Lets face it, moving around is part of life in the military. Even during peace time moving from one base to another is part of the military lifestyle. Moving family and belongings can be daunting if you don't know the procedure or the right places to look for information. Relocating doesn't have to be a nightmare.
The first thing you need to know is that your government has been looking out for you. While you serve your country, lawmakers have created rules to make sure military personnel get proper relocation assistance. TITLE 10, Subtitle A, PART II , CHAPTER 53, 1056 outlines that the Secretary of Defense "shall carry out a program to provide relocation assistance to members of the armed forces and their families". It also states that it will try and keep reasonable lengths of duty to minimize the adverse effects of relocation.
According to Defense Link says "Research indicates that pre-departure relocation services reduce associated problems for military members and families, no matter how many times they have moved. Family Centers deliver a variety of services to assist relocating service members and their families, including, relocation counseling, planning assistance, destination information, and seminars on move management and financial preparedness. A database known as the Standard Installation Topic Exchange Service (SITES) augments these services by providing current information on Family Center areas worldwide."
To help military personnel the government has gone through great lengths to provide online resources to help you get moved. Here are some resources to help you with your relocation.
DoD Job Search (DJS). DJS features want ads, resume writing, and referral systems geared to transition military personnel and their spouses, DoD federal civilian employees, and the spouses of relocating active-duty members.
Army Lodging Travelers Home Page. Army lodging welcomes all official and unofficial travelers! Our web site is designed to help you quickly find information on Army Lodging Locations, the Lodging Success Program, policies and regulations pertaining to use of the facilities and most importantly how to make a reservation with Army Lodging.
Navy Surface Spouses. This web site provides a comprehensive resource for Surface Spouses and their families enabling them to access information about the Navy communities in which they reside or to which they may be relocating.
NEX Military Moving Center. The NEX Military Moving Center is the fast and free, easy ONLINE way for military members and their families to connect their
utilities, phone service, internet access and much more for their new home.
PCS House provides on and off base housing and general information about Navy and Marine Corps locations worldwide, including: Housing Allowances, Important Phone Numbers, Local Housing Costs and Wait Times for Government Housing.
Military Newcomers' Guide. Newcomer information is provided for many installations and more will be added in the near future. Military personnel, civilian employees and their spouses can find information such as facilities and services available on base, base history and current mission as well as information on the local areas and events. Business yellow pages are included presenting the commonly used classifications.
Many bases provide welcoming centers for incoming troops. They often provide tours, videos, literature, maps and other guides to help you get to know your new area. Every base is different and may offer different things, but they all have a welcome center. Here is a list of bases and links to their sites where you can get more information from specific bases.
