Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Homeschooling as a Military Family

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Families decide to homeschool their children for so many different reasons: academics, extra-curricular activities, special needs, allergies, religion, and more all bring families to the decision to homeschool.

Who homeschools?

Homeschooling families are as diverse as our United States military families!

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2012, there were an estimated 1.8 million homeschooled students in the United States, and those numbers are increasing!

Many families homeschool temporarily for various reasons and some families are in it for the long haul.

Why homeschool in the military?

Transitions

Many military families find PCS season easier without having to deal with school transfer paperwork. Who wants more paperwork?

Different standards in each state can make it difficult for children transferring between school districts. With homeschooling, fewer credits are missed because it is a more cohesive transition if parents are in control. Many parents also complain of “gaps” in education standards in the states where they’ve lived.

Flexibility

Instead of worrying about school break schedules and half-days, homeschoolers can travel whenever they want or take time off from book work to spend more time with a soon-to-be deployed or returning parent.

Opportunity

Homeschoolers receive a “real world” education, especially in military families, since we often have the opportunity to live in or travel to so many interesting places around the world! We learn to be more culturally aware. We are third culture families! We’re often “road schooling” so we can see the places we’re learning about in our homeschool.

Homeschooling can be done anywhere, anytime.

What you need to know:

Homeschool families in CONUS locations must abide by the state law where you live (not your sponsor’s state of residency) which may include submitting an “intent to homeschool” letter or form, providing standardized test scores, assessments, portfolios, curricula titles, attendance records, and more annually.

You could be penalized for truancy or worse if you don’t comply.

Know the law and your rights.

For OCONUS locations, homeschool families do not have to report or submit anything to anyone, but it is recommended (not required) to mention it to the sponsor’s commander. Realize that homeschooling is often illegal for local citizens in host countries, so it is good to know your rights under the SOFA agreement. And it’s also nice to be respectful of daytime hours when neighbors might question your or your kids.

It is advisable to keep good records of homeschool documents in case of PCS to a state with stricter policy – or the possibility of future enrollment into public, private, or DoD schools. You just never know what the future may hold.

What about socialization?

Homeschoolers are not all stuck in little closets, reading quantum physics, rebuilding computers, composing symphonies, or hacking into secure servers.

Socialization is a concern, especially for many parents beginning homeschooling. We worry about isolation and how our children will be able to interact with others in a healthy way.

School environments cannot recreate natural socialization within controlled age-segregated institutions.

We’ve discovered many unique opportunities to socialize!

Libraries offer all kinds of fun: storytime, crafts, clubs, games, classes, contests. Ask your librarian to plan homeschool events!

Our children have always taken music lessons from amazing teachers in our community.

My kids participate in gymnastics, soccer, track, and baseball. There are many sports opportunities within most communities.

We attend church frequently where our children interact with so many different people of all ages.

Volunteering is a great opportunity for homeschoolers who have a flexible schedule. My teen daughter works at our installation hospital twice a week. She is certified with the Red Cross and loves it!

My teenage daughter is also a member of a local drama troupe where she performs with many amateur thespians of all ages in our community.

We are members of a local homeschooling organization that holds art shows, science and geography fairs, co-op classes led by parents, talent shows, field trips, holiday parties, and special events. We can participate as much or as little as we want.

Many homeschoolers are involved in Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts or similar extra-curricular activities.

My eldest daughter has participated in Civil Air Patrol since she was 12 years old.

Even shopping, medical appointments, and dining out is educational. It’s a learning experience to interact with and be courteous to store clerks, cashiers, nurses, wait staff, and other patrons.

We as homeschool parents get to choose our children’s socialization…who they associate with and what they spend their time doing.

Our attitudes and experiences impart knowledge to our kids.

What if you can’t (or don’t want to) teach something?

I am so lucky that I am the English and history expert and my husband is the math and science guy. Together, we can tackle almost anything our kids want to learn, even the tougher high school courses.

But what if you don’t want to teach writing or algebra gives you hives?

Many homeschool classes are offered online! Lots of companies provide classes especially for homeschoolers.

Private tutors are an available resource, both online and locally. Many local and DoD libraries offer free or reduced educational services.

You can check for local co-op classes. If there is nothing available in your area to suit your family’s needs, ask other parents to help you create a course! There are probably other parents in need of your skills who can offer their expertise.

Homeschoolers can enroll part-time in many local or DoD schools for academics, electives, or extra-curricular activities. Just speak to the school office for procedure.

What about high school and beyond?

We are navigating this right now and it’s both scary and exciting!

It’s important to keep good records.

Calculate high school credits and complete a transcript.

Prepare for the ACT or SAT.

Complete paperwork for financial aid, applications, scholarships.

Visit college or job fairs.

Homeschool high school doesn’t have to look like traditional school.

Coach your homeschooled students well for after high school – no matter if that’s work, college, a gap year, or whatever.

Whether it’s for a semester or 12+ years, homeschooling is an educational option many military families all over the world choose for their children.

Homeschooling is the hardest job you will ever love.

Resources:

The Homeschool Foundation assists military homeschool families who struggle financially to meet their children’s educational needs.
The Homeschool Association for Military Families is a group advocating for military families to be allowed to choose one location (a family home state) and a set of laws to follow throughout a child’s education. I think that’s great!
Get a starter kit from the Home School Association for Military Families.
Remember: You can get military and teacher discounts at many stores! Check with curricula providers, bookstores, services, and stores for military and teacher discounts.

Homeschool Support Groups:

Military Homeschoolers (Worldwide)
Military Homeschoolers Overseas
Secular Homeschoolers

OCONUS Homeschool Support Groups:

There are lots of groups for each installation. Ask or do an online search to find one near you!

United Homeschoolers of Germany (KMC, Germany)
KMC Christian Homeschoolers (KMC, Germany)
KMC Inclusive Homeschool Group (KMC, Germany)
Eifel Homeschool Group (Spangdahlem, Germany)
Grafenwoehr and Vilseck Homeschoolers and Facebook Group (Germany)
Sigonella Homeschoolers (Italy)
Naples Homeschooling (Italy)
Naples Christian Homeschooling (Italy)
L.I.F.E. Homeschool Group – Lakenheath and Mildenhall (UK)
Okinawa Homeschool Group
Seoul Homeschool Group

Let me know if there’s a group where you live that I don’t have on my list!

Book Resources:

  • The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer
  • Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
  • Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn
  • The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids by Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Sandahl 
  • Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
  • How Children Learn by John Holt
  • Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray
  • Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom
  • Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne
  • Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow by Lenore Skenazy
  • Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD 
  • Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté  
  • The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté

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Military Spouse Mental Health

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I’ve read a plethora of articles recently (specifically here and here) about depression and substance abuse among military spouses. Many of the reactions to this “news” is “Well, duh!” from so many spouses who have experienced stress while being married to a military member.

Do military spouses experience more stress than other spouses?

While I knew what I was getting into when I married my husband, that doesn’t negate the stress I’ve felt over the years. Many spouses have rose-colored glasses and don’t quite comprehend the moving around, deployment, or protocol issues involving rank and military careers.

Military spouses are overwhelmed and unheard, often too scared to reach out for help when they need it most.

Telehealth company Thrivetalk has released a study on the mental health of an often-neglected group: military spouses. And a whopping 66% of survey respondents agree with that statement, saying they often feel ignored by society. 

The Department of Defense estimates there are over 1 Million military spouses. During the pandemic, over 50% of military spouses have reduced visiting if their partner lives on base. 84% of respondents said that their feelings of isolation have increased during COVID-19, yet only 23% have received mental health support. 

Prairie Conlon, LPC, NCC & Clinical Director of Thrivetalk has a postgraduate degree in military behavioral health and had this to say: 

It’s well-documented the mental health challenges veterans face, but now we can see statistics pointing to the toll it takes on military spouses, too.

Prairie Conlon, LPC, NCC & Clinical Director of Thrivetalk

Military Spouse Mental Health

What are some of the stressors facing military spouses?

Loss of Career

Many spouses put their careers on hold or terminate their employment altogether when marrying into the military.

It’s difficult to keep resumes updated with gaps of several years due to PCSing, having babies, moving out of the country. At many military installations, the only job options that seem available to spouses are cashiering at the Exchange or bagging groceries at the commissary. While that doesn’t look appealing to many, sometimes the cash flow is needed to support a growing family.

Some careers are more mobile than others. Some spouses become entrepreneurs or get involved with MLMs. And then they have to pack all that up and move every few years, find new clients and contacts.

After experiencing almost every single life stressor on the index during our first two years of marriage, I ended my career as an English professor to stay home and educate my own children. While I don’t regret that decision, I do sometimes feel less-than, especially in social situation when I am just the stay-at-home, homeschooling mom.

It wasn’t much of a choice.

Marriage Struggles

Being married to a military member is sometimes really tough.

And I’m not talking about just deployments and PCS stuff.

My concerns are often very different from my husband’s. I often look at a bigger picture.

I’ve tried the spouse clubs. I’ve tried volunteering. It’s like middle school all over again. I never go to functions. It doesn’t affect my husband’s career, no matter what anyone says, if I’m there or not. No one cares. No one notices.

My husband works with many different people all day, every day. I understand he has a work persona.

I also understand that when he’s home, he’s always on call. He’s had to leave in the middle of the night for emergencies. He’s had to go TDY and missed important family events. He left for deployment on our anniversary.

It’s my job to remind him that he is a father and a husband. Work is not everything.

He also doesn’t like to make decisions at home since he makes so many at work. I’m usually fine making the decisions. I’m confident and efficient. But I sometimes actually want his input or help. I don’t want to nag. I don’t want to have a tantrum about the smelly trash every week. I shouldn’t have to remind him to change the tires before it snows. Sure, I’m in charge of home and homeschool and he works away from home all day. It’s more than a full-time job for me too. I’m never “off duty.” I don’t get an OPR or EPR. I don’t get awards for doing my job.

Our household needs both parents to work well.

I want the kids’ memories to be good ones. I want them to grow up and desire to visit home for the holidays. I struggle every day to develop a healthy family atmosphere.

Family Issues

We’ve chosen to homeschool our four kids, and that relieves a lot of stress involving school. But even in the homeschool community, we’ve sometimes had issues fitting in. Some places followed a traditional school schedule and their activities began before our household goods and homeschool items arrived. We were empty-handed for several weeks.

Finding activities for my kids to participate in has sometimes been hard. Gymnastics was a thing for a while, but taking breaks for months and testing into a class every time we moved took its toll and my kids didn’t feel it was worth trying to keep up.

Overseas family activities are often only available on base and the quality is just really poor with such a monopoly. We decided not to waste our money anymore.

There are few options for teenagers to get part-time jobs – or even drive – when stationed overseas. Overseas education options are DODS or homeschool, occasionally private schools in English might be available.

Deployment

Of course deployments are hard. Those months away can be scary. It’s hard having a long-distance relationship. It’s hard to feel left behind while the military member is off doing a job keeping our world safe. Communication is often sporadic.

But the preparation for the separation is tough too. Arguments, bitterness, sadness, anger – these feelings are normal and natural, even if they add stress to an already stressful sitation. They help prepare us for a long time apart. We try to distance ourselves so it doesn’t hurt so much.

Then, upon return, the reintregation process can be hard. The spouse has dealt with everything alone for months and feels awkward making room again. Returning to a routine that was normal before the deployment seems weird. The military member has lived a completely different life during deployment and returning to a life and routine at home feels strange.

All of this creates lots of friction – for a long time. Kids find it really hard to understand. They’re just happy to have both parents at home.

PCS

It gets really tiresome moving every few years. Some people may think it’s exciting to get to move around, starting over new.

And it was for the first few times.

After 5, 6, 7, or more moves around the world, it gets exhausting.

We lament that we will forever be renters.

My soul longs for a place to call home.

My kids have no hometown. Their memories take place all over and I find it hard to reconcile that sometimes. We don’t have a doorpost with measurements marking the heights of our kids over the years.

After living in one place for three years, the kids get antsy, knowing it’s almost time to move on. They have a transient life.

PCS time is a huge, long process of waiting. Waiting for news, official orders, dates for packing and moving and traveling. Then more waiting. For household goods to arrive. Finding a new place to live. Unpacking, organizing, settling…for just a few years. Until we do it all again.

The first year in a new location is getting to know everything, learning our way around, trying to fit in.

The second year is comfortable, feeling almost like we belong, enjoying everything the area has to offer.

The third year is realizing we’re gonna move soon. We mentally shut down, purging stuff we won’t need in our new location or things we can’t take – like houseplants, outgrown toys, 220 plugs.

Then panic sets in. We realize we’re never gonna see that flower bloom again. This is the last snowfall here for us. We’ll never get to visit there like we planned. It makes me physically ill, grieving because it’s a loss I can’t control.

Then hope peeks through. We wonder where our next location will be. We imagine a nice, big yard with a garden, better than this one. We hope we can find a good kitchen with double ovens. We long for a fireplace since we didn’t have one here. Then we worry about commute times and gas prices. How will I budget when we don’t know the price of utilities and food? Will the new neighbors be nice and welcoming? Will we be able to find a church right away? I worry about how our family will fit in to a new location when we move. Just because our BAH might cover a certain amount, doesn’t mean I want to live in certain areas. We’re not country club people.

I count milestones by which locale we were living when they took their first step, got stitches, learned to ride a bike.

We have to have a different definition of home than most. Home is wherever we’re all together, even if that’s by Skyping during a deployment or in a TLF apartment for a month. Home is where I do the wugga chugga after bathtime. It’s where we read the stories and say the prayers before bedtime.

We count holidays by which kitchen we made Thanksgiving dinner or celebrated a birthday. We usually spend holidays alone or travel, trying to forget it’s a holiday.

Is that the year in Hawaii I had a Blue’s Clues birthday?

My kids lose track of friends when we move away. Those friends grow up, forgetting, losing touch. It makes us sad. We remember. We reminisce the fun moments.

Remember when Natalia and I played at the creek at that park in San Antonio and we caught tadpoles?

I live the losses along with my children. I long for them to have roots. And a place to call home.

Etc.

It might seem petty to complain about some things, but it’s not like the average spouse has most of these issues. And they are real issues to me and many military spouses.

Moving to new living quarters every few years brings stress with finding a rental that suits us and meets our needs.

Researching areas in a new city within the housing allowance, and calculating expenses within a budget, along with commute times to the military member’s new post is a stressful experience – and usually falls to the spouse alone. Then, there are comforts to purchase to make it home, often with very little money – curtains, rugs, maybe even furniture. Money is always an issue.

I worry about our items in storage. What if they’re damaged or lost? They’re our memories and ties to the past.

I wonder if our lawn mower will work after 3 years in the shed, unused. Will we have unnecessarily moved it across the world twice only to have to buy a new one after all?

Finding a new church is a HUGE issue. I hate church shopping.

I want my kids to have friends, to be able to play and be as normal as possible.

I loathe having to find new dentists and hair stylists. It just sucks.

We seldom seem to fit in. We don’t have family around for support. It’s hard making friends when they know you’ll just move away in a few years.

Please understand: It’s not all bad.

We’ve gotten to live all over the world and experience some amazing travel – learning about history, culture, art. My kids are resilient for having to move to a new location every few years. The world is a smaller place to them than it was to me at their age.

I think military spouses are at greater risk for depression, substance abuse, and more. It’s a very stressful life. Without proper support systems in place, it’s even harder.

Who do you turn to for help when you need it?

Mental health services aren’t ideal for active duty members or dependants.

We’re required to have a minimum of 3 appointments with a Behavioral Health Optimization Program (BHOP) provider before a referral off-base to a civilian mental health professional who is on the TRICARE provider list.

The most the BHOP offered were breathing exercises, a smartphone app with a monthly membership fee (sponsored and created by the Air Force), and Christian pseudo-psychology self-help books. It was a joke.

A referral can be hit or miss. What if I don’t click with the therapist? What happens with continuity since we move so frequently? It sucks to have to start over with therapy every few years. There is no continuity of care.

Military OneSource offers a list of resources for mental health.

There is a stigma in the military with mental health. No one wants that on their record. No one wants to be tagged EFMP for mental health. No one wants to be dinged on evaluations or passed over on promotions due to asking for help. Nothing is really private. 

Are You Stressed

Do you seem to carry the weight of the world upon your shoulders?

Turn off the news. Get off the Internet. Get outside and try to relax.

How are you affected?

Learn to recognize the symptoms of stress.

What can you control?

Make amends.

What can you change?

Try to let it go instead of worrying about it.

What can you set aside?

Simplify! Say NO.

How can you fill your love tank?

Take care of yourself.

You can read about how we use essential oils to help with our moods. I also use a Happy Lampin winter and make sure my vitamin D levels are high.

Evidence-based research on PTSD and substance abuse in military veterans:

New survey findings show differences between veterans and active-duty service members’ perceptions about mental health, showing a shift in attitudes toward seeking professional help.

  • Only 30% of veterans have sought or considered mental health counseling, compared to 72% of active-duty service members.
  • 91% of active-duty service members say their leadership openly discusses the importance of addressing mental health concerns, compared to only 23% of veterans.
  • 89% of active military members believe people who receive professional counseling generally get better, compared to 66% of veterans.

Are you stressed?

More Articles to Help:

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Life is an Adventure

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Life is an ADVENTURE!

I kind of knew what I was getting into back in 2005, marrying an Air Force officer.

I knew the military life, even though my family was never transcient. My dad was in the Army. I grew up familiar with military protocol and all that.

We got married in January, and the Air Force scheduled a deployment for spring, that got canceled when his father suddenly passed away. Then they PCSed us in June. I found out I was pregnant the day the movers came to pack out the house.

It was the first time I’d ever lived outside my home state of Georgia.

The transition was a bit brutal for me, being away from all family and friends.

We had our two middle girls during the two years we lived in Texas. My husband’s mother passed away suddenly.

Then we moved to Hawaii and had our son.

Then we lived a rather uneventful four years in Utah, though my husband did deploy during my first winter season ever in my life.

We live in Germany now and are preparing for another PCS this spring, probably back to the States.

Life is definitely an adventure!

I have the T-shirt to prove it!

I love the soft material and V-neckline! It’s a dressier tee shirt than most. A great length and feminine shape. Cents of Style is the best!

life-is-an-adventure-tee-shirt

Military life has taught me a few things:

I’ve learned to handle stress well.

We experienced almost all the major life stress events within our first two years of marriage (marriage, deaths, births, moving) and we survived. It made our family stronger to overcome these events.

I’ve learned to be flexible.

Orders change. Things happen. I am not in control. I look to God for my strength.

I’ve learned to be optimistic.

Every military base has benefits and interesting things about the location. There’s no sense in being miserable when we must live there for 2-4 years. We knew people who hated living in Hawaii! Having a good attitude is important and modeling optimism for my kids teaches them how to be content in all circumstances.

We love to travel.

We’ve gotten the opportunity to go to the Hawaiian islands, Yellowstone and the Tetons, camping and fishing in Utah, road trip from Utah to Georgia, visiting my husband’s two sisters in Illinois, and explore all over Europe. We homeschool, so I can teach my children wherever we are, focusing on historical and cultural places I only learned about in books.

We look forward to more exciting adventures!

I’ve learned that military life is…an adventure.

life-is-an-adventure

Get your own Life Is… tee shirt!

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This weekend, the code is LIFEIS1 and it will make the Cents of Style NEW Life Is Tees $15.95, with FREE SHIPPING! The code is good Friday, 9/23 – Sunday, 9/25.

Photos taken by my 10-year-old daughter, Victoria!

The necklace is also by Cents of Style. We love their accessories and leggings!

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Preparing Kids for a PCS

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Moving is stressful for anyone, but especially so for children.

PCS is a huge change, whether it’s the first or the fifth.

PCS=Permanent Change of Station, even though it seems temporary – usually only 2-4 years!

According to the DOD, the average military child moves 6 to 9 times between kindergarten and high school graduation.

Military families relocate 10 times more often than civilian families – on average, every 2 to 4 years.

That’s a roller-coaster!

Moving is more stressful than divorce.

Think about that.

Preparing Kids for a PCS

How can we make the moving transition easier on our kids?

Prepare

As soon as you know a PCS is coming up, start preparing the kids for the transition.

Talk about it, explain that you’ll have to pack up everything you own and move to a new home.

Even though it could take a few more months to receive actual orders, it’s important to start the conversation so that kids can prepare their hearts and minds for the changes.

Discuss purging items and having a yard sale. I have a PCS checklist you can download!

Educate

Start reading about moving. Show your child what to expect.

Learn about your new location as soon as you know where you’re going. Research the area, school opportunities, activities, church, day trip ideas.

It’s exciting to move to a new town and explore all it has to offer!

There’s an app from Sesame Street: The Big Moving Adventure, available from iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play. I have a book list at the end of the post for you!

Listen

Pay attention to your kids’ needs. Listen to their complaints and concerns.

Moving is never easy and it might be very difficult for kids to leave their friends, school, activities.

Babies and toddlers have a hard time understanding. Teens might rebel.

Try to handle disappoint well. If you’re upset about where you’re going, the kids will internalize that and have bad feelings about their new locale – and you’re stuck with it for a few years!

Every location has benefits. We’ve PCSed to some places not on our list and we made the best of it.

We also knew people who hated living in Hawaii and Germany, so there’s that.

Prayer does wonders!

Celebrate

Have a farewell party to say goodbyes.

Give your child a job to do during packing out and moving in so they feel like a valuable part of the process.

Do something silly and fun like having a pizza picnic on the empty floor after packing out, or sleeping on an air mattress the last night. You can repeat this on the other end!

Let your child pack a few treasures for comfort during travel.

Try to stay at cool hotels if possible during travel to your new location.

Start out at the new location with new traditions.

Let your child choose something for his or her new room, within reason and budget – new bedding, a paint color for an accent wall, a collectible, a new rug or picture.

Keep in Touch

With today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with friends from around the world.

Make it easy with your children and their friends with social media or free email accounts. There’s Skype and Facetime too.

I know some families who even plan vacations back to visit friends or somewhere in between to meet every year.

Get Help

It’s an added stress to have little ones underfoot during packing out and moving. Enlist a trusted teen or adult friend to help keep little kids occupied in the backyard, with a video in a corner, or even taking them out to get ice cream or to the park. This gives them a break from the tediousness of packing and protects them from getting in the way. Then you get to focus on the task at hand.

Put aside big changes during a move. Don’t potty-train or wean babies during this stressful time. Schedules go out the window.

Get Kids Settled ASAP

Get kids’ rooms back in order as soon as possible to make the transition easier on them. Familiar blankets and toys will help them feel comfortable in a new home.

Then work on the kitchen and common spaces – with the necessary items you need immediately.

Find fun new places to explore and meet new friends! Let your child lead you in her time. We have a couple very social, outgoing kids and two who are more reserved and quiet.

Look at moving as an adventure! Happiness is contagious and the kids will catch that mood if you show it.

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Preparing for a PCS

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We’ve PCSed four times now as a family and are planning for our fifth PCS next summer – back to the States.

We’ve done a partial DITY, two OCONUS moves, and driven across the country. Bonus points for overnight flights with babies and toddlers!

PCS is always stressful, no matter how organized you are.

There are always surprises. There are always snags in the system. There’s always something forgotten or lost.

How to plan for PCS:

Organize

Clean the house.

Organize everything in its place to make the next step easier. Involve everyone in the family. Make it a game.

Straighten the lesser-used areas like the garage, shed, basement, attic, wherever you only visit a couple times a year, so you don’t miss something and have to scramble last minute. I like to put almost everything in plastic storage bins. Most movers check the bins and then just tape them shut for extra protection.

Discuss with your landlord or real estate agent any repairs or updates to the house as soon as possible so there aren’t any last minute surprises.

Inventory

Inventory everything you own.

Make lists. Take pictures or video. Color-code the lists. Inventory DVDs. Inventory books in a spreadsheet with ISBNs. Make note of all jewelry, valuables, and collectibles. Record serial numbers of electronics.

Gather personal records and keep in a binder – birth certificates, SS cards, medical and/or shot records, school forms, insurance policies, warranties, pet documents.

Items lended or borrowed need to be returned and retrieved. Make sure to return all library books!

Make a note of all items that need to be repaired or sold or donated. Then separate it and make sure it gets done.

Consume

Only purchase as much as you need so you can consume items before the move.

We don’t have the storage space to buy in bulk anymore, but we buy even smaller amounts of items so we’re not left with too much and have to throw it out, mail it, or figure out how to pack it.

The goal is to have an empty pantry, fridge, freezer, and bathroom cabinet before the move!

Many movers won’t pack up any liquids, gels, or food items – even if they’re unopened and brand new, especially in summer months when items can melt, explode, or go rancid during the transition.

Reduce

Sell or donate items you no longer need. We had a huge yard sale one year.

We have some almost-new 220 appliances to sell.

We have some German items that most likely won’t work out in an American house.

Anything broken beyond repair should be thrown out.

I’ve listed some organizing and packing suggestions in my other PCS post.

Timeline:

1 year

Most of us know to expect a PCS in a certain season. We know our tours in a location are only so many years.

As soon as possible, begin saving for non-reimbursable moving expenses. Expenses always seem to just pop up on both sides of the move.

Pets are your responsibility and have been our largest expense with vet records, shots, agriculture forms, and plane tickets.

9-6 months

Request or update tourist passports if needed.

Plan vehicle shipments if needed.

Order new credit or bank cards if expiration dates are soon.

Update ID cards if expiration dates are soon.

Discuss the move with children so they can prepare themselves for the transition. Research the new location.

3 months

Discuss that you’re moving with your landlord, and plan for any repairs or updates to ensure you receive your security deposit.

Fill out change of address forms with IRS and USPS.

Check and update auto maintenance. Ensure you have up-to-date car insurance information.

Make vet appointments for pets to ensure microchipping and shots are up to date.

Most OCONUS contracts must be terminated at least 30 days out.

Research education options, procedures, and dates for enrollment for children.

Determine which items are professional, unaccompanied, household goods, and non-temp storage.

Make reservations with TLF or hotels.

1-2 months

The military member should receive hard orders by now.

Request dislocation allowance from finance.

Most CONUS contracts must be terminated at least 30 days out.

Military families can terminate contracts with no penalty with a copy of PCS orders. Cable/satellite TV, Internet, cell phones, utilities need to be cancelled or transferred. Request security deposits!

Cancel or transfer memberships and subscriptions.  Request a letter of transfer from local church and clubs, like Scouts or other national organizations.

Alert or transfer banking information to new location. Let them know you are traveling.

Renew medical prescriptions.

Clean drapes and rugs.

Store needed computer files on CD, disk, thumb drive, or portable hard drive.

Confirm transportation details with movers. Schedule pickup and delivery dates with movers and arrange for storage if needed.

Contact housing at new location for on-base options or begin house hunting online.

2-3 weeks

Separate items and/or label: professional, unaccompanied, household goods, or non-temp storage.

Last few days

Set aside cleaning supplies for after movers clear out.

Remove wall items like pictures, curtain rods, racks.

Have plastic zip bags of all sizes to put smaller items into to make life easier on the other side – silverware, utensils, junk drawer items, craft supplies, bathroom drawer items.

Remove items from attic or crawl space. Yes, it’s a big ole mess.

Disconnect electronics.

Place original boxes beside items.

Label items not to be packed or moved. Put them all together if possible.

Drain garden hoses and all oil/gas from lawn machines.

Get rid of all flammables and return or give away propane tanks.

Pack suitcases and items to carry with you and put aside.

Moving day

Make sure kitchen is clean. Take out the trash!

Remove all laundry from washer and dryer!

Strip beds.

Have pets restrained, with friends or neighbors, or in kennels.

Have snacks and drinks for the movers. We usually have pastries and snacks available with sports drinks and water, and ask what they want for lunch each day.

Have a place clearly labeled for trash items so it’s not packed.

Have colored stickers to label moving boxes. Write labels on boxes for each room.

Communicate! Be available for questions. Don’t hover, but be aware of packers and movers. My husband usually has the big checklist and I’m observing.

Vacuum and clean the house once it’s empty or hire a PCS cleaning.

After the move

Register cars in new location. Update insurance and licenses.

Register children for new schools or file for homeschool exemption.

Find a new home! You typically have 30 days in TLF to find a new residence.

Update all your information with your new address.

You can often request temporary furniture items until HHG arrives.

Register for utilities and TV and/or Internet services.

Schedule delivery of goods with transportation office.

Plan for where furniture and boxes should go. Label doorjambs or lintels with colored stickers to match box stickers. Place sticky notes at each room to match box labels.

Movers should reassemble items and can unpack boxes and remove packing materials. In some places, movers can return to remove packing materials within 30 days.

Find a new place of worship.

Meet new friends!

Some moving expenses can be filed on tax returns!

Get the printable PCS Timeline Checklist!

Resources:

Do you have any PCS tips or stories?

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Real Food Cooking During PCS

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When we PCS, everything gets packed up.

Sometimes, weeks, or even more than a month in advance of our actual move.

Our options are to stay in our current housing situation with air mattresses or borrowed furnishings or move into temporary housing which is like an extended-stay hotel.

It’s never convenient, and we don’t want to eat out or buy junk food.

Real Food Cooking During PCS

So, how do we still cook real food during PCS season?

We get creative.

We simplify.

We make it fun.

Usually, we clear out the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry as much as we can the weeks before a PCS. Then, we pack up the remains of the pantry, fridge, and freezer to eat in our TLF before our final out.

Another handy tip is to bake breads, muffins, cakes, and cookies ahead of time to have on hand before all that cookware is packed. Store the items in the freezer or even a freezer at church or a friend’s until TLF is ready.

We try not to cut too many corners, but obviously, our cookware is packed up and on a boat and we’re ready to travel, so making smoothies or homemade bread aren’t usually an option. The facilities in temporary lodging aren’t ideal – with few amenities for cooking well.

Sometimes, we can borrow essential kitchen items from friends or the Airmen’s Closet until our household goods show up.

Thankfully, most TLF apartments have decent coffee makers, toasters, mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, a colander, utensils, and pots and pans.

We usually miss good tongs, clean baking pans with silpats, good knives, and some other items we deem “necessities.” I miss my sourdough and kombucha and options for healthy cooking fats.

I pack my favorite cooking utensil, one or two good knives, tongs, and several spices (like garlic, salt, pepper, Italian herbs) inside a plastic zip bag in my checked luggage. We’ve even packed up melamine plates and bowls before to make life easier.

I don’t even play. I need these things handy with a hungry family.

While staying at TLF or hotels, we often purchase simple and easy to prepare foods at local grocery stores that can be grilled at a nearby park grill hut or a disposable hibachi grill. It’s not much different than what we do when we’re camping. We even eat outside if the weather’s agreeable.

When we have kitchen facilities, we make simple side dishes like rice, pasta, couscous, quinoa, potatoes, steamed veggies, or boil frozen beans. If ovens are available, casseroles are easy for any meal. We just buy disposable aluminum pans. We don’t ordinarily use aluminum for cooking, but it’s ok for occasional use. We simplify and cut corners where it’s not a big deal.

We don’t eat much differently in TLF than at home during summer: grilled meats, veggies either steamed or sauteed, a grain side like cous cous, potatoes, quinoa, rice.

We try to use up everything so there’s no waste.

We’ve even baked chocolate chip cookie bars and quick breads in TLF in disposable aluminum pans.

Picnics are easy and frugal for road trips or easy for lunches at any point during the PCS.

We packed up sandwiches, chips, and juice for our road trip from Utah to Georgia and stopped at rest stops to eat and play.

Picnic Pit Stop

My Top 12 Easy Dinners for PCS or Travel:

  1. Pizza. We love to make our own pizza.
  2. Hamburgers. These are always a favorite!
  3. Casseroles. Turkey Divan and Tuna Casserole are favorites.
  4. Grilled or Roasted Meat and easy sides. We love couscous or quinoa with a marinated meat and a veggie.
  5. Tacos. See our homemade taco seasoning.
  6. Stews. Beef stew and chili are easy stovetop or slow cooker meals.
  7. Roasts. I like to roast a beef chuck or pork loin or whole chicken and have leftovers the next day! I often throw some root veggies alongside.
  8. Slow cooker meals. We love Asian pork ribs and salsa chicken.
  9. Breakfast for dinner. My husband usually is in charge of this.
  10. Sandwiches. This is fun for picnics.
  11. Salads. We like to use leftovers for creative salads. See our fave salads.
  12. Soups. Here are a few of our favorite soups!

We have to make sure we use up leftovers creatively.

It’s stressful not having our kitchenware and having to eat on the run with little planning.

We stay flexible and look forward to learning our way around a new kitchen and organizing it the way we like it.

Do you have any PCS tips?

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Ways to Eat and Stay Healthy While Living Abroad 

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What are Some Ways to Eat and Stay Healthy While Living Abroad?

At first, the idea of living abroad sounds like an extended vacation—you look forward to having so much time to visit famous landmarks, soak in the culture, or eat exotic foods. What could possibly go wrong? Then the reality sets in, or in other words, the honeymoon is over. You realize that you’re not really on a vacation. You have to learn a new way of life in a country that’s going to be your home for several months or years.

Challenges of Staying Fit in a New Country

If you struggled with eating healthy when you lived in your home country, that issue is going to be magnified living abroad. While overseas, you may not have access to familiar foods and product brands. You’re also learning a new food culture as well as a new language. But maybe you had an established healthy routine before you moved abroad. It should be simple to transfer that to another country, right? However, it’s not that easy. It may be difficult to join a gym in a foreign country because of the language barrier, or you may not have the extra funds.

Overcoming Obstacles to Healthy Living Abroad

It’s easy to let your health fall to the wayside when you’re not in your element. You’re already dealing with a lot of change, so you may feel that you don’t want to add healthy eating as one more thing on your checklist. However, a healthy eating and exercise routine may be the medicine you need to manage the stress of adjusting to a new environment. You’re dealing with so much change, and keeping up your health is one of the best ways to cope. Here are some ideas of ways you can eat healthily and exercise while living abroad.

Set Up a Routine to Get Your Body Moving

When living abroad, you may think you could replicate the same exercise routine you had in your home country. However, you may not have access to the same resources you once had. So let’s say that when living in the United States, you usually went to the gym in the evenings. But when you live abroad, you may not be able to get a gym membership or have as much time to exercise in the evenings as you did before. You’ll have to accept you’re going to have to develop new routines while living abroad.

To get yourself back (or get started) on a healthy exercise routine, try working out in the mornings. Your exercise gets done even before anything else comes up. Also, try to look for ways to get more exercise throughout the day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator. While living abroad, you could join meetup groups with similar exercise goals—you meet other foreigners who are in the same position as you: feeling their way in a new country and culture.

Get to Know Local Health Trends

Shopping in a grocery store in a foreign country will be a culture shock itself. You’re more than dealing with a language barrier; you’re also dealing with a selection of foods that you’re not familiar with. Diet staples in the United States are not the same everywhere else, so your favorite foods may not even be stocked in stores. In some counties, your favorite fresh fruits and vegetables cost way more than expect, which prevents you from eating the same amount of raw foods that you had once before.

So when in Rome, do what Romans do. Try to get to know the local health trends. Just like how plant-based hamptoncreek products are gaining traction in the United States, other countries also have up-and-coming food products that promote a healthy lifestyle. Observe the whole foods are often part of a meal. For example, a typical breakfast in Japan includes a lean protein like grilled fish. That item isn’t part of a typical American breakfast. So, you could start a healthy routine by including grilled fish in your morning meals, and you get to experience local cuisine.
Here’s one more thing to note: food labels on foreign foods may list kilocalories per serving rather than listing calories per serving like in the United States. The two measurements mean the same thing; in the United States, the “kilo” is dropped.

Living abroad comes with many benefits, but don’t let it be at the expense of your health. These healthy eating and wellness tips can help you adjust to your new surroundings.

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CORT Furniture Rental for Military

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cort Military

Tired of the yard sale or bachelor pad look?

Tired of living in barracks or dorms?

CORT Furniture Rental is the answer to stylish furniture off-base for military members.

CORT is a great option for military members, especially during short term assignments, unaccompanied tours, or education opportunities.

CORT even offers housewares packages containing essential items for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, as well as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and microwaves.

Each package consists of a living room, dining room, and bedroom set of showroom-condition pieces. CORT offers three different package options to suit your individual space and lifestyle needs.

When my husband attended school in Alabama for a year before we met, it would have been so much more comfortable for him to rent a studio apartment and use CORT Furniture Rental than living in a hotel for that time!

I would even consider CORT Furniture Rental for a short 2-year command tour. It would be much less stressful than moving a household. Stricter weight requirements during PCS make this a more feasible and frugal option.

Sometimes, moving back stateside from overseas, there’s a big gap between moving in and receiving household goods. CORT Furniture Rental is a great option for temporary furnishings while waiting for the shipment.

CORT Furniture Rental Benefits for Military Members

Benefits to using CORT Furniture Rental for Military

Military Out Clause

If you deploy, receive change-of-station orders 75+ miles away, or discharge from the military, you are released from your furniture rental contract. Sometimes orders come suddenly for deployment or PCS, so this is great.

Flexibility

Keep the furniture as long as you need it. More than 100 showroom locations across the country, so when you move, CORT can furnish your new place too.

Easy

So much less stressful than shopping for new and selling the old each and every time you move or the days and days of clipboards, packing out, and moving. One phone call and you’re done. Then quick delivery or pickup. Super easy!

Frugal

If you take into account long term storage costs and frequent moving expenses, using CORT for furniture rental works out to be cheaper! For short tours, this makes sense!

Quality

CORT’s quality control process helps ensure that every piece of furniture they deliver to you is in showroom condition, or they won’t rent it! Everything looks nice together, which is great if you don’t know how to decorate. So much nicer than risking the destruction of furniture during a PCS.

How does it work?

You choose from three military packages, select any additional items you want, and checkout online!

  1. Select your lease length
  2. Choose your package
  3. Pick your style or leave it up to CORT
  4. Checkout online
  5. Confirm delivery
  6. Schedule pickup at the end of your lease

Find a location near you!

See this great testimonial:

CORT Furniture Rental offers so many benefits for military members to rent furniture.

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PCS to Germany

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PCSing to Germany? Congratulations! Overwhelmed?

You can’t really do much until you get official orders, which can take a looooong time after that initial excitement of knowing where you’re heading.

We actually had orders to New Jersey, but then they changed us to Germany. We were beyond thrilled!

Europe was something I had long dreamed about and I really thought it might never happen.

Guide to PCSing to Germany from getting orders to settling into your new house.

What to Do First

Look for social media groups.

Facebook is a great way to connect with families who already live in the area you’re moving.

There are local groups for online yard sales, pet tips, jobs, hobbies, homeschooling, parenting, travel, shopping, meetups, hiking, and more!

Have a PCS fund.

It’s always wise to have some savings for PCS time. Pet costs, travel, meals, illness, surprises, and refreshments for the movers can soon deplete funds. We usually use our tax return that year.

Organize paperwork.

Organize all medical, school, and personal paperwork in a binder.

We have a big zipper binder with lots of pockets for passports, birth certificates, social security cards, pet vet reports, kids school reports, PCS forms.

Close accounts and cancel services.

Contact companies like utilities, cable or satellite TV, and cellular phone service to cancel. Most accounts require at least 30 days’ notice with PCS orders.

Request DLA.

Discuss with finance if you will be responsible to pay back any moving costs. Usually, the government credit card is used for airfare and hotel – and that will be covered with filing a travel voucher, but make sure it’s paid before you spend your DLA on new curtains or something! Anything above and beyond your daily allowances (per diem allotment), you will be held responsible.

Update insurance.

Contact and update auto and home insurance to make sure you have enough coverage or the right plan for the area you’re moving to. Some countries require extra policies.

Update financial info.

Update banking information with a travel alert and update the new address when you get it. When PCSing overseas, you have to open a local account to pay local bills.

Packing Out

We have huge yard sales and purge, purge, purge every time we PCS.

To avoid confusion and make it easier: schedule unaccompanied baggage, household goods, and temporary storage packing and pick-ups on different days.

Typically, the moving company will contact you for a schedule.

First, someone comes with a clipboard and goes room to room, calculating what will need to be packed on each shipment.

Then, packers come to wrap and box your items on the scheduled days. It’s good to already have pictures off the walls, storage items placed in a room or off to one side, unaccompanied baggage placed together. Get organized and be helpful. I even go through drawers and use those humongous zipper plastic bags to keep my bathroom and kitchen items together.

Be available for questions.

We always provide water and sports drinks and lunch for every day of packing and moving.

Traveling with a baby or toddler?

We’ve PCSed with very little ones twice and it is stressful.

We’ve shipped many baby items in unaccompanied baggage so it arrives early. We pack in our suitcases things that we need while traveling or staying in TLF. We can check must-need items like car seats, pack and play, strollers and they don’t count against luggage. Most TLF locations have pack and plays in apartments though.

It’s important to make sure to pack enough diapers and wipes for trips. We did cloth diapering at home, but disposables during travel.

I always breastfed so there weren’t any issues traveling with infants, and most airport security checks allowed us special accommodations and unopened baby food containers and bottled water is allowed when traveling with infants or toddlers.

What to put in storage:

The electricity overseas is a different voltage and it can put a lot of wear and tear on our American-voltage items. We sold everything except our new flat-screen TV. And we put that in storage. Anything with a timer, we put in storage because they won’t work properly – clock radios, coffee pot, slow cooker, rice cooker. We put our deep freezer in storage. We chose to put our china cabinet and fancy dishes in storage because we were worried about weight allowances and space. I chose to store some books and items we didn’t think we’d need on this tour.

Unaccompanied baggage:

Unaccompanied baggage is shipped airfreight to Germany. It should arrive in a couple weeks, so if you find a house and get keys, you’re all set if transportation can bring the goods.

This is typically the shipment of goods you’re going to want as soon as you can move into your new house. We’ve had the luck of the draw a few times that our HHG and unaccompanied baggage arrive at the same time, but they’re packed out differently and the weight allowance is there.

Recommended Items to Pack in Unaccompanied Baggage:

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Linens, blankets, and towels (sleeping bags and air mattresses are great!)
  • Kitchen items (I always pack some special plates and cups along with some much-used cooking items)
  • Books and toys for children
  • Next season’s clothes (German seasons and weather can change unexpectedly)
  • Pro Gear – Military items and professional items (not uniforms or paperwork that’s needed right away!)
  • Tools – screwdrivers, allen keys, hammer, picture hanging kits
  • TV & VCR/DVD Player
  • Lamps
  • Alarm or wall clock (battery-operated)
  • Baby furniture – crib, playpen, walker, etc. (highchairs and car seats are available from ACS for 30 day loan.)
  • Bikes and safety gear
  • School supplies, to include backpacks
  • Laundry basket
  • Camping chairs
  • Desktop computer (we take our laptop with us)

HHG:

This is all the main furniture and anything you’re packing that wasn’t in unaccompanied baggage. This is typically shipped on a boat and takes about 6 weeks to arrive.

Organization tips:

Take photos or video each room and the condition of furniture before packing.

Secure pets. They’re gonna be stressed and want to escape from packers and movers. Put up a sign so the door remains shut or put them in a kennel for their safety.

Put things in ziploc bags. This ensures nothing falls out of drawers or containers or gets wet or dirty. One military wife I know even places her underwear in bags! Genius.

Color code boxes with tape or stickers and then in your new location, put the same colored tape on the door frames to match the boxes. This is especially helpful when the movers don’t speak much or any English.

What to pack in suitcases:

We put the things we’re carrying with us in a bathroom or laundry room or even in the car so it doesn’t accidentally get packed!

We packed the clothes we’d need – for layering in spring and summer. I packed some homeschool materials. I bring my laptop and iPads. I pack my favorite cooking utensil. We didn’t know what to expect and we almost always bring more than we’ll need, but better than wanting something we don’t have, right? We also pack vitamins and items that we use daily. It’s easier than doing carry-on luggage only because we seal up full-size toiletry items and pad them well so there’s no mess.

Vehicles

Driver’s License

Active duty and dependents with a valid American DL must pass the USAREUR drivers license test. Here’s the USAREUR practice test. Teens age 17+ with a US DL can also take the USAREUR test. Apparently, they also offer it online ahead of time now.

You also need an international DL if you plan to drive over the border to any other countries. The process for an international DL is super easy. You can go to any AAA in the States and get a DL valid for 3 years. Once you arrive, you take a passport photo (MOM’s on Ramstein is an easy location to get this), your USAREUR DL and a form they provide, and go to the office downtown to get the license.

Transporting

One vehicle is alloted for shipment overseas. We chose to ship our minivan. If you desire to ship a second vehicle, it typically costs $1500-2000. You have to contact a private shipping company for the best rates and policy. Get more info about shipping a POV.

We had to get the van detailed and inspected. We drove it to the nearest shipping location and it was eventually placed on a boat. We were able to pick it up right on base here in Germany.

When return-shipping a vehicle to the States, the inspection process can be very stressful. I suggest just paying for a PCS detail for a better chance of first-time approval.

Registering

We had to get an inspection and then tag registration. Registration is $30/year. Inspections are for two years, so if you get a 3-year tour, you have to get re-inspected. The inspectors can be really picky about the condition of vehicles. We recently failed our inspection and had to pay €25 to get our undercarriage steam-cleaned to make sure there was no oil leakage, then we passed and got the registration for another 2 years just in case we get extended.

Pets

Here’s a pretty good summary about pets in Germany. It’s always easier to go to a military vet because they know the paperwork requirements best.

It’s expensive to PCS with pets OCONUS (and sometimes even CONUS). But they’re our family members.

Overall, it cost us about $1500 to prepare and ship our 2 cats. It’s a moving expense and a tax write-off!

Certain breeds of dogs are not allowed entry into Germany.

Necessary for international travel or PCS with pets:

  • Microchip
  • Vaccinations
  • USDA Health Certificate
  • Arrangements or tickets for cargo or in-cabin travel

We were able to ship our cats unaccompanied from Utah to my parents in Atlanta, and then from Atlanta to Baltimore with us on our flight, then on the Patriot Express rotator with us from BWI to Ramstein. Pet food is not allowed to be shipped into Germany, so they threw that out during our inspection. Luckily, they have fine quality pet food at local shops.

Many factors can make flying with pets difficult: extreme temperatures, available space, time of year, etc. I know some who pay to have pets fly unaccompanied to the main airport in Frankfurt. There are services that take care of all of a pet’s needs before, during, and after flights.

TLA

Acquire an APO mail address ASAP. Get your sponsor to do this, if possible. You can ship items to this address before you arrive.

Finding a House:

Typically, families get 30 days in temporary lodging so they can get adjusted, vehicles and HHG can arrive, and permanent housing can be procured.

You must attend a housing briefing and can only rent approved houses off-base. The wait for on-base housing can be many months. The housing office can get a little pushy if you take a while to find a house.

Go to the finance office and ask for the housing deposit loan. Most German houses require 2-3 month’s rent upfront. You can request that loan and pay it back at the end of your tour.

When you find your house, you take paperwork for the landlord to fill out and you return that to the housing office for approval.

Things to consider when renting off-base:

Utilities. Most houses are heated by oil. This is usually paid yearly and can be a big expense. Water and electricity is estimated and during the annual reconciliation, it can be a big surprise to pay a lot of Euro or get a refund (beer money!). Adjust as needed, based on your family’s needs and usage.

Distance to work. Research the route the servicemember will take to work to make sure that’s doable and ok. We opted for a village farther away from everything for quiet and safety, but my husband has a 30-40 minute commute to work, depending on traffic and construction.

Priorities. We chose our house for the big kitchen with two ovens, one of which is huge and fits our American pans. We gave up a big yard, but there’s a lovely park and playground that I can see from our window. We have one Dorfladen-Bäckerei and no restaurants in our tiny village. Make a list of what you want and don’t want and refer to that when you’re house-hunting. Don’t settle because you’re pressured to find a house.

Other

Electricity

Our lamps work fine with German light bulbs and little adaptors. We use only one transformer in the kitchen for our toaster and mixer. We bought several small German appliances to make our lives easier.

Cell, Internet, TV

It took us six months to get Internet and cellular phones. Things just work differently here. We don’t have a TV, but I know the service requires receivers and whatnot. Our landlady helped us get on the list for excellent Internet and home phone service.

You can view Netflix and Amazon streaming in Germany .de or you can purchase a VPN to view the American (and British or elsewhere) services.

The CommShop in Ramstein is the best place to work out contracts for cellular phones and many other services.

Shopping

Carry Euro with you. Lots of places don’t take cards, only Euro cash. Get a card with a PIN and chip for travel.

Thrift stores and yard sales often have lots of items for sale throughout the year. There are many local Facebook groups for resale.

Bookoo is a great resource for buying and selling.

Check The Find-It Guide for American-friendly shopping and services like auto repair and beauty salons.

Almost everything is closed on Sundays. There are periodic Sunday shopping days.

Travel

Most likely, your family members will receive free SOFA passports during out-processing.

You must, must, must purchase tourist passports if you ever want to travel on vacation outside Germany. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. Don’t risk it.

There are spouse welcome workshops that I highly recommend making time to attend. They will explain lots of information like putting salt in the dishwasher, to air out your house daily, how to shop frugally on the economy, all the little quirks you need to know while living in a foreign country. Check out which potatoes to buy (they’re different here!).

Do you have any tips for PCSing to Germany?

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Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

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National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 victims who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

On August 23, 1994, United States Congress, designated December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

It is a tradition on this day to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until sunset in honor of dead patriots.

My parents visited us when we lived in Hawaii and Pearl Harbor was their main interest so of course we scheduled a special tour for them.

We requested the COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour, a special service for military and dependents.

Pearl Harbor Memorial Visitor Center

Children over 8 are allowed on the tour.

With Grandma at Pearl Harbor

My dad proudly wore his USS Shangri-La hat. He served a tour in the US Navy in the 1960s and later retired from the US Army Reserve and DoD in the 1990s.

He was all choked up at the museum and memorials.

Almost every family vacation we ever had included military history!

My Dad at the Pearl Harbor Memorial

Liz and my mom enjoyed the boat tour.

Remembrance Boat Ride

This lovely plaque meets visitors at the USS Arizona Memorial.

USS Arizona Memorial Plaque

Several memorials have been built to remember the day and its events.

The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor is a marble memorial over the sunken battleship USS Arizona, which was dedicated in 1962. The memorial remembers all military personnel who were killed in the Pearl Harbor attack.

USS Arizona Survivors Interred with Their Shipmates
USS Arizona Memorial Wall

Another memorial is that of the USS Utah, a battleship that was sunk in the attack. A memorial to honor the crew of the USS Utah was dedicated on the northwest shore of Ford Island, near the ship’s wreck, in 1972. The ship was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

Read Pearl Harbor Survivor Stories!

Pearl Harbor Memorials

Pearl Harbor & Arizona Memorial Hours:

Daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Things to Know Before You Visit:

Tickets
Depending on the time of year, tickets can sell out months in advance. To avoid tickets selling out, you can book one of the Authorized Pearl Harbor Tours. They are permitted by the National Park Service to provide transportation and tours to the site.

Admission/Tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial are free. However, tickets reserved in advance are not free. When you purchase a tour, tickets are reserved in advance.

If you plan to visit Pearl Harbor on your own, you may purchase advance tickets online before they sell out. You may attempt to get walk-in tickets at the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center.  Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. All members of your party must be present to receive a walk-in ticket. All of the walk-in tickets are often secured by visitors who arrive before 7:00 AM. The wait for walk-in tickets can be up to 7 hours.

Tickets for the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Aviation Museum, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park are available on Pearl Harbor Tours.

Tour Duration
Tours are self-guided, and last 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes). The movie is 25 minutes and the remaining 50 minutes is the round trip boat ride and time on the Arizona Memorial.

Tours provide additional free time to visit the Museums/Exhibits.

Food & Beverages
There are concession stands at the Visitor Center which sell snacks and beverages. There are also concession stands and gift stores at the nearby Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park.

While on the Arizona Memorial program (movie, boat, memorial), only bottled water is permitted. Food and drinks are permitted in the visitor center, but please remember to adhere to the no bags rule of the Pearl Harbor FAQs.

What to Wear
Hawaii is a warm and sunny place. We recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat to protect from the sun when you visit Pearl Harbor. It occasionally rains and visitors should pack rain jackets when visiting Hawaii. Check the weather before you visit Pearl Harbor to determine if it is necessary.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking a great deal during your visit. Sandals are permitted. The Arizona Memorial is a place of honor. The men of the Arizona lay inside their ship. We encourage visitors to dress respectably.  Bathing suits and other similarly revealing clothing, as well as profane T-shirts, are discouraged. Rangers have the authority to prohibit entry for inappropriate clothing.

Accessibility
All areas of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center as well as the Navy shuttle boats, and the Arizona Memorial are wheelchair accessible.

Information about the COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour:

  • The COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour is conducted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  The tour begins at 0845 (Tues, Weds, and Thurs) and 1300 (Weds and Thurs only).  Guests must have prior reservation to take the tour.   Proper ID is required. Complete the written request form.
  • This two-hour tour is fully narrated and includes a visit to the boathouse museum and viewing of a 23-minute movie on the attack of Pearl Harbor.  The boat tour follows with a tour around Ford Island and a stop at the Arizona Memorial.
  • Reservations are accepted no more than 30 days in advance on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Authorized personnel are active duty, reserve & retired military and DOD personnel.  A waiting list is not maintained.
  • Authorized personnel may sponsor up to four guests and must accompany his/her party. Exceptions are approved by the Protocol Officer for up to six guests.  All other requests shall be submitted in writing using the REMEMBRANCE Request Form.
  • Priority is given to Flag & General Officers and Medal of Honor recipients, which may sometimes result in bumping.  Bumping privileges are suspended 48 hours prior to the start of the cruise.
  • Spouses of Flag and General Officers (O7-O10) may escort their guests with valid ID card. Spouses of deceased military personnel may sponsor their guests.
  • Attire for all active duty military personnel not in a leave status are at a minimum: *There are no exceptions.
    • Navy: Summer White
    • Marine Corps: Service “C”
    • Army: Army Green
    • Coast Guard: Tropical Blue
    • Air Force: Service Uniform/Class “B”

Don’t miss viewing the Pearl Harbor Memorials if you visit Hawaii!

Learn more about Pearl Harbor History:


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Linking up: Random Musings, Welcome Heart, Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Mostly Blogging, Create with Joy,

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