriented. He would give us an example of something that might go wrong and then say, "No problem" and tell us who to contact to fix it.

A Walking Base: When we first arrived, we needed to purchase bedding for our loaner beds and left the BX with a shopping cart (that included a sleeping child!). I felt so nervous walking the shopping cart home, but this is “a walking base”. People do it all the time.

Just remember, after you do your shopping, bring the cart back to the store. Please don’t leave it under the stairs. Nobody is sent to collect them – if you take a shopping cart, it is your responsibility to return it.

Ration Card: I had never heard of such a thing, so I was befuddled to hear the words “Ration Card” when I went to the Commissary in an attempt to shop. It turns out, you need to go to MPF with your spouse to obtain this little card. This is what entitles you to shop at AAFES facilities such as the Commissary, BX and Shopette.

I was given a temporary card, which was turned in to MPF when the “permanent” plastic card arrived.

NEO Packet: This is another thing that I did not know to expect. When you arrive at the base, you and your spouse need to visit the squadron’s Orderly Room to meet your NEO Warden and obtain a few things.

The first is a letter that you will take with you to the Spouse Orientation (more on that later) to get your very own gas mask.

The second is a NEO Packet. In order to fill out the information, you need to know the social security and passport numbers of the family members here with you, and they suggest including many records that you would not want to be caught without in the event of an evacuation.

While I have yet to experience one, there are NEO Exercises for the families. From what I understand, you go to these, bringing your gas mask and packet (and perhaps your NEO bag). The people there just process you through the line by verifying that you are prepared for an evacuation.

Spouse Orientation: I have not experienced this either (and, to be honest, have better things to do that day), but they have them at the end of each month. Unfortunately, if you want your gas mask (both for yourself and your children), you must attend this 8-hour briefing.

They tell you about things that might or might not be important – getting your child enrolled in school, base legal, and why the military is here on the peninsula, just to name a few of the topics.

You must register to attend by calling the Airman Family Readiness Center, and bring your NEO gas mask letter and NEO Packet.

So there you have it – the things I did not expect and wish I had known before I got here! Hopefully this entry will help prepare you for your first few weeks at Osan.

Wendy, guest blogger