If you are PCSing this year, then you’ve come to the right place!
Here at Mission: Milspouse, we’ve faced our fair share of relocations, DITYs, government moves, overseas stints, and everything in between. We’ve been there and done that, and we have the stickers to prove it.
With all that experience, we know how stressful it can be. Packing and loading mean moving all of your belongings—special things, irreplaceable things—and none of us really want things broken or damaged. While we can’t ensure there won’t be casualties of PCS, we can help you prepare to make the move a little smoother.
Check out all of our blog post pertaining to all things PCS. Get ready for some practical tips AND insight into experiences of those who have been there, moved that.
Living at an OCONUS duty station is probably one of the most exciting parts of being a military family. Not everyone gets the chance, but if you ever do, seize that opportunity with both hands, even if it scares you.
There are so many wonderful things to experience, from the extensive history, to food, to traditions, and more. If you’ve ever lived at an OCONUS location, then you may know how easy it is to leave a part of yourself there.
A couple of days ago, I stood in our scantly-equipped kitchen. Our little family was finishing up our latest PCS. We had arrived at our final destination, found a wonderful house that met our needs, and now we were waiting on the delivery of our household goods.
So, yes, there I stood, looking around our bare kitchen, dreaming, planning, thinking… all of which are fave hobbies of mine with any PCS.
PCSing is hard on the entire family, but when you have children, they may take it the hardest. No matter their ages, a big life change like moving is a traumatic experience in their lives.
When PCSing from a loved location or a location where your family may have lived nearby or there were good friends made, the move is even harder for everyone. While you’re mourning the loss of this location, keep in mind that the rest of your family is, too.
When I was 5 years old, my family relocated for my father’s company consolidation. In preparing for my first-ever move, I told my mom I didn’t want to go because I didn’t want to leave my best friend. She was understandably confused. She couldn’t pinpoint one friend that was my favorite or that I’d spent the most time with from preschool or our neighborhood, so she had to ask. “Who’s your best friend?”
Very emotionally, I replied in all seriousness, “My house!”
As wonderful as military life can be, it sure does throw you for a major loop every now and then. In my (short) experience, this usually happens during a deployment or a pregnancy. Currently, for me, it’s the latter.
With every PCS, there are little moments of excitement. For instance, the stars twinkle a little brighter when you receive the keys to your new house and anticipate the good times at this fresh address. Your imagination swirls with DIY projects to try from your Pinterest boards. Your children jump for joy to freely run around their new backyard and pets are happy to bid farewell to your temporary lodging quarters. As you walk in the front door, you and your military family can look forward to settling in and feeling at home. But first, you have to complete the exit cleaning chores.
Mission: Milspouse is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN Number: 88-1604492
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904