Article MilitaryShoppers Page 53

Spring into Savings This April at Your Military Commissary

04/01/2015 By Michelle Volkmann

I’m a foodie. I’m a local food foodie. When my family moves to a new duty station before I ask for recommendations for a hair stylist or a dentist, I always ask my new neighbors for their lists of favorite local restaurants. Local restaurants are the key for this military spouse foodie. That’s how this Iowa girl fell in love with breakfast burritos in Arizona, udon noodles in Okinawa and grits in Mississippi.

But there’s a problem with all these local eating. The PCS.

Moving means that I find myself craving grits when I’m in California and ramen when I’m in Texas. As a solution-oriented military spouse, I’ve taken these cravings and the international food aisle at the commissary and used it as an opportunity to learn to make “local” food no matter where the Navy sends us.

Tex-Mex cuisine is one of my favorite “local” foods to make at home. Actually it’s a staple in our house and we have more than Taco Tuesdays. It’s Taco Tuesdays, Fajita Fridays, Tortilla Soup Sundays and Breakfast Burrito Wednesdays.

Luckily for me, all my favorite Tex-Mex ingredients are on sale this April at the military commissary.

Starting April 16, a 16-ounce jar of Old El Paso Think ‘n Chunky Salsa, mild or medium, is on sale for $0.99. Even if you don’t use it for a build-your-build-taco night, you can always stock up on salsa and be ready for those last-minute potlucks. Chips and salsa are my go-to potluck contribution at FRG meetings when I’m too busy to bake a dessert.

Here’s what other Old El Paso products are PowerBuys in April:

Taco Seasoning, Gucamole seasoning and Fajita seasoning mix packets, $0.45
Taco shells, $0.99
Chopped or whole green chiles, $0.75
Refined beans, traditional, fat-free and vegetarian, $0.75
Soft taco, beef carne asada and chipotle chicken dinner kits, $2.00

Once you feed your family, don’t forget to feed your furry family members. Several Purina products are on sale for the entire month of April.

Cat owners can buy 3-ounce Fancy Feast cat food cans for $0.53 each. Tidy Cats cat litter, 24/7 performance and instant action, is also on sale. You can buy two 14-pound cat litter containers for $8. Purina One Smartblend cat food is on sale for $9.99.

Don’t forget to pair these great discounts with coupons from coupons.com.

Purina Pro Plan Savor dog food is also on sale. The price is $20.99 for the entire month of April. Alpo Wholesome Biscuits dog treats are on sale for $2.07, so treat your pet with this great deal.

Finally, as a mother, I prefer to buy detergent that is recommended by dermatologists. That’s the reason I use all® Free Clear detergent to wash our clothes. All all® detergent, dryer sheets and fabric softener are on sale during April at your commissary.

Don’t forget to sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter to get the monthly commissary specials delivered directly to your inbox!

Free Wi-Fi Coming to a Commissary Near You

03/30/2015 By Kimber Green

The commissary at Naval Air Station Oceana here in Virginia Beach has just become the first commissary to test free Wi-Fi. I was very excited to hear that it was one of the commissaries near me so that I could drive over and test it.

I often forget to load my commissary rewards card and end up sitting in my car scanning through them on my phone quickly as my 19-month-old baby repeatedly chimes from the back seat, “I go bye-bye. Groceries now, groceries now mama.” Finally being able to access the Internet inside of the commissary is great. I know my son does not want to sit still any longer than he has to and now I won’t have to keep him in the car that extra time. Of course I always tell myself I will remember next time to look at the coupons at home, but as all parents know, that doesn’t always happen.

I will make a better effort to digitally clip my rewards card coupons at home, but it is nice to be able to access them while in the commissary if I do forget. Some of the recipes I use are online so being able to glance back at them and make sure everything is on my grocery list is another great perk. I’m sure there are many reasons that people will happily find to utilize the free Wi-Fi. Entertaining your child with cartoons on YouTube so everyone can shop in peace is what one of my friends beamed about.

Having access to Wi-Fi is so mainstream now that not having it comes as a surprise to many new patrons, especially young military spouses. For those of us that have been shopping at commissaries for years without it however, this is an exciting new feature. NAS Oceana is the first to test free Wi-Fi, but once preliminary test is complete it will be rolled out to 102 commissaries stateside that already have the existing infrastructure that would be needed to support customer traffic.

A specific timeline for the program has not been determined yet. Once DeCA is able to calculate the test results here at Oceana, they will decide how quickly they can roll out free Wi-Fi to other commissaries. For those locations that will need updates to their systems to support customer Wi-Fi, it may be awhile. At this time DeCA has not made any plans to expand the offer of free Wi-Fi to commissaries overseas unfortunately.

There are so many reasons to shop at the commissary and adding free Wi-Fi just makes it that much better. What other perks would you like to see at your commissary in the future?

Shipping Your Vehicle? What You Need to Know for Your Next PCS

03/27/2015 By Michelle Volkmann

I always thought when you move that the military pays to transport 1 vehicle from your former duty station to your new military installation within the United States. Negative. The military is not responsible for the service member’s vehicle during a PCS within the United States. This is a common myth of military life.

When we were PCSing from Maryland to California, I kindly told my husband that we couldn’t drive both cars cross country with our 2 little ones, so just “ask the Navy to ship it for us.” He kindly explained that the Navy doesn’t ship our POVs. We pay for that. So I was stubborn and we drove both cars. Now my daughters HATE road trips. The younger one cries if she’s in the car for more than 90 minutes. Lesson learned.

For our next PCS, we arranged to ship one car and it was well worth the money. But again, it wasn’t without a few hiccups. Again, lessons learned.

Are you considering shipping your POV between CONUS duty stations? Here’s what you need to know for your next PCS.

You select your shipping company. You have the control, which is wonderful. But there are many options for car transport companies. Do you want closed or open carrier? Do you want door-to-door delivery? Or terminal-to-terminal delivery? If you’re like me and this is your first time shipping your POV, the options can be a little overwhelming.

Tip: Ask in a forum or military spouse Facebook group for recommendations. This research will save you a lot of time looking at different companies. Use this information to narrow down the choices to 3 companies that other service members have already used and been happy with the results.

You need to question the quotes. You will need to get shipping estimates from various companies before selecting one. We got one estimate that was WAY lower than the other ones. After asking a few targeted questions, we found out that we assumed this was a door-to-door delivery option, it wasn’t. Also this company had a reputation among military families for asking for an additional $300 at pick-up. Finally, verify their DOT and MC numbers to ensure they are properly licensed.

Tip: Once you agree to a quote with a selected company, do not give the driver any more money. Even if he asks for it, which he may. Even if you’re fearful that he won’t take your car. Have a name and a cellphone number of the company representative who agreed to your quote. Be prepared to call the company representative if there are any disagreements at any point in the process.

You need to follow the carrier’s rules. Every transportation company has their own guidelines for shipping vehicles. Your car may need to be completely empty and cleaned both inside and out before shipping. Other companies will let you fill the trunk with your belongings. Your service member may be need to show a copy of their orders. Military spouses may need to show a Power of Attorney authorizing you to ship the vehicle. You may need additional insurance to cover any damages occurred during the transportation process. Many companies ask that you pay the driver in cash. Be prepared to pay in cash or with a cashier’s check.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Lots and lots of questions. It will save you a lot of headache when the day comes to ship your POV.

In the end, it was worth the money to ship our vehicle for our last PCS.

Have you shipped a vehicle from one duty station to another? What lessons did you learn from this experience?

Preparing Your Military Child to be the New Kid on Base

03/25/2015 By Julie Provost

As a military family you know that moving is a part of the deal. You may move every 3 to 4 years. This means your children will have to be the new kid every few years. With that comes a lot of emotions and could lead to some frustrating situations.

I did not grow up in a military family. I lived in the same house from the time I was 5 years old until I moved out at age 18. I went to elementary school, junior high and high school with a lot of the same people. I was never the new girl. I never knew what it was like to go into a new classroom not knowing anyone. I never had to search for friends in the third grade because I had just moved to that city from a different state.

If you are in a military family you might be worried about your children having to be the new kid every few years.

You might worry about them being bullied. You might ask yourself if being a military kid will make it more likely that they will be bullied? That can happen to a new kid who is just trying to figure out their place in the new school.

The fact is, bullying can happen anywhere. I saw and experienced it in my own non-military childhood. Bullying can happen on military bases all over the country. Wherever there are kids, bullying can be an issue. However, that doesn’t mean that as a military child your son or daughter has accept it.

Here are some things you can do with your child to help them overcome possible situations where they could be bullied.

It is a good idea to go over what is going to happen with the move before you actually get there. Tell your children about their new school and even the route to get there. Let them know that it’s OK to be nervous and that most people are when they go to a new school. Letting them know that it is normal to feel the way they do can go a long way in helping them have a lot of confidence on that first day. The less lost they feel the easier it will be for them to reach out to others and not feel so alone.

Teach them to seek out other children that look friendly and to not be afraid to say hi to a student that might become a new friend. Go over different ways they can talk to others and which questions they can ask to get to know someone. This will help them feel more comfortable when they are trying to find a new friend.

You also want to let them know what they can do if they are bullied. Explain who they should talk to if they experience bullying and where to go for help.

Even if your child is not the new kid it is a good idea to teach them how to treat others and how to be a friendly person to everyone you might meet. Explain to them that the new girl or boy in their class might become their best friend if they are open enough to really get to know them.

Moving is stressful and being worried about your child at a new school can be hard. Like a lot of other things in the military world, being prepared can go a long way in making your child feel comfortable.

Has your military child dealt with bullying at a new school? Tell us in the comments section.

My Husband, My Soldier, My Hero

03/23/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Before my husband, I already had a huge appreciation for our men and women in uniform because of my dad, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. He was the first important man in my life and is undeniably my first hero. After growing up with an Air Force presence, I was honestly nervous to start a relationship with a military man. I had an idea of what would lie ahead and I was scared.

Our service members are amazing and I have the utmost respect in everything that they do. I didn’t know if I, myself, could handle the lifestyle as a military spouse.

Then, I was sent a direct online message.

My husband messaged me on an online dating site and that how our relationship started. We may have not met in a glamorous or unique circumstance, but it’s our story and I’m proud of everything that our relationship has endured from that point on. Thank you, Internet for bringing my husband to my life.

He signed on to the dating website while he was deployed and I was looking to experience a new way to meet men. We talked about anything and everything for months before we were able to meet in person and the rest is history.

Despite being in high-stress environments and situations that I’m not going to even try to comprehend, he was wonderful to me and made the distance work. The military did have a big influence with how we maintained our relationship, but he turned me around on my thoughts about a long-term future with a service member.

He made it easy for me to seal the deal and say yes to a lifelong adventure with him.

Before orders took him overseas, we put together a quick courthouse ceremony in my hometown. I had a childhood friend of mine follow us around the state capital area to take pictures of us. My then-fiance was wearing his ACUs and it was honestly one of the first times I have ever seen him in his uniform in person. When we were dating, it would always be during the off-duty hours, so he would be in his civies.

As we were walking around town, complete strangers were walking up to us and thanking my husband for his service. They recognized him in his uniform and went out of their way to make sure he knew that there were people either thinking of him or supporting him. It made me appreciate the little things that weren’t so upfront before because I never saw him in his uniform. That piece of clothing symbolizes so much more than just my husband, but everyone else that wears it.

When we were walking around town that special day, it made me realize the choice my husband made to serve our country as one that not only myself admired, but people that never even met him. It was a humbling experience and ultimately became the first moment I truly felt like an Army spouse.

We all have different experiences that contribute to the greatness of our military community.

Is your military member your hero? Add your stories of inspiration with MilitaryShoppers.

3 Things to Consider When Choosing a Family Pet

03/20/2015 By Michelle Volkmann

My daughter has been asking for a pet ever since the day she could say “dog.” And I think she has been asking every day since then. (Just for your information, dog was her first word following momma and dadda.)

It’s not surprising that she wants a pet. We are the odd military family without a dog, cat, gerbil or turtle. Every other family in our neighborhood has a dog. Heck, even the Marine Corps has a dog. I’m kind of obsessed with Chesty.

But as a child, I never had a dog. I don’t know how to train one, so I certainly don’t know how to pick one. Boston terrier or bloodhound? Which one would be a better fit for my family? Honestly I have no idea. Until I used Purina’s Breed Selector. This interactive online questionnaire walks you through a series of questions that can help identify the best dog breed for your family.

For example, do you want a dog that is good with children? Yes, please. Then a collie would be a good fit for your family. Want one that doesn’t bark? You should consider a pug. Want a dog to be your running buddy? Then you will love the active nature of a boxer.

Here 3 more things to consider when choosing a family pet.

Primary Pet Care Giver. We all know that a family pet is a member of the family, but the daily care of this animal generally falls on 1 individual in the house. If that person is Dad and Dad is deployed, then you may want to wait to get a pet. If there’s a newborn in our house, Mom is too preoccupied to care for a dog right now. But a cat may be a nice low maintenance addition to your family. If that primary pet care giver is your 10-year-old son and this is his first pet, ease him into it. Choose an animal that doesn’t require a lot of daily responsibility.

Your Current Schedule. Looking for your current schedule, are you home during the day or are you at work? Would this animal be alone all day? Or would he have a house of kids to play with? Do you like to take weekend getaways? Ask yourself these questions and be realistic. I once had a neighbor whose husband worked long hours and she liked to go out with her girlfriends on the weekends. Hence, her puppy spent a lot of time alone in the backyard. Is that what you want for your pet?

PCS-Friendly Pet. As a military family, you are most likely going to move. And you may move overseas. Think about the logistics of getting your furry friend to your new duty station. If you’re moving to Germany or Hawaii, that can be an extra expense that you want to budget for during your PCS. If you moving from Virginia to Washington State, you need to stay at pet-friendly hotels with Fido. Obviously this isn’t a deal breaker (because many military families have pets), but like everything else in a PCS, you need to plan for it.

Pets are a special part of our families and unlike the rest of our family members, we get to choose them. Take the time to pick a pet that fits with you, your needs and your family’s lifestyle. You’ll be happy you did your research during the first few months of pet ownership.

Are you a proud military pet owner? Share a photo of your family’s pet with the MilitaryShoppers photo contest.

Moving in with Your Parents during a Deployment

03/18/2015 By Julie Provost

As the summer of 2009 was approaching, I knew I had to do something. My husband was deployed yet again and I was in Germany with 2 small little boys. I couldn’t imagine going through a whole school-free summer by myself. I needed a break, a big one.

That was when I decided to go live with my parents for the summer. We took a Space-A flight out the end of May and stayed until the last week in August, a few weeks before school started again.

Moving back home was one of the best things I have ever done to help me get through a deployment.

There were so many benefits to going home for the summer. For one thing, I no longer had to be the only adult in the house. I had my parents right there to help me out. My brother and other family members and friends were also around to spend time with. I was able to plan an amazing summer taking my kids to some of the same places I went to as a child. I loved being able to do that with them. My husband even went there for his R&R and we were able to take a romantic trip for a few days while my parents watched our kids.

For me it was a big fat break from the regular deployment routine. I didn’t have to do everything for a few months. I got to enjoy time with my family and my parents were able to bond a little bit with my boys. It worked really well for us and helped speed up the deployment. By the time I got back to Germany we only had about 6 weeks before he came home.

Living with my parents worked for my family, but this temporary living arrangement doesn’t always work for everyone.

You need a good place to go that will be a comfortable home for you and your children. You will have a much harder time if the place you will be staying is more stressful than staying put at your current duty station.

Another thing to consider is what you are giving up. You might not have any other military friends nearby. I was OK with this but others might not be. There is a lot of support to be found in a military community and you give up some of that empathy when you move home for a deployment.

Related: Creative Deployment Activities for Military Kids

You also need to find out what will happen to your housing if you do leave. Some places will make you move out if you are gone for a certain amount of time. We were lucky in that we could keep our home in Germany, I just had to find someone to keep an eye on things while we were away. I knew when we went back everything would be there waiting for me. If your spouse is planning to ETS back home after the deployment, it might be a good idea to move home early and get settled. It can make the whole transition a lot easier when he comes back from deployment.

If your children are older, moving in with the grandparents might not be an option for you. You won’t want to pull them out of school. They won’t want to leave their friends. I know I wouldn’t be able to go home for a whole summer again because of the ages of my children. When we went home in 2009 they were only 2 and 4 years old.

You really have to think hard about if going home during a deployment is the right thing to do. For some people it is and for others it’s better to stay where they are.

Have you lived with your parents or in-laws during a deployment? Would you recommend it?

Not All Commissaries are Created Equal

03/16/2015 By Kimber Green

I enjoy shopping at the commissary. Every fort and base I’ve lived near, as an Army brat and now as a Navy spouse, has had a good commissary and I’ve always shopped at them.

I am completely bummed that we are moving this summer to a location that does not have a commissary.

When we drove up for a short house-hunting trip, I made sure we drove to the next closest base to see what their commissary is like. A friend had told me it has a small commissary. How small? There were only 6 isles and 3 cashiers.

Not all commissaries are created equal is an understatement.

I was so disappointed. It was instantly obvious that I would not be able to do our weekly grocery shopping at the commissary. I really am bummed. I like my routine and the money we save by shopping there. When it snowed here recently and the bases were closed, I bought our groceries out in town and the bill was $75 more than my usual bill at the commissary. That was an eye-opener.

Every move has its challenges and ever military installation is different. Here in Virginia Beach I am within a 20-minute drive of 3 commissaries. They are each a bit different. The one on JEB Little Creek-Fort Story has a more open floor plan than the others and it is right next to the Exchange, which is very convenient. It is my preferred commissary to shop at, especially since it has more than 20 checkout lanes.

Cellphone reception for some reason seems to be universally poor at commissaries. I’m excited that NAS Oceana Commissary is the first one to test free Wi-Fi. That is so helpful with keeping up with the electronic coupons on my rewards card as I tend to forget to load them ahead of time.

I don’t use the deli, but I have had delicious birthday cakes made at the bakery. Some commissaries do not have a deli or bakery while others have really big and popular ones. Some embrace technology and have a kiosk for customers to order their deli and bakery items while others I’ve shopped at still only have the option to take a number and wait in line. NAS Oceana’s deli actually has its own Facebook page.

It will be strange not to have any of these options on our next assignment. The commissary’s slogan “it’s worth the drive” has always been something I agreed with. There is one more base just within driving distance so I might make a monthly trip there if it turns out to have a good commissary.

I’m sure I’m not alone in facing disappointment on the size difference of commissaries. Naval Base San Diego boasts DeCA’s largest commissary. Its 126,000-square-foot store offers 22,500 items; that’s 2,000 more than the store held before it was remodeled. Imagine if you came from a tiny commissary and walked into that one? You would probably be quite overwhelmed. Bigger isn’t always better to everyone.

I would like to try the coffee kiosks in one of the newer commissaries. You get to blend your own beverage. I haven’t been to one that has such a thing, nor have I been to one that has a health and wellness department. The commissary at Naval Base San Diego has both of those. Perhaps one day we’ll be stationed near a commissary that has one.

Stating that all commissaries are not created equal is truly an understatement. Where’s your favorite commissary? What does it offer that keeps you shopping there?

Recipes for a Family-Friendly St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

03/13/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Saint Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite days to celebrate! It usually coincides with the start of spring, warmer weather and the color green is everywhere (I love the color green). Now, I’m going to let you in on a little known fact about myself that also brings meaning to the holiday for me, which is…I’m part Irish.

Recipes for a Family Friendly St. Patrick's Day Dinner

Do you have a favorite Irish recipe?

Yes, it’s a shocking truth, even to my husband. How could someone with olive skin, black hair and brown eyes be part Irish? Well, my grandmother on my dad’s side holds the Irish decent. She happened to marry an Italian man that gave my father the more distinct Italian features and of course, the rest is history.

Anyway, flash forward to today, I’m proud of every heritage I hold and Irish is one of them. Let’s not forget the most important part of any holiday celebration and that’s the food.

This St. Paddy’s Day, your family (Irish or not) should try out one of these delicious family-friendly recipes from MilitaryShoppers.

My husband enjoys his meat and potatoes just like the best Irishmen. I blame the Bostonian in him. Our go-to beef recipe is a hearty Guinness Stew. Don’t let the beer ingredient chase you away. The alcohol cooks out when you’re preparing the dish (the longer a recipe with alcohol cooks, the more the alcohol cooks out). This stew simmers for hours. But, if you’re still concerned about the Guinness, substitute the beer for beef broth.

If your family is more adventurous, add Corned Beef and Cabbage to the menu. Make sure you purchase a corned beef brisket with a spice packet already included. That will provide more flavor to the meat while the brisket is cooking. Or you can have Easy Shepherd’s Pie instead, which is usually a hit for families. Feel free to include peas, carrots, or any other veggie to the meat mixture to make it a complete meal.

It’s not a full Irish meal without the Irish Soda Bread (bake this a day in advance, it tastes better). I would add a little bit of dried currants to make it more authentic. You can also bake Beer Bread (Guinness is my go-to beer to bake with, but any stout or ale or non-alcoholic equivalent would work too).

Every St. Paddy’s Day dinner should finish with something sweet! Here is a very festive dessert that is perfect for all ages:

Rainbow Jello “Cake”

2 packages Strawberry Jell-O
2 packages Lemon Jell-O
2 packages Lime Jell-O
2 packages Orange Jell-O
1 can evaporated milk (24 ounces)
9X13 baking dish or pan

Start by mixing one box per given directions and pour into a greased 9X13 baking dish or pan. Set the dish or pan inside the fridge to cool for awhile. Then use the same flavor, but mix it with the boiling water portion first and let it sit in the bowl for a moment and then add ¾ cup of evaporated milk and pour it on top of the first layer. Repeat these steps with every color and feel free to add any additional flavors until it makes a rainbow!

*Note: this recipe takes a lot (and I mean a lot) of patience, as do a lot of these Irish recipes, because of the time spent either waiting on the food to cook or in this case, the Jell-O to mold. Trust me though, it will be well worth it in the end!

Don’t have time (or the patience) to go through each rainbow layer? Whip up a delicious Chocolate Bread Pudding or bake mouth-watering Apple Cake instead.

Do you have a favorite Irish recipe? Share it with the MilitaryShoppers recipe contest.

10 Tips for an Overseas PCS

03/11/2015 By Kimber Green

Is it PCS season already?

Everyone I know seems to be moving in the next few months and that includes my family as well. A few of my close friends are going on to great adventures in Spain. We, on the other hand, are only moving up to Maryland, not quite as exciting. While I’m simply house hunting online and slowly decluttering, my friends with an overseas PCS are running around town trying to get so many things done. PCSing overseas takes a lot more prepping than simply moving one state over.

When we move this summer, it will be to my 17th house. For some people that may sound like a lot of moving around and for others it might not. I’ve lived in Germany and Australia and all over America as well. While I would love to be moving overseas again, I am happy to not be feeling the stress these women are as they race to check so many things off their list before the big move.

I spoke with three of them today and collectively we’ve come up with a few tips to make your upcoming overseas move easier.

Have you been stationed outside of the United States?

Ensure you have all the paperwork you need to complete for the move and know when it is due. Double-check with your family sponsor that you have everything together so you aren’t running around last-minute trying to get things done.
Make a PCS binder to keep important documents in such as: a copy of the military orders, birth certificates, your marriage license and car titles. Take this binder with you. Do not let the movers pack it in your household goods shipment.
Get your passport in advance. It can take some time to get them back so go ahead and apply for one the moment your spouse starts talking about orders.
Schedule doctor and dentist appointments as soon as possible. If you have a military provider, it may take a while to get an appointment. You’ll need to make sure all your shots are up-to-date and have proof of it. You’ll want to get a hard copy of your medical and dental records as well and if you have prescription medication, you’ll want to ensure you have enough to make it until you get an appointment at your next duty station.
Moving overseas? You’ll want to get a hard copy of your medical and dental records.
Sell unnecessary belongings. The less you have to pack and unpack the better. Will you really need the items that you’ve stored in your garage or those that you never unpacked from the previous move? It’s time to declutter. There are many Facebook online yard sale pages you can go through; you can sell items on Craigslist, eBay or through the paper. If it doesn’t all sell, you can always donate items to a local charity and on-base thrift store.
Be prepared to sell or store your car. Do you really want to take your Toyota Tundra to Spain? Just imagine trying to drive that giant truck down the narrow street and forget about parking it. You’ll want to look into storing it, selling it or trading it in.
If someone is registered with the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), you’ll want to make sure all of their information is up-to-date in the system. You can follow these tips to make an EFMP folder with all the pertinent information such as: an individualized education plan (if applicable), school paperwork and medical documents.
Find out about the military installation you’re moving to. MilitaryShoppers has a Best Bases section where military families have provided their opinion on different locations and offer recommendations on where to live or not to live.
Is there a restaurant you’ve always wanted to try? Add it to your bucket list.
Make a bucket list of things you want to do before you move. Have you really seen all the sites in the town you live in now? Is there a restaurant you’ve always wanted to try or a park you’ve wanted to stroll through? Take some time, if you can, and soak up the local atmosphere. You might not get the chance to do it again.
Make arrangements to visit friends and family before you go. Saying goodbye to friends is part of military life unfortunately. Make sure you take a moment to say a proper goodbye and let them know how much you have appreciated their friendship. Moving of course doesn’t have to mean that friendship is over; I have many friends from different bases. It’s a good time to let them know how you feel though. If you can, make a trip home to see your family. For some, it might be a long time before you see them again.

These are just a few recommendations based on previous and current moves we’ve all made. Hopefully these tips will help you prepare and you will feel confident and excited about your move.

10 Tips for Military Families Moving Overseas

Are you ready for PCS season?

Have you been stationed outside of the United States? What tips do you have for an overseas PCS?

« Previous Page