I'm entering the Korean Air Force !!!

[ArkiStan]

Hey everybody. Due to the mandatory military service that all Korean citizens must fulfill, I am entering the Korean Air Force this March. I'll be a serving as a liutenant officer at the Air Force doing speech translations for military officials at the HQ of the Korean Department of Defense. It'll probably be a high pressure job translating for important military affairs for high officials, but I'll be one of the very few who get paid well for their military service. All the things I'll learn and all the people whom I'll meet will be well worth long service period (3years 4 months). Well, basic training is four months and it starts this March. But I'm heading off to Korea this weekend to spend some time with my family before it starts. It'll be more like an office job than anything, so I'll still have internet access most likely. I'll only be cut off from gotapex for the 4-5 months of basic training. Oh what a hard time it will be without the G|A forums!!!~

gung ho!~

[whitak24]

Well, we will miss your presence here while you endure basic training, but look forward to having you back with us in a few months.
Good luck returning to Korea and with your military service. It sounds like you'll have some great opportunities and get to learn some things you wouldn't otherwise.

[brainsmile]

Good luck to you Stan. Serve the mother country proud man.

[topane]

Good luck!

[Speedfreak]

Good luck to ya! I never knew you could be a citizen of 2 different countries.

Ah.. well. Let us know how the basic was there once you get the net access back.

[brainsmile]

Sure you can... I have dual citizenship too. Canada and the US

[Grimm]

Good luck, trust no one. Remember, recruiters lie for a living. Get it all in writing before signing anything.

[ArkiStan]

Originally posted by Grimm
Good luck, trust no one. Remember, recruiters lie for a living. Get it all in writing before signing anything.

Haha, and there's also "don't ask, don't tell!!"

[molecularfire]

Good luck... and watch out for those papercuts. =:-)

[kimchicowboy]

just don't get involved with the north korean special forces. i hear they're the craziest and kill everything that's moving. heheheh. if you've ever seen "shwiri," you'd know what i mean.

[chrissy]

I remember you mentioning this before, I think. Or was it someone else...

Anyway, enjoy it. Learn from it and good luck.

Have a friend post your address while you are in basic. We can all send you a card or print a page of the forums for you

Oh and while you are over there, I need a few things jk

[Memo]

I have dual citizenship too, Mexico and the US. Good luck ucb

[Windsor]

Hmm...so if Stan accidentally mistranslates a word, it could be ALL over... How do you enter as an officer and not a grunt at your first year?

[sho.gun]

Hey good luck man, see you around.

[Nanotech9]

Originally posted by Grimm
Good luck, trust no one. Remember, recruiters lie for a living. Get it all in writing before signing anything.

he didnt get "recruited"... more like join or go to jail...

they do this in spain too... maybe it makes a man outta ya, but personally i would hate it.

The spanish military Tried to induct my brother when he turned 18... hes an American citizen, and not even remotely spahish. He was living in the US at the time too. They were like, "are you SURE he wasnt born in spain?"... hehe - he was 8 when we moved to spain. Damn those spanish military guys are greedy. They tried to act like my parents were teh stupid ones.

good luck dood!

[WhiskeyPapa]

A co-worker's son was born in Ecuador. He has dual citizenship. When he turned 18, according to Ecuadorian law, he was required to report for compulsory service. Of course, he never will, but now he can never enter Ecuador again, or he will be arrested.

[styleee]

yeah, i was going to ask about that...

what happens if you dont serve? can you never go back to korea again?

[ufcrusher]

Good luck and remember if you move real slow you can dodge them bullets! Seriously though, good luck and always keep your knife sharp.

[ArkiStan]

HAHA thanks for all the combat tips everybody!!
But as I said I'll be doing mostly translating (unless a war breaks out). And as Windsor said, I could mistranslate and it could be all over, or just have Korea pay more than necessary for their missiles . If I were to stay in the States till I'm 35, then I wouldn't have to go anymore, but my family is in Korea and that's sorta hard. However, I've heard of many cases where people have done that. Anyway, I think it'll be a great experience. Also there is a minute pride factor that exists among Korean males.

A: "I was in the Navy. Where did YOU serve?"
B: "I was a marine."
A: "How about you Stan?"
me: "mmm...I was hiding in Mississippi...."

Well, I wouldn't go if I had a choice. I have much to study and many things I'd like to do at this age. But since I can't really get around it in any non-shady manner, I might as well do it in style. There are very few ways you can serve starting as an officer and not a private. It's usually position where one's non-physical skills are needed (Computer, medical skills, English in my case) and there's a lot of competition. I had to fly to Korea twice this semester just for interviews and exams. I guess I was sort of lucky. My education here in the states surely helped a lot.

BTW, I don't have dual citizenship. I'm purely Korean. I'm just a foreign student who goes to school here.

[eSDee]

Good luck homie. Remember, pull the pin, throw the grenade, not the other way around!

[Ladogaboy]

Wow, must suck going froma G|A? Captain to a Korean Lieutenant!

Anyway, goodluck, and come out alive!

Remember, the only difference between a hero and a coward is which direction they run!

[hapoo]

This should save you loads of money... unless your willing to get stuff shipped their! Good luck!

[ArkiStan]

Originally posted by hapoo
This should save you loads of money... unless your willing to get stuff shipped their! Good luck!

hmmm...I'm not sure what you mean....but then again, it's 4am.

[hoey222]

good luck.

[mojo]

Originally posted by Grimm
Good luck, trust no one. Remember, recruiters lie for a living. Get it all in writing before signing anything.

they lie anyways. you get it in writing, then it's up to "interpretation"

anyways stan...good luck. we'll miss you. it'll be a good experience for you.

and btw, since you're korean and just here (on student visa, i assume) to study...i gotta say your english is a hell of a lot better than my korean!