Top 10 Commander's Corral questions

  • Published
  • By 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Commander's Corral is a radio program airing every first and third Tuesday on AFN The Eagle, 88.5. Listeners can also tune into Channel 13, the Commander's Access Channel, to hear the broadcast.

Each week a squadron submits questions from its Airmen via the first sergeant. Listeners can also e-mail the wing commander (or vice commander if the commander is unavailable) at cccorral@afn.dma.mil or call in at 78-EAGLE (783-2453). The commander will answer e-mailed/called in questions on air, or if he does not know the answer he will get back to the person asking the question with the answer at a later time.

In an effort to avoid being asked the same questions repeatedly, the public affairs office has listed below the top 10 questions. In the future, public affairs will post, in text format, the questions/answers after each Commander's Corral broadcast. They will be posted on Osan's home page in the Commander's Corral section. For more information, call the public affairs office at 784-4044.

Question 1: With tour normalization will there be an affect on the frequency of Operational Readiness Exercises?
Answer 1: We have changed the ground rules surrounding the exercises to allow folks that are off-shift the opportunity to go to Chili's and the base exchange but the frequency will not change. The majority of Osan personnel are still on one year tours so the changeover remains high. Our mission is to be ready to fight and win tonight, and OREs prepare us for just that.

Question 2: Are there going to be any changes in the curfew, being more restrictive or getting rid of it all together, due to base normalization?
Answer 2: The Curfew Policy is established by the U.S. Forces Korea Commander. Originally the curfew policy was enacted because of Force Protection concerns and our need to "fight tonight." This is still true today. However, in 2009, General Sharp has already changed our curfew on weekends from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. because of his interests in pursuing a normalized tour for service members. In 2009 he mandated a USFK-wide stand-down because service member crime rates off-base skyrocketed; the message was if we couldn't curb criminal activity and ensure our service standards are being adhered to, then we lose the argument for removing the curfew. There are no plans being currently discussed at Osan or USFK that I am aware of, for any changes to curfew in the short term.

Question 3: Why is the PAC House closed during exercises, but the Gingko Tree remains open?
Answer 3: The Force Support Squadron fully supports the Osan wartime mission and keeps the Gingko Tree dining facility, Turumi Lodge and fitness center open during all wing exercises. PAC House personnel must rotate either to these areas or to their day/night exercise schedule shifts on the Saturday prior to the beginning of the exercise to sustain those operations during such exercises. We take great pride that with tour normalization we've been able to keep the Gingko Tree open and provide hot meals and still meet our wartime training requirements. Unfortunately, we cannot keep both open during exercises.

Question 4: Why do dorm residents have kitchens, but don't receive Basic Allowance for Subsistence?
Answer 4: Having a kitchen is not a factor the Air Force uses to determine BAS eligibility. Per the Air Force Manual 65-116, Volume 1, all enlisted members who are permanently assigned to single government quarters are required to pay for meals by having the discount meal collection rate collected via payroll deduction. The only existing exemption for BAS deductions is when Airmen consistently cannot be relieved from duty for 18 or more meals a month due to proven mission requirements.

Question 5: Someone wrote in and said they understand the need for restricted parking during the normal duty day, since they have seen the lack of parking created when everyone is at work. However, they are wondering if the policy can be changed to allow those with restricted parking privileges to be allowed to park anywhere after 5 p.m. during the week and anytime on the weekend since they see many spots available at those times.
Answer 5: This question refers to those who have a privately owned vehicle and fall under the restricted parking privileges via the Exception to Policy program. This was established to allow technical sergeants and below who live off base to have vehicles. Per that policy, no exceptions for weekend and after hours can be made. Exception to Policy for POV use is more liberal at Osan than at other USFK installations. I have balanced the challenges of living off-base with limited parking available on-base by limiting where technical sergeants and below may park. As all ETP packages indicate, only three parking lots are approved for non-command sponsored technical sergeants and below use, which is the second floor of the commissary parking garage, the parking lot adjacent to Carolina Road by the main gate and the parking outside of Papa 2 gate.

Question 6: Will more Command Sponsored billets become available?
Answer 6: Command sponsored billets were set by HQ PACAF and USFK based on available resources on Osan Air Base. As the infrastructure grows the number of CSP billets will increase until Osan is considered "normalized"... or more than half of all personnel here are accompanied. Currently Osan has 632 authorized CSP personnel; that number will grow in the future after the supporting infrastructure and facilities are in place.

Question 7: What is being planned for parking expansion? Parking garages near the base exchange and wing headquarters?
Answer 7: The base currently has 6,000 registered vehicles and only 2,763 parking spots, so you are right, parking is definitely a problem. We are working on this but, as with most construction projects, it will take time. Future plans for Osan include a new U.S. Army Brigade headquarters building near the main exchange which will create an additional 270 parking spots. And as we move into Phase II of Tour Normalization here, there will be an additional 1,200 parking spots that will be added throughout the base. Please bear with us, I know parking can be frustrating but we are working on the issue.

Question 8: Is there going to be any cold weather gear given out, since most of the Airmen are not allowed to have cars and this is a walking base?
Answer 8: The 51st Logistics Readiness Squadron no longer manages individual equipment issue and each unit is responsible to provide required individual protective equipment to its members. Units can purchase items through the GSA store. A good source for units to order uniform items if GSA is out is http://www.kellac.com/. They are an approved GSA source.

Question 9: What is the plan to increase job opportunities for family members as we continue the tour normalization process?
Answer 9: Civilian jobs at Osan are based on mission requirements. Normalization is expected to increase the number of civilian jobs due the increased demand and need for mission support services. Decisions to employ Korean Nationals vs. U.S. citizens are based on many factors including: skills available in the local area (which includes U.S. dependents), and need to employ Korean Nationals for continuity and economy. Although no formal plan is in effect to specifically increase job opportunities, the Osan Civilian Personnel Office is researching options to maximize employment opportunities for dependents. For example, we are in the process of hiring 15 new Unit Program Coordinators for squadron level orderly rooms; military spouses have first priority during the hiring process if qualified.

Question 10: Why must military members in uniform show their ID card at the BX and commissary but not at the Shoppette?
Answer 10: The primary purpose of controlling access to the BX is to ensure only personnel authorized by the SOFA and DOD regulation can get duty-free goods. As we all know, controlling access is achieved through ID card and access media checks. In general, according to USFK 60-1, access media must be checked prior to patrons entering the facility. For small facilities, less than $1 million in monthly sales, access media will be checked at the cash register; however, if this procedure is used, the access media must be checked before the cashier rings up the sale.