It’s PCS season. And before you freak out, know that you can do it! You’re stronger than you think.

I’ll be right there with you, PCS’ing to an overseas location for the second time of my military journey this summer. 

This will be my sixth move and I’ve learned that you must have a positive mindset to get you through it.  

From one military spouse to another, you’re not alone. You’re part of an exclusive club of fiercely strong Milspouses, and you can tackle this.

You will make it out on the other side ok — maybe not completely unscathed — but you’ll have memories made and stories to tell.

In the meantime, embrace the chaos… and the help. The USO can be there every step of the way with you. Rely on them!

Before the Move

There aren’t many things military spouses can control about a PCS, including a potentially undesirable location.

One thing you can control is how knowledgeable you are about your new location before you start planning your move.

Jump on in! 

• To start, find out as much as you can about your new duty station, school, community, and housing options. 
• Create a checklist with timelines. Take this time to purge and “Marie Kondo” your life. Does it bring you joy? No? Toss it. Whatever you don’t throw away now will follow you to your next location.

Pro packing tip: If you’re having movers pack the house up, clearly mark off a closet or bedroom with essentials that you don’t want anyone to touch: your carry-ons, your PCS orders, phone chargers, Tylenol, cooking essentials, passports and travel documents, a portable sound machine your kids can’t survive without…

You get the idea. Label a couple “unpack first” boxes with important goodies.

Put some stickers on that bad boy or let your kids go to town with Sharpies for once so you’ll know which box to start with when you’ve reached your destination.

After your packing and moving research is near completion, follow your next location’s USO Facebook page so you know what to look forward to once you get there. 

Did you know?

Did you know the USO offers programs, connections, and events for every member of the military family? The calendar is likely full of fun at your USO for you, your spouse, and your kids. 

There’s Coffee Connections, game nights, Mommy and Me teas, craft nights, gaming tournaments, and more. The USO team wants to make your life better, easier, and more fulfilling – so let them!

If you’re currently connected to your local USO, staff can even make an e-introduction ahead of time so you’ll already know at least one person at your new place. Added bonus: the USO team will always do their best to support you. Check out the time they helped track down lost luggage.

During the Move

The USO can be a welcome friend while you’re on your way during your move.

If you’re flying, rely on USO airport locations. Of the USO’s more than 250 locations around the world, more than 50 of these are airport lounges. They can be found at several major and local airports across the United States and abroad.

Check if your airport has a USO lounge here.

Be sure to check out their hours and amenities.

At these lounges, which can be located before or after TSA security checkpoints, you can get a free cup of hot coffee to prep you for your next flight or take advantage of the free time to recharge by relaxing in a comfy chair and listening to your favorite playlist or podcast.  

Your children can be momentarily entertained by friendly and helpful volunteers who all love cute military kids.

The kids will love the distraction and being doted on with a nice snack.

While USO volunteers may not call themselves Mary Poppins, they’re a close second.

Most airport locations feature TVs, gaming systems, and free Wi-Fi so you can scroll on your phone, turn on an episode of Peppa Pig for your children or the newest hit on Netflix for you, or check in with loved ones back home.

These free lounges are open to all active-duty, Reserve and National Guard service members, as well as military families.  You can always go into these lounges without your service member, you simply need to show your military ID.  

Pro travel tip: If you’re driving and have some extra free time, turn it into a mini vacation. Your spouse and kids will follow your lead, so try to be positive as hard as it may be. You can set the tone for a fun and memorable trip. Stop and see friends or family along the way. Pack swimsuits and stay at a hotel with a pool. Take lots of pictures on your adventure!

After the Move

Once you’ve arrived on the other side, the key to finding happiness in a new duty station is to find at least one small positive about the new location. 

It might be a favorite store, a hiking trail, or a favorite restaurant. Or it might be a new culture, a lower cost of living, a USO Center, or access to a big city.

Pro unpacking tip: Once your belongings arrive, find your clearly labeled “unpack first” boxes (the ones you let your kids draw all over for easier spotting) with blankets, towels, toilet paper, paper plates, and Solo cups. These essentials will sustain you for a bit before you set off on your next adventure—the commissary or the grocery store.

Being far from family, friends, and support networks can make you feel like you’re lacking a consistent feeling of “home.” But luckily, as a member of the military community, “home” is only as far as the next USO Center.

Centers provide service members, military spouses, and military children with a home-like setting at military bases in every region that the U.S. military serves.

Make your local USO one of the first stops once you get to your new location. 

The USO team can get you connected to other local resources or tell you when the next Coffee Connections is to find your new besties. 

If you don’t have a USO nearby, you can sign up for our weekly USO Military Spouse & Family email that keep you up to date when many of our virtual events will be and we may even have a Pop-Up Coffee Connections or event coming your way soon!  

As I already mentioned, military spouse- and military family-focused programs and activities are offered at USO Centers providing the chance to meet others in your community and bond together. It is a place of respite that you can turn to in order to find community, especially when your spouse may be deployed. 

Know that you can find your “home away from home” with the USO. You’ve got a huge community cheering you on.

As one military spouse said after her PCS journey, “Now I know, and I tell everyone – go find your USO.” 

No matter where in the world you’re headed now or where your family’s service takes you next, you will always have the support of the USO. 

Written By Nicole Vogel

Nicole Vogel is a proud Air Force spouse, mom of two, and Senior Manager of Military Spouse and Family Programs at the USO. 

*To read more posts from the USO, visit our Expert Blog Page.