Families & Newcomers

Welcome

The 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team trains and maintains to always be ready to “fight tonight” to deter aggression on the Korean peninsula and if deterrence fails, to defeat any aggressor against the ROK-US alliance.

The Iron Brigade consists of six battalions: 2-9 Infantry (Manchus), 1-72 Armor (Crusader), 4-7 Cavalry (Saber), 1-15 Artillery (Guns), 302nd BSB (Iron Horse) and 1st BSTB (Spartans).

1st HBCT is part of the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID), the major US ground combat unit in Korea. The Division’s headquarters is located at Camp Red Cloud, and its primary mission is to deter war on the Korean peninsula by maintaining a high state of combat readiness and vigilance. 2ID units are truly “Second to None.”

All information on this page is available as a PDF download. Click here to download.

Where will I be?

Camp Casey, home of 1st HBCT, is located in Donducheon, South Korea approximately 40 miles north of Seoul. Camp Casey and Camp Red Cloud (CRC) are commonly referred to as Area I. For more information on Camp Casey, click this link.

The Republic of Korea (ROK), or South Korea, is known as the “Land of the Morning Calm”. Located between China and Japan, South Korea is a modern country with a 5,000 year history. Seoul, the capital, is the 10th largest city in the world. The official language is Korean.

Korea has four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. Winters are cold and snowy and summers are hot and humid. June brings “monsoon season,” a period of heavy rain and strong winds ending in September.

You will discover that South Korea is a beautiful, modern country with a rich and vibrant history. For more information on Korea, visit the Korean Tourism Organization at this link.

Can I bring my family?

Yes! Korea is no longer a dependent restricted tour. Two year accompanied (Command Sponsored) tours are available. You may still choose to come to Korea for one year unaccompanied (without your family).

For more information on Command Sponsored Tours, click this link.


Housing

On-post housing is not available in Area I. Homes available off-post are modern high rise and low rise apartments (2-4 bedroom). Monthly rents range from $1,000-$2,000 depending on apartment size, amenities and location. for more information on housing options in Area I, visit this link.

While stationed in Korea with your family, you will receive Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) instead of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). To calculate your OHA, visit this link and use “South Korea, Donducheon” as the location.


Schools

Area I does not have any Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDs). Families in Area I have two options:

1. An education provided through the Non-DoD School Program. This program provides payments of tuition in international-type (private) schools, reimbursement of expenses for home school programs, and virtual school programs.

2. Attend the DoDDS-Korea schools in Area II (Yongson) on a space available basis. Transportation to Yongson is the responsibility of the sponsor.

For more information on school options, visit this link.


Childcare

Currently, Area I does not have a Child Development Center (CDC). Military Childcare and Family Childcare Centers are not available. Childcare is available at Yongson Garrison (2 hours from Camp Casey) at the Yongson CDC.

Some childcare options for families in Area I are:

  • Hire a private individual to care for children (i.e. a nanny, babysitter)
  • Use Korean daycare facilities (keep in mind Korean regulations are standards differ from those in the US).

Medical and Dental Care

Medical and Dental services at MTFs (Miltary Treatmet Facilities) in Korea are available to dependants on a space available basis.

Medical Services

For information on the Camp Casey Health Clinic (also called the TMC) click this link.

The Camp Casey Health Clinic offers routine appointments, walk in services and 24 hour after hours care. Pediatric, OB/GYN and X-ray services are offered. There are no emergency services available at the Clinic. Depending on the emergency, patients are stabilized and transported to Brian Allgood Community Hospital (121 Hospital) located on Yongson Garrison, approximately 2 hours away from Camp Casey. The hospital offers routine appointments, emergency room care and specialty care. For more information click this link.

Dental Services

There are no services for dependents at the Camp Casey Dental Clinic. Dependents are seen at Yongson Dental Clinic #2 on a space available basis. For more information on Dental Clinic #2, click this link.

Dependents in Area I can choose to see a local provider instead of traveling to Yongson. There are several English speaking dentists on the Tricare local providers list. For a list of Tricare Dental local providers, click this link.


In-processing and Settling Families

When you arrive at Incheon Airport, go to the 1st Replacement Center (1RC) desk located in the arrival terminal at the end of the west wing, through Exit 14, where Army Representatives will assist you.

You and your family will take the 1RC provided bus to USAG-Yongson where you will begin in-processing and stay at the Dragon Hill Lodge.

You will spend one night in the Dragon Hill Lodge. The following morning you will report to 1RC for mandatory briefings. 2nd Infantry Division Soldiers will then be identified, separated, and depending on your category, transported to the Warrior Readiness Center (WRC).

Accompanied with Family

Soldiers arriving with families will be linked with either their sponsor or unit representative as the priority remians to ensure adequate housing and to settle families prior to the Soldier completing WRC in-processing.

  • Families assigned to live in Area I will be transported to WRC from 1RC. You will be released to your sponsor or unit representative to begin house-hunting. Temporary lodging is available at the Casey Lodge. Rooms at the Casey Lodge fill quickly, call DSN 315-730-4247 or commercial 011-82-31-869-4247 to make a reservation.
  • Families assigned to live in Area II (Yongson) will be released after in-processing 1RC to your sponsor or unit representative to secure housing. Temporary lodging is available at the Dragon Hill Lodge.

Unaccompanied

Unaccompanied Soldiers will be transported to WRC to complete in-processing, after which they will be released to their units to secure permanent lodging.

For more information including a detailed schedule of in-processing at WRC, click this link.


Ration Cards

For Civilian employees and Family Members, the most important thing you may need in Korea, besides a great pair of walking shoes, is a Ration Control Card.

Your ration card is just as important as your military identification card. In short, it is a card that most on-post businesses, like Army and Air Force Exchange, Commissary and the Chosun Gift Shop, need to see before you can make purchases.

Officials want to make sure you are not purchasing huge quantities of any item in order to resell. Your sponsor should be able to provide you with a temporary card when you arrive.

The following are some important points about this important card:

  • You will need a Ration Card for each authorized Family Member (children ages 10 and up).
  • Don’t leave home without it
  • During their first two weeks in Korea, Civilian employees and Family Members can shop in the Commissary and PX with a military identification card and a copy of their PCS orders.
  • Every purchase in the Commissary is recorded in a real-time system based on a shoppers identification number. The Commissary system sends information to a database which automatically generates a violation notice if you exceed your purchase limit.
  • At the PX, ration limits restrict purchasing a maximum of three of the same high-value item. Cosmetics, select health and beauty aids and select wines are some of the high-value, high-demand items.

The Camp Casey Ration Card issuing office is located in Maude Hall, Bldg 2440. For more information, call DSN 730-3475. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursdays 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Visit this link for more information on ration control, Ration Cards, and purchases limits.


Noncombatant Evacuation Operations

While Korea is a relatively safe location, it is important that all “noncombatants” be prepared to evacuate both quickly and safely. Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) are operations directed by the US Department of State to evacuate eligible personnel frm foreign countries when their lives are endanger by war, natural disaster, or civil unrest to safe havens or to the US. People considered noncombatants are family members of US Department of Defense (DoD) military and civilian employees, non-emergency essential US civilian employees, and DoD invited contractors and their families. Both Command Sponsored and Non Command Sponsored families are eligible for evacuation assistance from Korea.

Military members and emergency essential civilian employees are NOT considered noncombatants and will remain in Korea until directed otherwise. All DoD affiliated noncombatants must register for NEO with their NEO Warden. To help noncombatants prepare for a possible evacuation, US Forces Korea (USFK) conducts a twice yearly Courageous Channel exercise. All DoD affiliated noncombatants are required to participate in these exercises, in order to rehearse evacuation procedures and to train personnel who support NEO execution. In addition to participating in Courageous Channel, each family is required to maintain a NEO kit which includes the following:

  • Important documents (NEO packet), for a list of these documents, click this link.
  • Enough food and water to last three days
  • Protective equipment issued by the military

For more information on NEO, click this link.


What can I do in Korea?

Whether you come to korea with your family, or on your own, your options are unlimited.

Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR)

Army FMWR is a comprehensive network of support and leisure services designed to enhance the lives of Soldiers, their families, civilian employees, military retirees and other eligible participants. FMWR services include Army Community Services (ACS), recreation, sports, entertainment, libraries, gyms, Indianhead Golf Course, bowling, movies, cultural trips and much more. For more information, click this link.

USO

Make the most of your time here by exploring beautiful Korea! USO offers in-country tours, canteen, a lounge and internet cafe. For more information, click this link.

BOSS

Area I has a very active BOSS (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers) Program. Recent activities include volunteer opportunities, cultural trips, talent contests, speed dating, and a trip to Caribbean Bay (the world’s largest water park). For more information, click this link.

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