If you are PCSing this year, then you’ve come to the right place!
Here at Army Wife Network, we’ve faced our fair share of relocations, DITYs, government moves, overseas stints, and everything between. We’ve been there done that and have the stickers to prove it.
With all that experience, we know how stressful it can be. Packing and loading means 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.
We know it’s a lot of information, so we want to break it down into smaller sections. Cruise through our headings below, and click through to what you need.
When your service member comes home with the words “we got orders,” you probably immediately begin making a mental list of all the PCS prep you need to do. We get it! It’s so many things, and none of us want to forget an important part.
Click here to view a PCS checklist that can help you with any PCS, whether CONUS, OCONUS, or DITY!
The Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP, is military wide. However, there are some key differences in how branches implement the program which could impact your PCS. Namely, the Navy and Coast Guard have a category system; the other branches consider on a case-by-case basis. Click here to view the EFMP process.
You have received those beautiful orders and can officially begin preparing for your upcoming PCS! Now comes the fun part… As you prepare for your big move and start thinking about packing your belongings, we have some tips to keep in mind, regardless of whether you’re pre-packing for your movers or are moving yourself. Click here to view our packing tips.
Moving brings on a whole set of expectations, frustrations, and stress. I have yet to meet someone who looks forward to the PCS process. However, I’d like to challenge you to take a fresh perspective into your next PCS season through a new series, The Ultimate PCS Handbook: Take Command of Your Move. This series explores tips from seasoned spouses and veterans who have been there, done that. Because of the intricacies of moving, this series is a big one, so be sure to check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
If you have a military family, you likely know all too well about Permanent Change of Station orders. For better or for worse, frequent moves and deployments come with the territory for active-duty service members and their families–and they’re never without stress.
The first decision families make when they learn about an upcoming PCS move is whether to go with the standard military contractor or to manage the move on their own. Personally Procured Moves, or DITY (Do-It-Yourself) moves as they were once known, are a popular option because Uncle Sam incentivizes military families with a one-time cash payment. The advantage is that families that choose the PPM route and have the resources to plan ahead often come out with some extra cash.
Planning a PPM move piece-by-piece over several months is often the best way to avoid stress and focus energy making the transition easier for kids–who, quite often, collect the most anxiety in the process. Click here to view our tips for a painless PPM/DITY.
An overseas PCS, also referred to an OCONUS PCS, is a whole new experience if you’ve never done one before. It requires many additional steps and decision making than a regular CONUS PCS. Some find it stressful because they can’t move anything themselves other than what they can pack into suitcases or mail ahead. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with a step-by-step look to guide you through the prep, packing, and moving, from start to finish. Click here to read on.
If you own pets, you probably already have some extra tricks up your sleeve when it comes to moving. However, if it’s been awhile, or if you’re moving for the first time with your furry friend(s), there are a few key things to remember. Whether you’re moving across the country or across the world, click here to view our full list of helpful information for relocating with pets.
Summer time is upon us. It’s the season of BBQ, pools, beaches, and carefree sunny days. This is also known as PCS season.
A season of chucking all of your earthly possessions into a truck hopefully headed for a new duty station, repeatedly throwing your kids some chicken nuggets in the back row for the 32-hour drive, and reminding yourself that you won’t get any of your husband’s SGLI if you murder him for stopping for the 500,000th time for a pee break.
Here’s a playlist to blast over your partner’s podcasts and your kids’ seventh repeat of Incredibles 2.
One thing we know for sure is that every move comes with its fair share of unknowns, the biggest of which is your new duty station! There are so many things to consider—schools, medical care, housing, and what there is to do in a new area—and we want to take a bunch of that guesswork out of the equation. Click here to access our Post With the Most series, where we tackle all the big questions and connect you to valuable resources with links that take you directly to the source.
Many spouses have contacted us, asking, “What’s command sponsorship, and how do we get it?” We’ve got you covered!
There are two ways that family members receive command sponsorship:
- They travel to overseas commands on government orders and automatically receive command sponsorship effective on their date of arrival into the command
- They request command sponsorship.
Click here for more information to guide you through the process.
