OCONUS - Mission: Milspouse

Thanks to Video Chatting

by Angie Andrews | Sep 6, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Military Life, OCONUS

While re-reading my previous post, I keep coming back to the, “You should have seen my face!” exclamation and subsequent wordy explanation of how I did see my own face—thanks to video chatting.

Lately, I have been thinking how thankful I am for video chats. Guessing I am not the only one with an increased participation in video calls, I got a little curious about the history of them.

A recent Time magazine article shared some insight into the history of video calling and how this technology took much longer than anticipated to actually take off.

The Never-ending War

by Scot Shumski | Jul 30, 2020 | Blog, Experience, PCS

Every two or three years a battle happens for military families who are PCSing.

That battlefield is your home, and the casualties are not only your possessions, but your sense of calm, serenity, and sense of right and wrong.

I’m talking about moving.

Some battles are so epic, it spawns a Facebook group with thousands of members consisting of military families that have faced moving horror stories. They turn to this group not only for retribution solutions, but also to simply share their grief, anger, and bewilderment.

OCONUS PCS Pro Tips

by Retired Blogger | Jul 26, 2020 | Blog, Experience, OCONUS, PCS

Now that I have moved into our house (albeit, without our HHG which are somewhere on a container ship in the Atlantic Ocean at this moment), I can breathe a nice, full breath knowing we successfully navigated an OCONUS PCS right smack-dab in the middle of COVID.

I’m not writing you today to tell you about a PCS during COVID, but rather, about a couple important and helpful tips we used to PCS from an OCONUS duty station, because that’s a whole new ball of wax with more opinions on the rules than those put forth by medical and political Facebook experts.

Here are six pro tips:

Milspouse Rebel: Mail Room Edition

by Angie Andrews | Jul 6, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Household 6, Military Life, OCONUS

Daring the skies to open up on me today was the most fun I have had checking the mail, possibly ever. I knew it was going to rain. Didn’t have to be a genius to figure that one out based on the sky and the fact that it’s the rainy season—ahem, rainy half of the year—here in Okinawa.

I stood in my closet and picked out appropriate clothing.

To check the mail?

Yes.

Is this girl really writing about checking the mail? Like there is something to say about that?

Yes. Yes, I am.

Tips to Prepare You for an OCONUS PCS

by Hope For The Warriors | Jun 20, 2020 | Blog, Expert, Military Life, OCONUS, PCS

Decisions, decisions!

Parents make decisions every day that impact their family. Some decisions are more complex than others, and for military families, some decisions are unique and different from what a civilian neighbor may face. For example, military families moving overseas face a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety leading up to and during an OCONUS move. And sometimes the return trip stateside can be equally tough.

The Sweetest Cheesecake

by Angie Andrews | Dec 6, 2019 | Blog, Experience, Military Life, OCONUS

Thanksgiving this year turned out to be a first on a few levels. More than 7,000 miles away from the United States—definitely a first. Being the only female at our gathering—a first, except for the few years when it was only my husband and me having a two-person Thanksgiving. Only one person eating dessert before heading home—um, yes, possibly a first at all Thanksgiving gatherings that ever occurred everywhere.

All firsts aside, it was a memorable Thanksgiving.

We shared our home and meal with five soldiers, plus one stuck at the office on shift.

Our guests were all still living the barracks life, and so I seriously was not expecting anyone to bring anything besides their appetites. So, I was surprised to find out that one was planning to bring a cake!

Celebrating the Holidays Far From Home

by Sarah Peachey | Nov 21, 2019 | Blog, Experience, Military Life, OCONUS, Relationships

We have entered that time of year when the hustle and bustle begins. Many of us are planning meals, travel by car or plane, what we’ll pack in our luggage, and exactly what is the best way to tackle a long-distance journey and maintain everyone’s sanity.

But for some of you, you may live too far away to conveniently travel the distance, or your finances aren’t in a place to support hotel stays, gas, or plane tickets, or you may have new additions to your family and prefer to celebrate in the quiet of your own home or in your own way. Maybe it’s a combination of all three.

Not everyone enjoys spending the holidays away from family—and for some of us, we feel a deep absence in our hearts.

EYB: USAG Benelux

by Embrace Your Base | Sep 14, 2019 | Blog, Embrace Your Base, Expert, OCONUS

Located in south-eastern providence of Limburg, Netherlands next to Belgium and Luxemburg, lies USAG Benelux-Schinnen, Netherlands. It is called a tri-country base, serving Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands. USAG Benelux-Schinnen is the most widely dispersed garrison in United States Army Europe.

When Living Overseas is Difficult

by Sarah Peachey | Sep 2, 2019 | Blog, Experience, OCONUS, PCS

I always say that it’s worth taking a shot on an OCONUS PCS. Living overseas in a new place can be exciting with plenty of things to see and do.

But it can also feel isolated, scary, and too new for comfort.

I spent three years overseas in Germany, living in a very small German village, so I feel I have a little bit of perspective on this. I didn’t live on post. I was in a set of six row homes, all of whom were Americans, but we were surrounded by Germans.

It. Was. Hard.