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.
The orders come telling you it’s time to move…again. Your heart fills with anxiety and anticipation, all at once. So much to do to get ready! So much to pack! How in the world did we accumulate so much stuff? Your mind is spinning with a to-do list that keeps growing with each new thought and idea.
How will I get it all done?
But wait! There is one very important item to add to your agenda—your child.
I’ve been a military spouse for quite some time, so when my husband is asked to make a duty station assignment dream sheet, my eyes glaze over a little right before they land in a reluctant roll. We’ve never gotten our first choice, so the whole ordeal feels like a waste of time.
Time that could be better spent eating cookies.
Recently, our family PCS’d to my husband’s new duty station assignment. Granted, it’s only about five hours south of the post he was previously assigned to, but for me, it might as well have been a world away. I’m an introvert by nature, and admittedly, I’m only three years into my military spouse journey and still on the learning curve. Although, I’ve been told the learning curve never really goes away because, as soon as you figure out how the military system functions, they decide to change things up!
When moving overseas with the military, there are numerous resources dedicated to helping you with the nitty-gritty details: what to pack, what to leave behind in storage, your household goods weight allowance, information about moving with a pet, and even point-by-point details of how to prepare and ship your vehicle. Your overseas sponsor should help you with practical information about the area ahead of time and logistics as you arrive in country.
Congratulations! You have made it through your initial and individual training and arrived at your first duty station. You may still feel new to the military, but you should be filled with the pride of finally being able to practice your military profession. A great experience at your first duty station is a critical step to propel you and your military career to lifelong success.
We’ve gathered some pointers to help you get the most out of the military experience. For those longer serving military members, this article is a reminder of all that your military installation can do for you.
When you or your partner are on active duty, moving is unavoidable. The fact is, military couples and families have to move—a lot. It’s a part of this life. When you’ve moved multiple times within a few years and can only anticipate more Permanent Change of Stations in your future, learning all the ins-and-outs of moving can mean the difference between a stressful mess and relocation perfection. So, what do you do when your PCS ends up being not-so-permanent?
Mission: Milspouse is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN Number: 88-1604492
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904