Revised Command Sponsorship Program

30 November 2010


Revised Command Sponsorship Program (CSP) Policy in Korea

1. Every member of the command is vital to mission success; however, because of our limited infrastructure, Command Sponsorship (CS) in Korea can only be offered to about one-third of the over 14,000 Service members with families. To be sure we use this limited CS most effectively, I charged the CSP Task Force (TF) to determine the modifications needed to ensure the CSP meets our mission needs and is fair, consistent, predictable, and transparent. In doing so, the TF developed a policy to ensure CS is available to Service members who occupy duty positions where continuity would most improve mission readiness. This revised policy meets commanders’ mission readiness and continuity requirements by aligning CS into three prioritized categories, providing the commanders flexibility to meet mission requirements most effectively, while improving the quality of life for Service members and their families.

Command Sponsorship

In order to get command sponsorship you need to apply for it.  Don't wait on this because it can take a while. This link is for the 8th Army Command Sponsorship Page.  It has all the information you need to get started with the process.  Here is the 2ID Link for Command Sponsorship as well.

Make sure you keep duplicate copies of this information.  By the time all of it gets compiled with your EFMP paperwork, etc. it can be a very large document.  I recommend if you are faxing it do it in a couple of sessions due to the size.
Follow through on this is extremely important.  Always be kind when you are dealing with others but do follow up. We called on our package weekly.  Make sure your package includes the memo saying you understand there are limited facilities and no family housing here in Area 1.  Once Korea has all the correct information they usually get out your approval in less than 14 days.  The key is making sure they have all they need. 
The next thing you want to do is go apply for your no-fee Government Passport and Korean Visa at your local Post. They will take the pictures of you for these passport there.  You won't be able to get the passports until you actually have your tickets for travel.  
If you want to travel around to other countries while you are here then make sure you get duplicate official copies of your documents and apply for your Tourist Passports at your local Government Office.  Please note that if you already have your tourist passport you DO NOT have to surrender it in order to get your Government No-Fee Passport.
Once you are command sponsored you will recieve an official Memo.  Next, depending on if you are traveling with your sponosor or not. 
1. If you are traveling concurrently which I have seen more of lately, then you will be on his amended orders and you need to start getting tickets set up and movers arranged. 
2. If you are NOT traveling concurrent and your sponsor is in Korea, or going ahead of you. Then once they have secured an off post rental, the paperwork will be sent to Yongsan and orders will be cut for you to travel here.

Make sure you have your General Power of Attorney to take with you to set up travel, and moving.  Also take along all the copies of the orders, including ammended ones.

When you are traveling here you usually have one night at Dragon Hill lodge then you move on to either Casey Lodge or CRC.  If your sponsor already has a house then you can just go right to your apartment.  The only down side to the Dragon Hill Lodge is it Does NOT accept pets.  They will keep the pets for you on your first night but they will be out on the loading docks.  I wasn't to happy about that either.  To get around that I sent our pets to my husband before we got here.  Especially since we had an apartment already. That worked out good for us. 

I hope this helps a little. If you have any questions let me know.  Remember don't give up or get discouraged. It is wonderful to be with your family.  The apartments are really nice.  Just look around and make sure you find the ones that fit your family style.

Command Sponsorship Incentive Pay

Despite what we were told by a finance clerk, this pay does not automatically kick in when Housing submits your Command Sponsorship memo and housing paperwork to Yongsan Garrison. It requires filling out some paperwork by the service member. Begin with your company PAC office, who will send you to your Battalion S-1. There, they gave us an example of the packet. It requires a DA Form 4187, a copy of the Command Sponsorship Approval memo, and a copy of your ERB or ORB. Submit to your PAC office for routing and signatures, who will then route up to S-1 for action. We will let you know how long it takes to actually start receiving the incentive pay.

*It took about two months for the pay to kick in. We did get back paid to the day I got here.

Ration Control Program

Once you have your family entered into the DBIDS program you will need to get them their RCP cards. This can all be done at Building 611 on CRC. RCP cards will take 48 to 72 hours to be processed. Once they are done you will pick them up at the same place.

While you are waiting for your RCP cards you can use a copy of your orders that have been stamped with your arrival date at the DBIDS desk. These stamped orders, along with your military ID will work for purchasing things at both the PX and the Commissary.

Also please know that during one of the first three months you arrive you can exceed your monthly commissary ration by 50% to account for household setup. If you are not sure what your limit is for your family size there is a list posted at each commissary.

Family size/ Commissary Dollar Limit/ Beer Limit

1 / $550 / 8 Cases

2 / $850 / 8 Cases

3 / $1,100 / 8 Cases

4 / $1,300 / 8 Cases

5 / $1,500 / 8 Cases

6+ / $1,800 / 8 Cases

There doesn't appear to be any limit on wine.

Liquor that is 20% or more alcohol by volume is also limited. These are a bit confusing so I will quote directly from the "Ration Control Flyer" I was given when we signed up. "Liquor sales are restricted to those personnel with ration control privileges and are rationed in terms of alcohol units. Liquor Ration Limits are based on family size with age 21 or older. One bottle (fifth, quart, or liter) is counter as one liquor unit. A 1.75 litre bottle of liquor is counted as two liquor units. Two pints of liquor are counted as one alcohol unit. Six miniature bottles or less of liquor are counted as one pint. 7-12 miniature bottles count as one unit of liquor. Excess units will be rounded up to the next full liquor unit for reporting purposes. Excess miniature bottles of liquor will be rounded up to the next full pint unit.

Liquor Limits: Individuals: 3 Units, Family: 5 Units.

*Note to receive the "Family" size ration, there must be two adults (age 21 or older) in the family. "

Ration card holders may check their own purchases at USFK J1 Data Management's PIMS-K website at https://pimsk.korea.army.mil/

Deferred Travel

When your family members get orders to travel you will need to plan ahead for the expenses. The military pays for their plane tickets. However you won't be able to get a travel advance for them. Once they get in country you will be reimbursed for their lodging, etc. Some things you can do to help defer the cost of lodging, etc. is to:

1. Get an Advance on your pay. This way you will have the funds available for their lodging if you need them. The advance pay is an interest free loan that is paid back over a 12 month period. This is what the DOD Pay Regulation has to say about it: Regulation number 320102. Advance of Pay and Allowances. The purpose of an advance of pay is to ease hardships imposed by the lack of regular payments when a member is mobilized, ordered to duty at distant stations, or deployed aboard ships for more than 30 days.

2. Use a credit card then pay it off when you get reimbursed.

Incentives to Bring Your Family

What is the incentive to request a Command Sponsored tour in Korea?
Soldiers who elect to serve 36-month Accompanied tour with 2CAB (Camp Humphreys, Pyongtaek, Area III) or with 2CAB: 2-2AVN (K16-Base, Yongson, Area II) will receive $300 per month; Soldiers who elect to serve a 24-month Accompanied tour with 1HBCT or 210th FA Bde (Dongducheon, Area I), or 2ID HQ (Uijeongbu, Area I) will receive $300 per month, if their Family resides with them in Area I.

This information was found on the 2ID web page.