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ID Expired? Get a Renewal by October 31, 2021

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The pandemic put a wrench in the ID card renewal process. With closures on base to minimize contact, an extension on expired ID cards was provide by the DOD. This extension has been extended for all temporary Uniformed Services ID (USID) cards that expire between January 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021. This time period has been outlined due to the increase in demand for ID card renewals secondary to the closures of renewal locations until recently. This does not apply to Common Access Cards (CAC).

Who does this affect, and by what date?

  • Foreign Affiliates and their dependents have until August 31, 2021 to get a new card
  • Dependents of Active Duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members and their dependents have until October 31, 2021 to get a new card
  • Retirees and their dependents have until January 31, 2022 to get a new card
  • All other USID card populations have until January 31, 2022 to get a new card

What is the minimal age for an initial USID card?

While historically, children/dependents age 10 were required to get a USID card, it is has not been increased to age 14.

What about previous expiration dates?

Any cards that expired prior to January 1, 2020 have NOT been extended through this new extension and must be replaced.

What about expiration dates after July 31, 2021?

Per the DOD release, any ID cards that expire after July 31, 2021 should be replaced by their expiration date.

Where do I get an ID card renewed?

Visit the ID card office near you! To check for locations and available appointment times, check out the website for the ID Card Office online here.

Looking for the up-to-date Frequently Asked Questions about all things military ID card? Check out this resource here.

Fisher House Awards 500 Scholarships to Military Children

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Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        44-21                                                                                                                        

Date:                              June 21, 2021

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

‘Exceptional quality’

Fisher House awards 500 scholarships to military children from pool of over 3,600 applicants

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

The Scholarships for Military Children program once again came through for 500 students from military families who were each awarded a $2,000 scholarship grant for the upcoming 2021 – 2022 school year. The program, created in 2001, recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissaries’ role in enhancing the military’s quality of life. To learn more,click here.

FORT LEE, Va. – Even as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on college and university academic schedules nationwide this year, the Scholarships for Military Children program once again came through for 500 students from military families who were each awarded a $2,000 scholarship grant for the upcoming 2021 – 2022 school year.

The program, created in 2001, recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissaries’ role in enhancing the military’s quality of life. It’s administered by the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps service members and their families.

It was Fisher House’s efforts in recent years to modernize the entry process and bring it fully online which left it well prepared for a year complicated by a global pandemic, according to Marshall Banks, Fisher House Foundation’s director of community relations.

“We were very happy with the application process for the 2021-2022 scholarship programs,” he said. “The quality of applications received this year was exceptional. We received a total of 3,657 applications from 220 commissaries.”

While the application process went off without a hitch, the usual celebratory ceremonies held at commissaries for local scholarship winners had to be cancelled due to COVID.

“While we would normally hold a ceremony at the commissary, during these uncertain times with social distancing, ceremonies could not be held this year,” said Marye Dobson, the Defense Commissary Agency’s scholarships program liaison. Instead, scholarship winners were notified by mail and will receive an official certificate mailed to them by the commissary where they were selected as the recipient.

Scholarship applicants submit their official transcript indicating a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school applicants, or indicating a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students already enrolled in college; and an essay of 500 words or less, no longer than two pages.

Eligibility is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants must ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2021 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.

Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions are available at the Scholarships for Military Children website, as is the full list of this year’s winners.

“The window to apply for the 2022-2023 Fisher House Scholarships for Military Children should open in December and close in February, but the exact dates have not been determined yet,” said Dobson. “Be sure to check the scholarship page in mid-December for the opening of the program.”

Fisher House also recently added a custom scholarship search engine to the site, tailored to military families, called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available on mobile devices or computers at militaryscholar.org.

“Fisher House Foundation is proud of our partnership with the Defense Commissary Agency that provides scholarships to well-deserving military children,” said Banks. “Over the last 21 years, we have provided $21,126,000 in scholarships.”

Fisher House Foundation is ranked a Four Star Charity by Charity Navigator. No government funds are used to support the Scholarships for Military Children Program. Commissary vendors, manufacturers, brokers, suppliers and the general public donate money to fund the program.

-DeCA-

New Army Fitness Test is Leading to over 50% Failure Rate of Enlisted Women

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The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) was launched a little over half a year ago, replacing the previous Physical Fitness test. The ACFT was made of six events: 3 repetition maximum deadlift (MDL), standing power throw (SPT), hand release push-up – arm extension (HRP), spring-drag-carry (SDC), leg tuck (LTK) and 2-mile run (2MR).  A two-minute plan is an allowed alternative to leg tucks. The tests were designed to test flexibility, agility, endurance and strength. However, recent data shows that 44% of women failed the ACFT in comparison to 7% of men since October 1, 2021.

The ACFT remains in the testing phase, and scores will not be counted on record for promotion or career progression until March of 2022. The data demonstrating that almost half of women are failing shows that there may be a need to amend the testing for women.

The data from the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) collected the 106,000 test results from the ACFT, breaking down the failure rate of each event by gender.

Failure Rate for Men:

  • 3 repetition maximum deadlift: Less than 1%
  • Standing power throw: Less than 1%
  • Hand release push-up – arm extension: Less than 1%
  • Spring-drag-carry: Less than 1%
  • Leg tuck: 2%
  • Two-mile run: 5%


Failure Rate for Women:

  • 3 repetition maximum deadlift: 6%
  • Standing power throw: 15%
  • Hand release push-up – arm extension: 2%
  • Spring-drag-carry: 12%
  • Leg tuck: 22%
  • Two-mile run: 22%

In comparison to last year, the pass rate is up 12%. Among enlisted women, the failure rate is at 53% and among female officers, the failure rate is 23%.

The passing score for the ACFT is 360 with a maximum score of 600. Per the data, only 66 female soldiers scored 500 points or higher in comparison to their male counterparts with 31,978 who had the same score. Data is added weekly to the FORSCOM database which will assist in shaping the program.

While this data is new, it appears that the data will continue to be analyzed to determine steps forward. While it does show a high failure rate, it is a lower rate than the previous year and this is movement in the positive direction.

*Appearance of DoD imagery does not constitute federal endorsement.

What Do You Want at the Commissary?

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You can request items from your commissary!

Did you know you can request items at your local Commissary? One of the annoying things of moving frequently is that we have to start over with the familiarity of the grocery store. We know where our favorite items are in the store, and we develop preferences of brand or types of items. When we move, the next Commissary may not have those favorite items. It’s a simple thing, a comfort snack for the kiddos or favorite salad dressing, but those creature comforts bring a sense of familiarity from the previous base and provide consistency in a family where there isn’t a lot of that. Your local commissary can take requests for your favorite items!

How do I request items?

First step to requesting an item at the commissary is knowing the contact information. If you want to call the store look up the contact information here and request to talk to the manager. Next step is making sure you have all the updated and correct information for the item you want to request. When making a request, make sure to know as much detail about the item as possible – full name of the item and UPC code if possible. The management team at your local commissary takes your request to the Sales Directorate for their area.

What about unit events or large orders?

Looking to place a large special order for a unit event? Or perhaps you want to order a case of your favorite drink or canned item? There is a form for that! Check out the link here for the form and rules and regulations. In general, the form is used for ordering case quantities, but no more than 3 cases of 36 units for personal orders and these restrictions are not in place for units.

Considerations for Overseas locations

If you are living overseas, there are additional challenges in getting a requested item. There may be more rules and regulations in place for importing an item. In addition, there are longer shipping times for overseas locations so items with a limited shelf life may not be able to be requested and transported in a timely manner.

Will you request an item from your local commissary? Tell us your success stories!

Lose the COVID 19 Weight Gain with these at home military exercises

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Military members must maintain a certain level of fitness to complete their jobs and pass fitness testing. COVID-19 presented a challenge in maintaining fitness when gymnasiums on and off base closed. Getting back into the routine of working out takes the same amount of time as building any routine. It takes 21 days to build a habit, so start building the habit of a new exercise routine with these exercises.

Do it like boot camp – a 12-week regiment where you start off low and slow and increase the reps and weights used over the 12-week period.

Before doing embarking on any exercise routine, check with your medical provider to ensure you are healthy enough to do so.

Equipment needed: barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells – weight amount dependent on what will be challenging to you.

If you have a question on what the exercises are, descriptions are below and you can use your friendly internet search engine to find videos on how they are done

Bodyweight Exercises

Start with 3-4 Rounds of 10-20 reps of these exercises, and slowly build up as able. If you need to go down to 2-3 rounds – do it! Any start is better than no start. Rest for 30-60 seconds in between sets.

  1. Jumping Jacks – these are great for getting the heart pumping and muscles warm
  2. Push-Ups – Challenging muscle groups of the upper extremities, core, and cardiovascular system with this – mix it up with putting your hands out wide or narrow to challenge different muscle groups of the arms and back
  3. Inverted Rows – These challenge the upper extremities and core similar to push-ups, but with the different position it challenges different muscles
  4. Box Jumps – these can be done on a park bench or your (non-carpeted) steps in your home; the key is to not jump off the box/step/bench but to step down to avoid injury to the Achilles tendon (the back of the ankle)
  5. Reverse Lunge – stand hip feet apart and step one foot back and bend your back leg so your lower leg is parallel to the ground and the forward leg is parallel to the ground as close to 90 degrees as possible
  6. Forward Lunge – stand hip feet apart and step one foot forward and bend the forward leg, so the knee is over the foot and get as close to 90 degrees as possible
  7. Sumo Squat – feet outside the hips and squat low with putting the knees over toes and getting the knees as close to 90 degrees as possible
  8. Plank – try 30 seconds at a time and build up from there

Weighted Exercises

Start with one set of 10 of these exercises and increase the number of sets as able. Rest for 30-60 seconds in between sets.

  1. Weighted Squat – Rack dumbbells at the shoulder, feet hip-width apart, and squat with the goal of getting the lower legs at a 90-degree angle
  2. Renegade Dumbbell Row – While in plank put a dumbbell in each hand. With the arm fully extended, squeeze the muscles between the shoulders to bring the dumbbell toward the chest pulling the elbow behind you. If a full plank is difficult, go to your knees. If you do not have back problems, you can do a bent-over row bending at the hips with soft knees and doing the same squeeze between the shoulder blades to pull the weight toward you.
  3. Bicep Curl – With a weight in each hand of the extended arm towards your body, bend at the elbow pulling the weight toward the chest.
  4. Overhead Press –With two dumbbells, one in each hand, you can start from fully extended arms to bicep curl and then push the weights overhead; or start from racked weights at the shoulders.
  5. Weighted Sumo Squat – Add one dumbbell or kettlebell centered at your core and hold the weight steady as you do the sumo squat.
  6. Kettlebell Figure 8 –With feet shoulder-width apart with soft knees, hold the kettlebell in one hand and go between the legs switching to one hand and going around the corresponding leg and then back between the legs and to the other hand and corresponding side. This one is not only strength training but cardio too!
  7. Skull Crushers – While standing or in plank position, with arms extended out with dumbbells in hand, bend the elbows to 90 degrees holding the weights on the sides of the head – don’t actually crush the skull
  8. Chest Fly – From plank position, extend the arms out in front holding the dumbbells and lower the weights to the sides and then squeeze your chest muscles to pull them back to in front of you.

Mix and match bodyweight and weighted exercises and increase sets with each passing week or two to increase strength training. Add in cardiovascular exercises like jogging and dancing. A variety of exercises like yoga can add flexibility in addition to strength training.

Any start is a move in the right direction. What is your favorite exercise?

How to Choose a School for Your Child When You PCS

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After finding housing for your family as part of the move, when you have school age children, finding a school is the next step. It is not an easy task choosing a school. Sometimes you don’t have a choice if you have limited housing choices. However, sometimes you can “choice into” another school that is not in the district your house is assigned to. It is called a different program in each state (of course), but ask around in your new neighborhood. So how do you choose a school that is right for you and your family?

Where to Not to Look for Information

We all do it. When looking for a home we scroll to the bottom of the real estate facts which list the schools, with grades. We look for the higher rated schools thinking that really equals quality of school. That is not the case. Do not just look at the ratings assigned by the big grading companies.

Where to Look for Information

The most objective facts about schools can be found on the states Department of Education website. Each school should have a “report card” for the school on their department of education website. The report card should provide detailed information on assessments, enrollment, the finances of the school, statistics like free and reduced lunch participation and socioeconomic categories, teacher assessments and school readiness milestones. This objective information can provide an assessment about the school without “grading.” This helps you make the decision that is best for your family with the reality of school.

Know the MIC3

The MIC3 is the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, which was designed to help ease transitions for military families moving from one school to another. The idea is that if your child is in the gifted program or has an IEP at one school, those placements are still in place in the next school. This helps ease moving schools are there is some similarity and familiarity, without having to do the testing or re-evaluation again at the new school. This doesn’t mean that every school knows about the MIC3, or is even aware of it. Like with all regulations, even within the military community, print off the parts that apply to you and bring it into the school. For high school in particular, when schools may not teach things in the same order, make sure to have the course description for each course they took. This helps with placing into the next school. For instance, if you move your child’s sophomore year and in the new school they took History of America but it was called something else at the previous school, the course description allows the new school to know what to provide credit for and place them in the next appropriate history subject.

There are Other Options

For those who can afford it, private school is also an option. Private schools are not assigned a district, so you do not have to live in a certain area of this. Private schools do not report to the state government since they do not take funding from the state, so they do not have a readily available report card like public schools on the Department of Education website. Reach out to the private school for specific information.

Homeschool is a popular option with military families as it allows for non-traditional school schedules. Want to do school through the summer because the active duty member will get a month off in the fall and you want to schedule a trip, then homeschool might be for you. Each state is different on guidelines for homeschool. California for instance requires that you register as a private school providing a private school affidavit. Virginia requires sending a Notice of Intent to the school your children you are districted for letting them know you are homeschooling. Each state has different timelines for this as well, so make sure to research when the dates are required.

There is not one answer for schools for every family. Know the objective information you need to know for your family. Before looking, make a list of what you need and are looking for. Do you need a gifted program? A certain sport? Know what you are looking for when researching schools. Not that you need another thing on your to-do list, don’t be afraid to call and “interview” schools with questions. Their response and openness (or lack thereof) in discussing can help you.

Updates to the 2021 Thunderbirds and Blue Angels Official Air Show Schedule

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Outdoor entertainment is fun and safe entertainment for the entire family. From the music to the amazing aerial skills on display, the military air shows have a lot to offer.

There may be an associated cost to shows that do not occur on military bases, so make sure to contact the event or location for specific information.

Thunderbirds 2021 Air Show Schedule

The Thunderbirds will perform 23 shows this season from April to November, with some cancellations or amendments. Due to COVID-19, only 6 shows were performed in 2020 and the 2019-2020 pilots have remained on the team for 2021.

2021 Schedule:

-April 17-18: Cocoa Beach, Fl

-May 1-2: St. Joseph, MO

-May 8-9: Barksdale AFB, LA

– May 26: USAF Academy, CO

– May 29-30: Wantagh, NY

-June 5-6: Smyrna, TN

-June 19-20: Ocean City, MD


-July 10-11: Dayton, OH

-July 17-18: Binghamton, NY

-July 24-25: Milwaukee, WI

-July 28: Warren AFB, WY

-July 31- August 1: McMinnville, OR

-August 18: Atlantic City, NJ

-September 4-6: Cleveland, OH

-September 11-12: Portsmouth, NH

-September 18-19: Reno, NV

-September 25-26: Mather, CA

-October 2-3: San Juan, Puerto Rico

-October 9-10: Houston, TX

-October 16-17: Sanford, FL

-October 23-24: Lancaster, CA

-October 30-31: Salinas, CA

-November 6-7: Davis- Monthan AFB in Arizona

For more information on the USAF Thunderbirds, show locations and dates, visit their website at www.afthunderbirds.com. It is recommended to check their website and the location of the show for the most up to date information on scheduling.

Blue Angels 2021 Air Show Schedule

The Blue Angels are entering the 75th anniversary season this year, and is the inaugural season for the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. This will be the beginning of shows after 2020’s Operation America Strong. There are 25 shows scheduled for the Blue Angels from March to November ending at their home base of Pensacola, Florida. If you are local to one of their planned performances, make plans to be there to cheer them on!

2021 Schedule:

April 17-18: Lakeland, FL

May 1-2: NAS Corpus Christi, TX

May 8-9: Fort Lauderdale, FL

May 15-16: Melbourne, FL

May 26, 28: Annapolis, MD

May 29-30: Latrobe, PA

June 5-6: Lake Charles, LA

June 12-13: La Crosee, WI

June 19-20: Niagara Falls, NT

June 26-27: Duluth, MN

July 3-4: New Century, KS

July 10: Pensacola Beach, FL

July 25-25: Fargo, ND

July 31-August 1: Eielson AFB, AK

August 7-8: Seattle, WA

August 14-15: Owensboro, KY

Augsut 21-22: Chicago, IL

August 28-29: London, Ontario, Canada

September 18-19: NAS Oceana, VA

October 2-3: Huntington Beach, CA

October 9-10: San Francisco, CA

October 16-17: Loveland, CO

October 23-24: Ft. Worth, TX

October 30-31: Rome, GA

November 5-6: NAS Pensacola, FL

For updated information on the USNA Blue Angels, show locations and dates, visit their website at www.blueangels.navy.mil.

If there is an air show near you – be sure to make plans to check it out!

Enhanced online ordering/curbside delivery service moving to all stores

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Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        37-21                                                                                      

Date:                              June 1, 2021

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Agency-wide expansion

Enhanced online ordering/curbside delivery service moving to all stores

By Rick Brink,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Facebook-friendly version: It’s not an overstatement to say that the new and improved Commissary CLICK2GO™ is, well, very much new and improved. Now featuring online payment and more product information than ever before, the online ordering/curbside delivery service is being expanded to all stateside commissaries by the end of the year, and to overseas stores soon thereafter. To learn more,click here.

To see a listing of future locations, click here. To see a DeCA video about CLICK2GO’s enhanced online features, click here.

FORT LEE, Va. – It’s not an overstatement to say that the new and improved Commissary CLICK2GO™ is, well, very much new and improved.

Now featuring online payment and more product information than ever before, the online ordering/curbside delivery service is being expanded to all stateside commissaries by the end of the year, and to overseas stores soon thereafter.

“We’ve learned a lot about what our customers want during our initial 11-store rollout the past two years, and thanks to recent innovations to our e-commerce platform we’ve made tremendous service and user-interface improvements that customers expect in today’s retail environment,” said Bill Moore, director and CEO of the Defense Commissary Agency. “We’re going to deliver this great service to all commissaries as quickly as possible.”

Because of grocery shopping trends, DeCA has been galvanized to bring online ordering, payment and pick-up options to all commissary-eligible patrons.

The Food Marketing Institute recently reported that online grocery shopping has escalated to previously unpredictable rates since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. FMI had estimated that 20 percent of all U.S. grocery shopping would be done online by 2025. However, the rates of e-grocery sales expected to occur over a 10-year timeframe actually occurred in just six months.

Here’s a brief rundown of Commissary CLICK2GO’s new features:

  • Improved navigation and search functions to help customers plan healthy meals and take care of their family’s needs
  • Enhanced product information
  • Robust recipe features
  • Featured sales and promotions
  • Upgraded mobile-friendly experience, to include seeing order history for ease in re-ordering desired products
  • Online payment

            “Perhaps the most significant enhancement is online payment,” Moore added. “You place your order and pay online, and then it’s simply a matter of driving up to the curbside delivery area of your commissary to have your groceries loaded into your vehicle – that’s a streamlined process our customers expect in this information age.”

Information on how the service works and the rollout status is found on commissaries.com with dedicated sections such as “How CLICK2GO Works.” First-time customers will need to create an account.

Moore said the agency-wide expansion of online ordering/curbside delivery service aligns with DeCA’s strategic goals to make the commissary benefit accessible to as much of the patron base as possible.

“Our CLICK2GO rollout has been long desired by our patrons and we fully grasp that they expect us to deliver this convenient method of grocery shopping as soon as possible – they want to know when they will see it at their commissary,” Moore said. “I can assure you that we’re working as hard as we can to make this happen as quickly as possible.

“We’ll have the schedule on our website to keep people updated as best we can,” he added. “Our promise is to get it to all U.S. stores this calendar year – maybe sooner – and we are committed to getting it to our overseas stores soon thereafter, as we work through international challenges like COVID restrictions.

“Commissary CLICK2GO builds on the vital benefit we deliver exclusively for our military community and their families – we deliver the savings but we have to improve on convenience and CLICK2GO does just that,” Moore said. “With it, patrons near and far can plan, order and pay for their purchases on-line and simply swing by the store to get them. It makes the commissary worth the trip and I envision it will enable us to eventually offer delivery – where our patrons can enjoy their hard-earned benefit from the comfort of their homes or barracks.” -DeCA-

Tips to Navigate the Current Rental Market

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As if PCSing wasn’t stressful enough. This year we add in the craziest rental market yet. The increased demand for housing off-base, has driven the demand for on base housing, which then creates a cycle of increased demand all around. Many families PCSing this summer are feeling the pinch and worry of looking for a home. Some are offering hundreds over the already elevated listed rental price just to secure a home. How does one navigate this crazy market?

  1. Enlist your friends into looking. Maybe you have friends at the base where you will be moving to? Ask them to keep an eye out for listings in the area or on their local base pages.
  2. Engage in social media groups. Find housing groups and start stalking, er, looking for new postings. Look for groups for your specific area, and search for rentals within it.
  3. Schedule time to look. When you are online looking, make sure you stick to a time limit so it doesn’t become a time and mood suck.
  4. Use all the resources: Craigslist, AHRN, Military By Owner, Zillow are all great resources to look for homes. Some may be less traditional, but some owners are used to one listing source so you have to go with what you know!
  5. Consider a real estate agent. A real estate agent isn’t just for buying a home. Consider reaching out to a realtor in the area for tips on the area, and using them to find a rental. As real estate agents, they are also aware of what is coming onto the market as rentals.
  6. Have your must-haves and want-to-haves list figured out. Between you and your partner, or whoever you are renting with, figure out what you need to have and want to have. Use the need to-haves to find homes. This way the other can feel free to inquire about homes the moment they see them. It helps to make contact ASAP in this market.
  7. Be ready to rent sight unseen. This may be new for some families – you like to know the area, drive around it, be familiar with what is on offer. But with how quickly rentals (and homes to buy!) are going in this market, you need to be ready to sign a lease without knowing the area or the home. If you are able to, ask for a virtual walk-through, but some places are only responding to applications and not questions so you may have to go off what the pictures are. If this does not give you the warm fuzzies, try to find a home that is okay with a walk-through.
  8. Be patient. This one is hard when you are feeling pressed for time and finding a home. It can feel like you have to give in, offer hundreds over asking price. If it is within you budget to do that and you want to – go for it. Otherwise, be patient and keep looking.
  9. Commiserate. You are not the only military family moving this PCS season. You are not the only who is looking for a rental home. Find others that are going through the same process to talk with. Beyond being a safe, understanding space to vent they may have tips on where to look or share homes if they meet your needs versus theirs.

Now – go forth! And may the odds be ever in your favor!

The Ins and Outs of PCSing with Pets

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Four-footed, furry family members are family too, and take some planning to move with them. Being prepared for a PCS move with pets is critical. For moves within the continental United States (CONUS) and overseas (OCONUS), there are many things to consider and steps to take prior to executing a military move.

General

  • Budget more than you think you will need. You never know when a hotel may be full, and you have to stay at a hotel with a pet fee, or if you will have to use a pet shipper for a flight because the dog plus kennel may be over the restriction for weight.
  • Consider keeping your pet in a kennel in the hotel to prevent them from getting scared and hiding or running away.
  • Invest in portable, collapsible water bowls. This will be helpful on road trip moves or in their kennel if traveling overseas.
  • Before the move, check in with your local vet to keep up to date on evaluations and vaccinations. This way, you don’t have to find a vet shortly after your arrival.
  • If your pet is a “banned breed,” like a pitbull, plan for stops in towns where they are not banned.
  • If you have a female pet, consider having them spayed before travel, so they don’t go into heat the day you check her into a pet-friendly boarder.
  • Make sure you have medications for your pet with as many refills as possible. Hence, you have sufficient medications for travel and can get medications when needed at the new destination.
  • After you have exhausted all the options in bringing your pet with you if you cannot bring your pet with you, look into these organizations or friends or family for re-homing your pet.

CONUS

  • Pet-friendly hotels: When booking travel for the move, look for pet-friendly hotels. These hotels have green space for walks and more room for pets within the hotel room. La Quinta hotels have historically been pet-friendly, and some Hilton properties are pet-friendly as well.
  • Look into BringFido.com for dog-friendly places to stay and eat with your dog.

OCONUS

The rules and regulations may change for overseas orders, so make sure you are up to date on the regulations for the country you are entering. Here are some general tips for PCSing overseas.

  • Look up your international assignment for country-specific regulations and requirements here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/
  • The first step is going to the on-base vet with orders. They will begin the paperwork, administer vaccines, and order blood work if required for entering the country you are PCSing to. Schedule this as soon as you have military orders in hand. Vaccines typically have to be done over 21 days from entry.
  • Make sure your pet is on your orders so you can book a pet spot on an AMC (military) flight or ticket on a commercial flight.
  • Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT assume you will be getting a pet spot on a AMC flight. Have a backup plan because pet spots are limited.
  • Maintain bilingual paperwork or paperwork that is in English only.
  • Check with the flight you are on to ensure you have the right kennel size and what the weight limit is. There may be a total weight of pet plus kennel.
  • For the flight- tape a picture with your pet’s name on the outside of the kennel – the baggage handlers will likely call your pet by their name which is a kind gesture in a stressful situation. Tape a plastic bag with food pouches that may be used at layovers, and include your name/number. You just might get a text with photos of your pet on their adventure!
  • If you have to use a pet-shipper, make sure you have a pet-specific power of attorney for the friend or family that is helping with drop off or pick up of the pet.
  • Pets may need a quarantine when you get to the OCONUS location, make sure you are up to date on the regulations so you can appropriately plan and budget accordingly.

PCSing isn’t an easy process for humans, and for the pet who doesn’t quite understand the process either it can be a stressful event. Hopefully, these tips and steps help you navigate the PCS season with your pet.