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Need a Mountain Getaway?
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MANAGING YOUR MILITARY MOVE |
| Check in with your family
center relocation manager as soon as you know you'll be changing duty
stations. Ask for copies of helpful
materials such as moving forms, checklists, pet regulations, etc. Make
sure to discuss your allowances and entitlements, and understand how they
are computed. Your relocation manager has the experience. Tap into it.
The day after you find out where you're going, start shedding things you won't need there. A yard sale is a great way to make extra cash, simplify packing and reduce your shipment weight. After the sale, donate remaining things to thrift shops and take the tax deduction if you itemize. Get information about your new duty station. A ton of online information is available about some 300 military bases worldwide. You can use links on your family center site. Begin the search for new spouse or teen employment early. When? Just as soon as you know PCS orders will be coming. The more lead time the better, since getting a good job in the right field requires skill, timing, good references and a bit of luck. To build a resume and brush up on interviewing and cover letter writing, visit the Employment Station. You'll also find some useful Internet links to job bulletin boards, like those in The Monster Board and America's Job Bank. Keep your moving plan up to date. Use a to-do list and cross off what you've done. Track your progress. Make lists of things you realize must be done. In two words, stay organized. Set up your moving budget. Print it and bring a copy to the meeting with your relocation manager. Together, you can work up a realistic budget. Your move isn't fully funded by the military. Budgeting is essential to help minimize your costs.Know what you have to do every day, and do it. When moving, there's no such thing as a day off. New things will crop up, and you'll need to juggle several tasks every day. Remember to check items off your plan only when you complete them--not when you begin them. Look into the laws and requirements in your new community about pets, plants and produce. They can be tricky. Georgia peaches can't go to California. Some countries require long quarantines for pets. Most important, many states require an interstate health certificate for animals. In addition, read up on moving pets. You may have less coverage for pet-related costs than you think. Keep important travel and moving documents in one safe place. You never know who's going to ask for what and when! This includes 10 copies of PCS orders, birth certificates, PIN numbers, insurance policies, medical and dental records (including prescriptions, x-rays, doctors' names, etc.), duplicate vehicle registrations and titles, reservation confirmations, shipping authorizations, household inventory form or anything you may need in transit. Consider packing fragile or valuable items yourself. There is an upside and a downside to this. You cannot claim reimbursement for damage or loss if you pack items yourself. However, for peace of mind, you may choose to pack, or even transport, high-value items yourself. The fact is, if your commercial mover breaks your antique Victorian pitcher, you might only receive the replacement cost for an ordinary vase. So, if possible, take irreplaceable items with you. Mail them if you must, but be sure to insure them and send them Certified. Arrange to have someone care for your pets and younger children on moving day. Moving day will find you trying to be in a dozen places at once. You don't need the added distractions of emotional, well-meaning but inept helpers and frazzled animals. Everyone will be happier if kids and pets come back after loading is complete. Keep your telephone and utilities active until the day after your move. That way, you can confirm reservations at the last minute, or make that call to Mom just before you get behind the wheel. You can also give the movers a drink of water or iron that uniform that just hit the deck. Check in with the family center relocation manager and the Transportation Office at your new duty station as soon as you arrive. Get the forms to put in for all benefits and entitlements, and do it while your records of the trip are still handy. Also, make sure you file any damage claims right away. |
