Hello, I'm a new military wife. My husband is training at Ft. Sill right now, I don't really know much about what he's doing. I'm confused about all of this. I got the Deers stuff but I'm not sure what to do with it. [I'm stupid when it comes to paperwork] I'm confused about the moving arrangements and how that all works out. Anyone got some info in plain english for me?

Hello! im Kayla, im kinda new at this too but i found that this website was EXTREMELY helpful. www.GoArmy.com it has stuff like what the soldiers are going through and there are links to training stuff and housing etc. as to your moving question...im not sure how to help you there. what is your husband going into??

Hope that helped!!

Deers is your insurance. get a file box for all the army papers you recieve. also make copies of all of your husbnads and keep those on file. KEEP ALL ARMY PAPERWORK! instead of an insurance card, you use your military ID. your husbnad will go through basic and then ait school. after which if he is active duty, he will go to the base which you will soon call your new home. he will then apply for a home, waiting list can be weeks to months long, then you can come and live with him. the army come and pack up your stuff and ship your stuff to your new home. now, i have never lived on a base or moved with the army, yet, but i have learned this talking with other and searching websites to find out.

I am not sure about the paperwork, But I work for a Moving company. We do alot of DPM Moves for the Military, Basicly we show up at your house and pack up all your household goods. You must make sure that these movers are Crateing your Goods ON SITE!!!! These movers are suppose to atleast wrap all of your wooden furniture with these special paper pads, But you can request for them to wrap plastic totes and what not. When all is done with the loading, These movers will take the crates back to their Warehouse, and they will sit there for up to a week or two depending on when the first available driver can pick them up. When the crates are delivered to your house, these movers are to unwrap everything and put it where ever you want it, and then dispose of the wraping material. Depending on your husbands rank, there are some restrictions as to how much these crates are aloud to weigh. I would assume 2000 lbs to 2500 lbs because he is still training, But I could be wrong. Don't let these movers Bully you, Your the one in charge. But dont be an arsehole, Buy em some doughnuts or somthing. The move will go alot smoother if you do. Trust me

This is only for DPM moves paid for by the Government.
If your moving on your own, I can give you a few tips as to how to get prepared.

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As the Great Leeroy Jenkins would say, " LEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOY JEEEEEENNNNKINNNNNNNNNS!"

Hey there! Here is what my experience has been... (which isn't much! haha)

is your hubby at AIT or BCT? My hubby filled out all the DEERs info at BCT (during processing) on behalf of our family. You can make changes to it yourself... but I would let your hubby do that at processing. The only thing you may want to check on is Dental... my DH thought that it was taken care of when he entered all the stuff in for DEERS, but it didn't work that way. He has to sign you up separate for dental. You and any dependents go through the Tricare Dental Plan (google Tricare Dental Plan and it should pull up United Concordia Tricare... you do not want the civilian United Concordia...) He can enroll you online with a Credit Card. Anyway, it is like $27 a month for a whole family's dental coverage... your hubby is free through post.

You can change your DEERS info (address, phone, etc...) online... https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/addres...nticateType.do

Log-in with "personal information" (unless you know the others... I didn't)

Tricare's website is great... ANy insurance changes you can make online... you can make your appointments on-line (at least for the North Region) too. ALWAYS use your PCM (Primary Care Manager) if you don't... you will end up NOT getting free coverage... OH! APparently when DH processed us... They have several insurance plans... PPOs and PRIME... if you want medical covered 100% PRIME is the one you want. Military did not sign us up for PRIME automactically... SO I got a $475 bill in the mail for medical (I had checked to make sure my doctor was covered.. but apparently because he wasn't my PCM I was charged...)! SO! Sign up for Prime if you want free medical... if you are NOT near a base they will give you a PCM in your area and you will still give coverage. No worries...

Let's see... what else... OH, the moving.... I do not know how this works YET... However, form what my DH says... they are giving briefings today and explaining this to the newer soliders... So TELL YOUR DH to pay attention in AIT when that time comes!!! ROFL I am hoping things work out okay for us, because all our homegoods are in storage. Drill Sgt. told DH that SOME moving companies will move you out of storage units and others will not... OMG if they don't... (hahahahaha) Our house sold quicker than expected so I am in transition already... because hubby didn't have orders, the army didn't pack us and move us... I had to do all that. YUCK. What others have posted is true... they do pack you up and move you... and all my family says "seriously, they will pack everything... if you're trash can is full -they will pack it and you will have a nasty smelling box when you get to your new station." Another helpful thing my sister said was that it helped her to organize before hand. Cause they will pack by room... my sister like to pack things by category... SO before movers came she would make a pile of all the rugs, pile of all pictures, all appliances, etc... etc... then it was easy to know what was lost or whatever... downside was you would lose ALL pictures or whatever... hahaha

Sorry I am so scrambled... that is just how I am!

I will try and answer any other question you may... DH is done with AIT mid August... YIPPIE!!! You are welcome to contact me at the information below...

Fireball

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-Fireball
Army Wife and mother of 3

Most movers are good ones, but there are some that are just worthless. If an Estimater from Whatever Moving Company is moving you doesnt come to your house, I suggest you call their Office if at all possible. Tell them how many beds you have, what size they are, and how many pictures you have. These movers will bring special boxes for your beds so they dont get dirty in the crate. The most problems that I have while packing up ROTC students is not having enough boxes and packing material because Our estimaters very rarely go out to these sorts of jobs. There is no need to "Pile up" anything. Typically each crew member on the job picks a room to pack, and moves onto another one when finished.

You should also take apart the beds / Bunk beds, and anything really big and bulky, like a 4 peice entertainment center. While ALL movers are required to take some things apart, These goods are not going to be handled by the same people while unloading. This is another problem that I see quite often, Not knowing how certain things go together, and the loss of certain hardware. If you do this, It could save you a trip to Lowes or Home Depot.

I also suggest that you disconnect Washers and Dryers, Air Conditioners, and Refridgerators 24 hours prior to these items being moved. Movers are NOT permitted to disconnect these things for insurance reasons. I've heard alot of stories about washers flooding houses,and air conditioners falling out of windows. Refridgerators should be unplugged only because these items will need to be tipped while moving, and whatever chemical inside of there needs to settle beforehand. Also, When you receive your goods, Wait a few hours to plug in your refrigerator and A/C. Those items would have been shooken up quite a bit after that ride, and will die very shortly if you do.

I've worked for a Moving Comapany ever since I was 13.
If your worried about how an Item will be packed, how your furniture will be handled, or anyting about this move, Im the man to ask. If I don't know the answer, I can find out Very quickly.

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As the Great Leeroy Jenkins would say, " LEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOY JEEEEEENNNNKINNNNNNNNNS!"

cant you just come pack all of us when we are ready?

What exactly do you mean by ready?

You can do whatever pleases you to prepare for this move, but we are required to pack Everything....even repack boxes that you've already packed. I really don't know Who exactly is in charge of all these moves. but they're cracking down on all the regulations. We are not permitted to load PBO's or Packed By Owner boxes.

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As the Great Leeroy Jenkins would say, " LEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOY JEEEEEENNNNKINNNNNNNNNS!"

To an extent. Finding out yourself would be the better option. Atleast thats how I feel.

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As the Great Leeroy Jenkins would say, " LEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOY JEEEEEENNNNKINNNNNNNNNS!"

well, i was being a smart ***. when we are ready means when we get our orders, could be months or years away! sorry if that went over your head