A reality of military life is the necessity of regular moves. Although packing everything up and transporting it across the country and/or internationally can be incredibly stressful, it doesn’t have to be! Here are our top tips for making a military move as painless as possible.
Understand your deployment orders
The whole process begins when you receive your travel orders. Where you’re assigned and what you can bring with you depends on your rank, the duration of your deployment, and your new assignment, so read your orders carefully. If you have questions, military members can check with the Personal Property Office, and spouses can contact their spouse liaison or consult with the admin department for help.
Research ahead of time
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Military OneSource Network is home to Military Installations, a website that will tell you everything you’ll want to know about where you’re being reassigned. This includes website links, maps, phone numbers, and email addresses that will help you get acquainted with your new home and the base you’re being assigned to.
Be sure you know details about local schools, community information, and cost of living statistics to help you prepare adequately for the move. Having a good sense of what homes in the area cost to rent or buy will remove some of the stress of arriving in the area.
Plan for your car or vehicle
While you’re planning your move, don’t forget to include your vehicle. If you’re deployed overseas, the government will pay to ship one personal vehicle to your new location, which you can pick up at a specified drop-off station. If you’re deployed in the 48 contiguous states, you’ll need to drive your vehicle to your new home yourself, although you will get mileage reimbursement.
Make a plan for the kids
Moving is hard for kids; they’re saying goodbye to friends and making a huge change in their lives. To make moving day go smoothly, have a plan that they know ahead of time. Place games, toys, and snacks in an accessible area and try and keep the kids distracted and out of the way. It might be worth it to hire a babysitter for the day to help them stay busy and entertained. A pint of ice cream might not hurt, either!
NEDRAC is proud to assist military members and their families with stress-free relocations that meet the strict requirements and regulations for military moves. If we can assist you and your family, don’t hesitate to contact us by calling us at (800) 366-1204 emailing us at info@nedrac.com to learn more.