Prepare Early

In order to reduce stress that can accompany a permanent change of station (PCS), it’s important not to wait until the last minute before preparing for your move, particularly if one has orders overseas or during the summer months when most transfers take place. As soon as you are in receipt of orders, contact your transportation/shipping office and make an appointment to meet with a relocation counselor who can advise and assist you with your move. 

Take House Hunting Leave if Possible

While government housing may be available at one’s next duty station, the need or option to rent or buy a home can best be handled by utilizing house hunting leave that does not affect one’s annual leave. Some questions that need to be answered early in this regard are: Are government quarters available that will meet your needs given the size of your family and the amount of household goods you possess? If you are interested in buying a home, are the demographics in the area supportive of your needs (e.g., proximity of good schools, commute distance to your work site, employment opportunities for spouse, increasing real estate values, etc.). If you plan on renting, before contacting a realty company, have you visited the base housing office that often provides a list of apartments, townhouses and homes for rent according to areas and price ranges?

Discard Useless Items

Over the years we all acquire items that we no longer use or need. Rather than having them transported to our new duty station, it’s best to donate them to charity or hold a “yard sell.” This is particularly important if one has orders overseas or is moving into a home smaller than the one that is being vacated. Packing and unpacking is hard enough without having to waste time on unpacking junk that takes up space and requires energy to store.

Inform family, friends and businesses of your new address

The US Postal Service provides various forms that can help having one’s mail forwarded either to a interim address, or directly to one’s new address. While first class mail will be forwarded up to one year following one’s move, it’s best to inform family, friends, utilities, banks and credit card companies, magazine publications, and others of one’s new address as soon as one is resettled. Preparing these notifications early can reduce the potential for bills not being paid or credit card interest being assessed due to late payments.

Do not be preoccupied with your past duty station or unrealized orders

Some couples and families arrive at their new duty station and discover that there may not be certain conveniences that were available at their prior location where they may have had roomier quarters, better schools, or shorter commutes. Others may be upset that they were sent to a particular place instead of a command that was at the top of their “dreamsheet.” In so far as happiness stems from an appreciation of who we are and what we have received; whereas, unhappiness derives from a preoccupation with who we are not or what we have not received; people are a lot happier who come to appreciate what their new duty station has to offer. Think positive, explore your new surroundings, make new friends, and your new tour of duty might end up being the best one of your entire career.

Gene-Thomas Gomulka – “A voice for military families”
Columnist and author of The Survival Guide for Marriage in the Military available at www.plaintec.net

Have a question or comment? Write Gene-Thomas at letters@plaintec.net