Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Tricare: 2 Urgent Care Visits Without a Referral

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Tricare began an Urgent Care pilot program on May 23, 2016, that extends through May 23, 2019. It allows Tricare Prime, Tricare Prime Remote or Tricare Young Adult-Prime members in the United States to visit Urgent Care facilities twice a year without a referral from a primary care manager (PCM).

Previously, these beneficiaries were required to have a referral from a PCM within 24 hours of going to an Urgent Care facility.

The pilot program allows Tricare beneficiaries to make 2 visits to Urgent Care within each fiscal year, which is October 1 through September 30.

You can now seek help from any Tricare authorized provider. An authorized provider is one that is licensed by a state, accredited by a national organization or meets other standards and is certified to provide benefits under Tricare. These providers are categorized as either network or non-network providers.

If you do receive a referral from your PCM, it does not count against the 2 Urgent Care visits that do not require a referral. If the nurse advice line tells you to go to Urgent Care, it also does not count against your 2 visits per fiscal year.

Tricare Allows 2 Urgent Care Visits Without a Referral

Tricare is trying out a new policy that allows certain Tricare beneficiaries to utilize Urgent Care facilities without a referral from a PCM.

What is Urgent Care?

If you need medical attention within 24 hours and cannot be seen by your PCM in that time, you need Urgent Care. Some examples of why you might need Urgent Care include: treatment for high fevers, sprains such as your wrist, illness that hinders proper breathing (croup), potential concussion from a fall or other urgent matters that do not threaten life, limb or eyesight.

If an injury does threaten life, limb or eyesight, that is considered an emergency. In that case, you would go to an emergency room.

If you are unsure if your illness requires emergency care, urgent care or simply a scheduled appointment with your PCM, you can call the Tricare nurse advice line at 1-800-Tricare. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What type of Urgent Care providers can you see?

You can see both network and non-network Urgent Care providers. Simply make an appointment or walk in to their facility. There are many different types of Urgent Care providers, all of which are approved for you to visit. These include:

  • Family practice
  • Internal medicine
  • General practice
  • Pediatrician
  • Obstetrician/Gynecologist
  • Urgent Care Clinic/Convenient Care Center
  • Physician Assistant
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Certified Nurse Midwife

While you are authorized to visit these Urgent Care facilities, you may still have to pay network copayments. Visit the Tricare copayments site to determine if this applies to you. Although you do not need a referral to go to these Urgent Care locations, you still need to inform your PCM about the care you received. You may also need to schedule a follow-up appointment.

Who is eligible for this pilot program?

All active duty service members in Tricare Prime Remote, activated Guard/Reserve members in Prime Remote and all other beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Prime, Tricare Prime Remote or Tricare Young Adult Prime can take advantage of this pilot program.

If however, the active duty service member, Guard or Reserve member is enrolled in Tricare Prime, they are not eligible. All beneficiaries enrolled in the U.S. Family Health Plan as well as those families enrolled overseas are not eligible. Those traveling in the United States who are enrolled overseas still do not need a referral from their PCM, they simply are not limited to 2 visits to an Urgent Care facility. Any care received overseas does not count as well.

If eligible beneficiaries exceed more than 2 Urgent Care visits within a fiscal year, they will be required to get a referral from their PCM or will be charged a point-of-service fee. You can avoid this fee by calling the nurse line before going to an Urgent Care facility.

What do you think about Tricare changing this policy for Prime beneficiaries? When have you used Urgent Care?

The Convenience of the Commissary’s Early Bird Program

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Do you know what the commissary’s Early Bird program is?

I have always seen signs about the Early Bird program at my commissary but I never knew how the program could benefit me.

I assumed the program was for certain people or just for those who are in the military, not their families. I was happy to learn more about the program and was glad to hear that the Early Bird program is there to help anyone who shops at the commissary.

The commissary’s Early Bird program is a program for shoppers who need 15 items or less. You can shop at the commissary before normal operating hours and pick up your necessary items.

You can’t do your big shopping this way but if you can stay under the 15-item limit, the program can be a good one to take advantage of. This program can help people save money because of the lower costs of shopping at the commissary compared to a convenience store.

The Early Bird program allows people to go into the commissary, get what they need and not have to wait until regular hours to shop.

The Early Bird program can benefit a lot of people who normally shop at the commissary. From military service members that might need to grab something quick in the morning to retirees that don’t want to worry about the crowds and only need a few things when they go.

During the normal store hours, commissaries can get quite busy. I have been to the commissary on days when the line went all the way to the back of the store. If you just need a few items that wait is not going to be the best way to go about getting them.

With the Early Bird program, you do have to plan ahead. You would need to get to the commissary within the time that they have for the program.

Do you know about your commissary’s Early Bird program?

To find out you would need to check the website for your commissary. Here at Fort Campbell the Early Bird program’s hours are 7-8 a.m., Monday through Saturday. It is available at Bolling Air Force Base from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. At Pensacola NAS, the Early Bird program is open from 7:30-8 a.m. daily while it isn’t an option at the commissary at Twentynine Palms.

Not every commissary will have the Early Bird program and the days and hours might differ based on where you are located.

If you think the Early Bird program will save you time and money, you should try it out. The next time you find yourself wanting to run to a convenience store, see if you can hit up the Early Bird program at your commissary instead.

You can save money this way because the items you need will be cheaper at the commissary. Regular convenience stores can cost even more than a civilian grocery store. By shopping at the commissary instead, you can avoid having to deal with the high costs associated with those types of stores.

Does your commissary have an Early Bird program? If yes, do you take advantage of it?

Mental Health Resources for Military Spouses

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Military life can be fun and exciting as you explore the world. Moving from place to place gives you the opportunity to have new adventures, try new things, make new friends and learn new things.

Military life also can be overwhelming, lonely, difficult and hard to handle. Sometimes it can be a little too much.

Mental Health Resources for Military Spouses

There are many mental health resources available to military spouses. You don’t need to suffer in silence. Help is only a phone call away.

Making friends and forming deep connections with fellow military spouses can truly be life saving. They can help you through tough times and help turn the tides sometimes.

Everything can’t always be fixed with a friend though.

Maybe you don’t want to admit to anyone how you are really feeling or maybe they don’t understand. No matter the reason, if you feel like you need someone to talk to, there are mental health resources available for military spouses.

You aren’t alone. Help is only a phone call away.

Here is a list of available mental health resources for military spouses:

National Military Family Association

There are many options to choose from when you are ready to take that step. The National Military Family Association is a wonderful organization founded by military spouses that advocates for military families. There are mental health resources listed on their site to guide you to the proper avenue that will get you the care you need. This can range from short-term counseling and assistance to long-term or medical mental health assistance.

Non-medical help can be sought out from family support centers at your installation, through the office of the chaplain, at military hospitals and clinics as well as through military family life consultants.

Military OneSource

Military OneSource offers non-medical counseling sessions as well. Through Military OneSource, you are entitled to 12 free sessions. These sessions can be in person, over the phone or online. To find out more and to make an appointment call 1-800-342-9647.

Tricare

Long-term medical and mental health resources are available through Tricare. You can visit a mental health care provider at a military hospital or clinic or utilize the Tricare network for authorized civilian mental health resources. The cost associated with these services will depend on the type of policy you have with Tricare, Prime or Standard.

Military spouses can receive up to 8 outpatient mental health care visits without needing a referral. If follow-up appointments are needed, you will be required to get a referral from your provider. Visit Tricare’s website to learn more.

There is unfortunately a stigma that comes with mental health in this country. Sadly, many people are afraid to seek help because they fear there may be consequences once it’s known that mental health resources are needed.

In the military community, there is the fear that it will have an impact on promotions and duty assignments. If you feel like something isn’t right, like you just aren’t yourself, don’t keep it bottled up for fear of repercussions.

You don’t have to go through official channels, like Tricare, initially if that’s what’s holding you back on seeking help. There are many anonymous platforms you can use for mental health resources.

Military OneSource Confidential Help

Free confidential consultations and services are offered. If you want to talk to someone they offer in person, over the phone, online and secure video chat. They can help with emotional and interpersonal difficulties to include adjusting to military life, surviving deployments, everyday stress, parenting challenges and working though loss. The counselor will not inform anyone, including the command and your spouse, of your consultation.

DSTRESS LINE

The Marine Corps DSTRESS Line is available 24/7 and is an anonymous phone and chat counseling service available to veteran Marines, attached sailors and family members. It is manned by veteran Marines, Marine Corps spouses and licensed behavioral health clinical counselors that have Marine Corps specific training. The phone number is 1-877-476-7734.

National Guard Joint Services Support

The National Guard Psychological Health Program has directors of psychological health in every state, territory and online to help family members get the help they need. They have programs to build family resiliency, educational support for complete wellness and access to immediate help. They also have an online library where you can research mental health.

Family Advocacy Program

This mental health resource is for service members and their families. They help with issues stemming from deployment and life stressors that cause problems with family function, domestic violence and child abuse. Classes, workshops, counseling and new parent support programs are all available.

There are many options available to military spouses when mental health resources are needed. The first step is to admit to yourself that you need help and that that is OK. You can start by talking to a friend, a family member, a command spouse liaison or your doctor. If they can’t provide the support you need, take the next step and seek professional help through mental health resources such as these listed above.

Did we miss any mental health resources for military spouses that you recommend? Tell us in the comments section.

Putting the Memorial Back into Memorial Day

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When I say the words “Memorial Day” what kind of words or images do you associate with this national holiday?

  • Is it the wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery?
  • Is it the somber echo of a trumpet playing “taps” at a military funeral?
  • Or is Memorial Day simply a day off of work, when you will hit the beach with your friends or go shopping?

We’ve talked before about this growing divide between veterans and civilians in our country. The percentage of Americans who have served in the military seems to be shrinking with every generation. There is a greater number of military kids who are following in the footsteps of their service member parents while fewer Americans know anyone who is a solider, airman, sailor or Marine.

Then you add in Memorial Day, a national holiday to honor all service members that were killed during any war and you feel this division between these 2 communities a little more.

If you watched television commercials this month, you would think that Memorial Day is a day for hosting a barbecue, taking your boat out for the first “unofficial” day of summer and that it’s the best weekend to save money on a new mattress.

The truth is that these typical Memorial Day activities are insensitive to the purpose and meaning of Memorial Day.

The truth is that these activities are insensitive to the grieving Gold Star families.

The truth is that these activities send a message to our children that if you die in service to your country, your sacrifice won’t be remembered.

But we know that simply isn’t true.

The truth is that our hearts do ache for our Gold Star families. We want to show them love and support in whatever way they need it.

The truth is that even if you haven’t had a friend, neighbor or sibling killed in action, you still want to honor and respect that person’s sacrifice to our country.

I recently saw evidence of that public support for our fallen service members when I read the news articles about the thousands of people who lined the streets of Coronado, Calif., to pay their respects to Charles Keating IV. The 31-year-old Navy SEAL died in a gunbattle with Islamic State fighters on May 3 in Iraq.

The truth is that taking time for a meaningful Memorial Day activity doesn’t take much time at all. All it takes is a bit of effort and planning.

Throughout the years, I have worked to find a Memorial Day ceremony or parade wherever we found ourselves on Memorial Day.

In Okinawa, Japan, my dedication to a meaningful Memorial Day meant attending a service that remembered the Americans who died on that island during World War II.

In Port Hueneme, Calif., my dedication to a meaningful Memorial Day meant attending an early morning ceremony and listening a Navy captain discuss the noble and courageous efforts of today’s sailors in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In Gettysburg, Penn., my dedication to a meaningful Memorial Day meant teaching my daughter to place her hand over her heart when the military color guard marched by us at the beginning of the 145th Memorial Day parade (one of the oldest continuing ceremonies in the country.)

But I must confess that last year I didn’t do any of these things. I was in deployment survival mode and was driving to my parents’ house, eager to start the summer with them. I regret to say that I forgot to remember Memorial Day.

Have you ever forgotten to mark Memorial Day in a meaningful way?

I hope I don’t ever forget it again.

Since then, I’ve learned about the National Moment of Remembrance. The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all “Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.”

Here’s what the Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada says about it

“It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”

A moment to remember.

Now that’s something that all Americans – military or civilian – can do this Memorial Day.

What activities do you typically do on Memorial Day?

Commissary Surcharge Dollars Fund New Facilities

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There are new and improved commissaries on the way, thanks to shoppers like you.

Your commissary surcharge dollars are hard at work providing the funds needed to build new infrastructure and modernize facilities to provide a better shopping experience for military beneficiaries around the world.

Did you know what the surcharge at the bottom of your receipt is for and the power that it carried for improvements?

The commissary surcharge is not a tax. Many people mistakenly think so, but unlike taxes where money could be distributed in many areas, the commissary surcharge can only be used to build new commissaries or to modernize and maintain the commissary facilities and equipment. Each time you make a purchase at your local commissary, feel good knowing that surcharge will lead to real improvements beneficiaries such as yourself can see in the future.

All commissaries charge a 5 percent surcharge. Perhaps you never noticed the surcharge at the bottom of your receipt. It isn’t something new. In fact, the first surcharge was put into place all the way back in 1879. It varied a bit over time but in 1983 it was set at 5 percent, and remains that way today.

Why do we have to pay a surcharge though?

The government decided that the commissary should be more self-sufficient, and rely less on it for funds. The commissary therefore charges consumers only the cost of the product it sells plus the 5 percent surcharge in order to cover the cost of maintaining and updating their equipment and facilities. Their research has shown that military beneficiaries that shop at the commissary save on average 30 percent over using a commercial grocery store. This takes into account the cost of items and the 5 percent surcharge.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Defense Commissary Agency as well as the 150th anniversary of the commissary benefit. It all began on July 1, 1867, when service members stationed across the country were able to buy food at cost for the first time.

The long tradition continues and a great way to celebrate these landmarks is with a new commissary or better yet – 3.

There are 3 commissaries slated to open this year beginning with Spangdahlem Air Base commissary in Germany this month at a cost of $26 million. Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., will open its doors to shoppers this summer thanks to $36 million in surcharge dollars. The Fort Belvoir commissary in Virginia is expected to open early next year after spending $38 million. All of these commissaries were built using surcharge dollars.

Construction began in March of 2014 on the commissary at Spangdahlem Air Base. The 7,500 service members, civilians and family members at this mobility hub in the country’s Eifel region will be in for a treat after a long awaited grand opening of their 54,000-square-foot commissary.

There are significant improvements over the current store, which opened in 1985. More space has been added, the aisles are wider, it has been outfitted with modern décor and a larger selection of items will be offered. The number of checkout counters will increase from the current 8 to 13.

Naval Air Station Jacksonville is putting commissary surcharge dollars to good use with a 115,000-square-foot commissary, up from its current 88,000 square feet. This includes a covered drive through for patrons to use when picking up groceries ordered online.

It will also have a raised ceiling, wider aisles, an expanded chill and frozen section and the décor will be modernized. The seafood shop will be larger and the bakery and deli area will be expanded allowing for new items to be sold. This again is all thanks to commissary surcharge dollars.

I am most excited about the $28 million commissary coming to Fort Belvoir. In recent years, Ft. Belvoir has grown by 115,000 people. This new commissary will be able to accommodate the growing population.

The commissary will be constructed to LEED Silver standards, meaning it would utilize sustainable strategies such as using innovative energy conserving techniques. This upgraded facility will offer a wider range of products in a modern setting that is more family friendly with wider aisles and easier access.

There are many great upgrades coming to commissaries across the globe thanks to commissary surcharge dollars.

Have you noticed any changes at a commissary near you? What upgrades would you like to see?

How to Make Money with a Personal Procured Move

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I have a confession.

Although I didn’t enjoy my last PPM (personal procured move, formerly called a do-it-yourself or DITY military move), my husband and I banked a lot of money by during it, which made every roadblock (sometimes literally), headache and painful mile worth it.

How to Make Money on a Personal Procured Move

Have you made money with your personal procured move?

When you’re doing a personal procured move, you need to first understand your PCS entitlements. They differ from move to move and branch to branch, so take a close look at your orders to figure out what you need in your military move.

Before you go forward with finalizing your personal procured move, contact your local Travel Management Office (TMO). They are essential in guiding you through the process and giving you everything you need for a successful PCS.

No matter what you end up deciding to do for your military move, you will most likely receive a travel per diem, dislocation allowance and Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT), if you choose to travel with your privately-owned vehicle (POV).

You could make some money by being smart with your dislocation allowance and travel per diem. When we PCSed from New York to Arizona, we stayed with family members located at 2 different locations (Texas and Mississippi) and utilized hotel points on our other stays that added up to free future hotel visits.

That same military move, we did a partial PPM. We packed up our car with as many goods as it could fit and we were paid money based on the weight and mileage. If you opt for a partial PPM, be sure you fill out all the appropriate forms and file for it. You need to do the same if you choose to do a full personal procured move. Pay close attention to the rules and regulations regarding weighing your car. The rules may have changed since the last time you PCSed.

With a full PPM the government will pay you 95 percent of the total cost it would be for them to take you from point A to point B. Still interested in doing a PPM? Here’s what you need to know.

What’s needed to make money with a personal procured move or PPM?

  • Packing Supplies
  • Moving Truck
  • Labor

I’m going to talk about my last personal procured move and share with you what worked for us. I’ll start with the packing supplies.

I raided local retail stores around my home for boxes from shipment days. (Don’t be afraid to ask the manager of your military commissary for shipping boxes!) Be sure you plan for time to collect your packing supplies far enough in advance and have an area in your home to put these boxes. I was able to acquire enough to pack all of our household goods. I saved money by not buying any moving boxes.

Another successful strategy would be putting a call-out for boxes on a military spouses Facebook page. I’ve seen lots of boxes get recycled that way as well. That strategy costs nothing, but time and effort!

Next, we priced out all possible moving vehicles. Luckily, most companies like U-Haul and Budget offer military move discounts! With all the labor accounted for (I’ll elaborate on that later), being able to lock in an amazing deal for a moving truck was key.

Of course, we took a little bit of a risk with this one, but we used our own clothing and other fabrics to pad and pack our breakables in the boxes. Once the boxes were sealed, we indicated what was inside them so that we could be gentler with that box over the other ones. It was my husband, myself and a friend moving boxes and furniture, so we only had ourselves to blame if anything broke. We rented the furniture pads to help with the bigger items.

Because labor was my husband, myself and a friend, it was absolutely free! Well, I did pay our friend in food, but that was it. Once we arrived at our new location, it was up to us to unpack the moving truck, but we took our time and unloaded it over the course of 2 days (we paid to have the rental truck for an extra day).

In addition, I’ve seen some military families successfully move with hiring help too. For example, they would hire the labor to pack the furniture and boxes properly in a truck that they rented. It was up to them to drive the truck to the new location and they hired another team to unload it.

Another family used a PODS-type moving system for their military move and I believe that company offers a military discount as well.

Have you made money with your personal procured move in the past? What tips do you have for making money on this type of DITY move?

Remembering Our Fallen Friends on Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have lost their lives while serving our country. This national holiday is a day to remember them and their sacrifices.

This loss hits home more often in military families. We have friends who have lost their lives and friends who have lost their spouses. We know people who have received that knock on the door and we know how real Memorial Day can be to the people in our military community.

As military spouses, we might not be sure how we can remember our friends on Memorial Day.

But there are many ways to do so and ways to include our kids. We never want to forget these service members, their families and their sacrifices.

You can plan to attend a Memorial Day ceremony in honor of your friend or friends that were lost. You can take your children with you and explain to them why you are there in an age-appropriate way. Smaller children might not totally understand what is going on but over time, they will.

See what Memorial Day ceremonies are planned in your area by checking with your local newspaper, television station, American Legion or VFW. If you live near a military installation they might have something going on there to honor those who were lost.

While you are at the Memorial Day event you could wear a special shirt or piece of jewelry to remember your fallen friends. This can help make the family feel like they are still remembered and allow you to honor those that have been lost.

Another way to remember your friends on Memorial Day is to keep in touch with their family members, whether that be their spouse, parents or siblings. Let them know that you think of their loved one often and let them know you are thinking of them as well.

You might want to reach out to them on Memorial Day in order to let them know that they are loved and that you are honoring their loved one. When someone in your family dies, you get a lot of support and love at first but that support can stop after a few months. Reaching out to the family, who still might be hurting from the loss is a great idea if you are close enough to do so. Even a simple card sent in the mail can go a long way. You want them to know that you still love and miss your friend and think of them often.

Children can have a more difficult time when a family friend has passed away. Take the opportunity this Memorial Day to talk about this person with your child. Find out how they are processing the death and if they have any questions. If appropriate, you can take the child to the gravesite to leave flowers or another gift. You just want to make sure they know that you are there to talk about what happened whenever they need you to be. If they are quite young, they might not fully understand where their friend went. Talking about the great memories they have had with the friend can help until they are old enough to understand.

Memorial Day can bring up a lot of emotions and feelings, especially for members of the military. Having a plan of how to remember those in your life that you have lost is a good idea, both for you and your children. Whether they have been gone for just a couple of months or many years, grieving can take a lot of time and you don’t want to rush that process.

How do you honor fallen service members on Memorial Day?

5 Tips to Make Your On-Base House Feel Like an Off-Base Home

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The decision to live in an on-base house or an off-base one can be a complicated one. That being said, living on-base can have a lot of benefits. You are close to your spouse’s job, more connected with your military community and you don’t have to worry about any of the things those that live off-base do.

However, when you do live in an on-base house, your home looks exactly like your neighbors. They are usually pretty uniform and trying to be an individual can be difficult. The good news is that there are things you can do to make your space more you and fun for you and your family.

5 Tips to Make Your On-Base House Feel Like an Off-Base Home

How do you make your on-base house feel like home?

Here are 5 life hacks to make your on-base house feel like a home that’s off-base:

1. Rugs. When we were in Germany we had hardwood floors. Old, hardwood floors. The floors needed something so we went to the local Exchange and bought a few rugs. They were not that expensive and added color and a new feel to our apartment.

They also helped with the sound since we were on the third floor. You can really change the look of your on-base house by adding rugs to your floors. You could even add them to carpet, especially if you are not a fan of what your on-base house has for carpet.

2. Paint. You might not think you can paint inside on-base housing and sometimes you can’t. Other times you can as long as you get the paint approved by housing and know that you will have to paint the walls white again before you move out.

If you do want to paint, talk to your housing office and see what is allowed. Even painting an accent wall can add a lot to your on-base house. You can go with a color that represents you and feels more at home in your on-base housing.

3. Garden. Making your own garden is another great way to make your on-base house look like your own home. If you have a yard, you can make your garden there. If not, you can always do a patio or window garden. You could also use containers.

Make sure you pre-approve any garden plants in your yard with the housing office. You might not be able to do exactly what you would want to do but there will always be a way to have a small garden. This can add to the way your home looks on the outside and help you stand out from everyone else in your military neighborhood.

4. Decor. What you put in your on-base house in terms of decor is going to make all the difference. You can go with themes or just find items you really love.

When you first move into your new home you should make a plan about how you want things to look like. Think about what your own style is and what each room can be themed. Some people will do different themes such as beach or Americana. Others like to play with color.

5. Yard Sales. Going to yard sales and thrift stores is the most economical way to make your on-base house look like your own. In any military community, people are always moving and always trying to sell their belongings. You should be able to find a lot of great items for your home this way.

You can also sell your items that won’t work in your current home to make room for new items that will. I have bought almost all of the picture frames in my house from yard sales and thrift stores and saved a lot of money doing so.

How do you make your on-base house feel like home?

How to Kiss the PCS Blues Goodbye

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Spring is here and that means it’s PCS season, when military families will be moving to a new duty station and starting the next chapter in their lives.

Are you excited about the move or are you feeling the PCS blues?

What can start off as an exciting opportunity and journey can quickly turn into an overwhelming situation causing emotions to swell. That’s when the PCS blues kick in.

How to Kiss the PCS Blues Goodbye

Are you feeling the PCS blues this spring? How do you handle these unique feeling?

Never heard of the PCS blues? Think it’s made up? If you haven’t suffered from the PCS blues, that’s great, but many military spouses do.

The PCS blues are a sense of dread that comes over you as you leave a home, city and family that you’ve become comfortable in and transition to a new environment.

Change is a hard thing and it can wreak havoc on the most seasoned spouse’s emotions.

Depression is real and even if you don’t reach the point of the clinical definition of being depressed, there may be just that lingering feeling of dread or sadness to say goodbye to a life you knew.

That’s the PCS blues.

As a skeptic, you might say military spouses knew what they signed up for when they said “I do.” It wasn’t just the person they were marrying, it was also the military and a life of constant change. We do all know what we’re getting into, that doesn’t mean anyone’s feelings are any less real or unsubstantiated.

Each time the military sends you to a new duty station the routine of settling in begins again. A move can start out fun. It’s a new adventure. You’ll have new opportunities to see things, experience things and discover new things. It comes at a cost though and that’s leaving behind the things you’ve grown to love. Take some time to find closure and say goodbye to those things and then embrace your new life.

This could help ward off the PCS blues.

Follow these 4 tips to keep your emotions in check and make the most out of PCS season.

Say Goodbye to Your Friends

No one likes to say goodbye. It’s hard. It can take a long time to make friends and it’s always sad to leave them as you move on to a new duty station.

Take some time to say goodbye in a meaningful way. Make a coffee date, movie date or play date with your friends.

Create a lasting memory. I started a tradition with good friends at Christmas. Instead of buying commercial gifts we exchange homemade Christmas ornaments. That way, each year we think of each other as we decorate our trees.

You’re bound to have something in common, maybe just an inside joke between friends. Create a way to keep that lasting memory before you say goodbye. Having closure may keep the PCS blues away once you move.

Do What You’ve Been Meaning to Do

Always wanted to try a certain restaurant in the area? Do it.

Been talking about hiking a nature trail in the country? Do it.

There’s no time like last minute to make you finally go for it. You might regret it if you don’t.

Maybe it’s a simple thing like stopping into a local eatery or shop. Maybe you’ve been meaning to taste a regional delicacy but have been too afraid. You might not ever have the chance to do it again.

Then again, moving is constant and you could end up back in that city one day. Why take the chance in missing out though?

Prepare Yourself Mentally for the Move

You do so much prep work when getting ready to move. Organizing the house before the movers come, shutting off and turning on utilities, checking out of school and signing up for new ones can all keep your mind busy. Take a moment to ready yourself for the move as well, not just physically but mentally.

You are moving. This is really happening. Get excited about the move. Don’t just go through the motions.

Kiss the PCS blues goodbye by starting out with a positive attitude.

Yes, it’s sad to leave but there are so many new things heading your way. Look at that as a wonderful opportunity. You will make friends again. You will fall in love with a coffee shop, yoga class or play date in your new town. It is going to be OK.

Get Out of Your House

Once you move into your next home, get out of the house. There are a million boxes to unpack and a long list of things to do, but the PCS blues might set in if you don’t check out every once in a while.

Take a break from it all and and get out of the house, and out of your head. Contact your ombudsman or FRG leader. Look on social media for local meet-up groups. Join a gym and sign up for a class. Go explore your new town. Take a walk in the park and get some fresh air. You need a break and you might just meet someone that will turn into your next best friend.

Moving to a new location can be hard. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ll make friends again. You’ll fall in love with the area, and then it will be time to do it all over again.

Are you feeling the PCS blues this spring? How do you handle this unique feeling?

How to Military-Proof Your Vacation Plans

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As my bio mentions, I come from a military family. One of the best pieces of advice that was given to me from my parents was to never lose out on vacation time. When I graduated from college, I took that advice to heart and made an effort to travel someplace new every year.

It didn’t change when I met my spouse. Although he was a little skeptical at first, we’ve been able to successfully vacation at least once a year since we started dating. My parents shared valuable tricks that have allowed us to vacation despite the military influence.

I know it’s hard to believe because we’ve heard so many different horror stories. In fact, my own vacation plans have been thwarted due to a short-notice TDY and unexpected field exercise. But, the important thing to note is that it’s always worth a try and don’t get discouraged.

With the right planning and flexibility, you can create unforgettable vacations, despite military annoyances!

Consider these travel tips that have been tested by my parents and myself:

How to Military-Proof Your Vacation Plans

How has military life interrupted your vacation plans? Don’t be discouraged. Try these 5 travel tips to create unforgettable vacations.

1. Don’t be afraid of planning ahead.

As a rule of thumb, my spouse and I like to map out a year in advance. It sounds crazy, right? But, it’s worked out great for us in the last 5 years.

We booked our Alaska cruise a year ahead of time. Military families can benefit from early bird deals in addition to military discounts. Yes, it’s a little scary, especially when you know things can change at a moment’s notice. That leads me to my next important point.

2. Always buy the travel insurance!

My spouse and I never book without it. Remember that Alaska cruise I mentioned? Well, we had to change the date two times before we actually left for our vacation.

Travel insurance gives you the flexibility to change dates without a hitch. Be sure you read the terms carefully to make sure you have the right type of protection for your vacation. We always make sure that if it gets to the point of not knowing when we could use it, the credit could still be there for us to use at any time.

During our Alaska vacation, we only had to pay the difference of our original sail date to our new one. Because of all the discounts we landed early on, the slight increase didn’t put a dent in our budget.

3. Make the most of block leave.

Depending on your assignment or location, military members can get a sense of when some breathing room comes their way. My spouse seems to get breathing room during the summer and winter months. He typically likes to take at least a week off at those times, so we aim to schedule vacations at that time.

In the last 2 years, we’ve got to go explore a new location along with spending the holidays with family. This past year, we celebrated the New Year and quickly jetset to Vegas to spend the next 5 days with my parents.

4. Plan a PCS vacation.

So far, my spouse and I are 2-2. We’ve PCSed two times together and have taken two vacations. Our first one was a PCS road trip from New York to Arizona. We mapped out a special route for ourselves that included visits through Texas.

Our last PCS is when we went on our honeymoon.

Yes, it can be done and it really doesn’t matter when you do it. My spouse was coming from an overseas tour and took a full month of leave. We moved all of my household goods and then flew out of our new duty station to cruise out of Puerto Rico.

5. Don’t be afraid of short-term planning either.

My spouse had use it or lose it vacation time a couple years ago, so we were encouraged to take time off. I came across an email with last-minute vacation deals and passed it along to my spouse.

If he had time to use, why not use it on a beach? We quickly booked another getaway as we were waiting for our Alaska cruise as a matter of fact. We couldn’t resist because the price was right and it was for the right amount of days off.

How do you military-proof your vacation plans?