First Hand Experience for a Successful Overseas PCS Move (will be a LONG post)

    So, you just found out you have orders overseas? First of all, DON'T PANIC :) I know it's easier said and done, but there's not much you can do until you actually get your "hard copy orders". That's what makes it official, and your hard orders usually come 3 to 1 months before your departure date, which yeah I know... doesn't seem like a lot of time.  The military member will receive a big long checklist in their government email that he/she needs to check off as they go. Once you get your hard orders, make 20 copies. The one big important thing to do first it to go buy an accordion style binder/file and keep EVERY receipt and paper pertaining to this PCS in it. Keep it with you at all times, even on the plane. Very important!  

    The first thing to get done is your medical clearance. All dependents have to get a medical evaluation. I have heard mixed stories about how strict bases are when it comes to this. For example, one woman told me since she hadn't had a pap smear in the past year, they wouldn't complete the orders until she did so. They do this because they want to make sure the base you're moving to has the doctors and care to properly take care of you. I laughed a little bit when we first got ours done, because Luke AFB had such a small medical facility. I already heard Ramstein AFB (our destination) has one of the BEST medical facilities so it would be rare for them not to accept your orders. (Ex: Your child has epilepsy and sees a specialist. They send your child's medical files to the new base to review, and make sure they have the staff and specialists to meet your needs. If they don't your orders may be rejected, but this is rare.) 

  

     Not only do you have to do a medical screening, you also have to go to the dentist. (Enter dramatic music!) This was hard for me. Before I met my husband, my job didn't offer dental insurance. It had been 4 YEARS since I had seen a dentist, which was so embarrassing. I found a wonderful place, Goodyear Smiles that really took care of me. I had a few cavities that he was able to just drill and fill, but one clear in the back was too deep. Enter root canal  :( I had to go to a specialist for this, but she was amazing too. 2 sessions and I was good to go. The base will give you a sheet for your dentist to checkoff and sign. If the dentist says you won't need immediate dental care in the next few years you're good to go. One more thing off the checklist. (Make copies of every receipt and sheets and file away in your binder.)

     The next and most important thing you'll want to get done is your passport. Some bases require you to get a VISA and a passport. With Ramstein, we just needed a passport. There are TWO different types of passports, the No-Fee and the tourist Passport. All you need is the No-Fee passport, which will be completely handled by the base and you don't have to pay for anything. The military member does NOT need a passport, just a copy of his orders and military ID when he/she travels. All you have to do for your passport is fill our your information (base will give you the forms), give the base your marriage certificate and birth certificate of each person needing the passport and your passport pictures. When your passport is done you will get your marriage and birth certificates back. (File them away in your binder so you can keep all important documents in one place.)

     And a little teeny-tiny bit of advice about taking your passport pictures. I got mine done at Walgreens, since it was literally a 1/2 mile up the road. The first time I was wearing a strapless black top and shorts. It was April in Arizona... Anyway, when we submitted the pictures to the base they said it "looked like I was naked" (since the picture is just your neck up.) Oooops. Go back to Walgreens to try again. I put on one of my hubby's cut off t-shirts he had in the truck. Pictures came out good, submitted them again. "Um you need to cover your tattoo up and take your piercings out." Are you SERIOUS?!?!?! Aggh! Okay, now I have to go home, grab a "proper shirt", go back to Walgreens and try again. The girl who worked at the Photo counter looked so confused, seeing me for a third time haha. Thankfully, my third attempt was a success. 

     If you have pets, you'll need to get their shots and microchip done. Firstly, make sure your pet is not on the country's "Prohibited Breed" list. In Germany, some breeds are prohibited. Pit-bulls, American Staffordshire Terriers and Bullterriers are examples. Even if your pet is already micro-chipped, you pet will need to have an ISO chip in order to fly overseas. An ISO chip has 15 digits when scanned. We went to the vet on base to get all of this done, and they knew exactly what shots they needed, microchip, etc. The chips were only about 30 dollars each, and after they insert them, they'll use a scanner to make sure it's working. Every country has different standards. Germany requires your pet to have a rabies vaccine no more than 30 days old, but less than a year old. Germany doesn't require a quarantine either, which is great. Your pet will need a Health Certificate before they can fly. The Health Certificate has to be sent to the USDA vet in your state. If you go to a military vet, it gets done very fast. It can take a few weeks to get it done from a civilian vet though. The Health Certificate is only good for 10 days, it HAS to be valid when you fly, so get it done a few days before you fly out. Take your microchip receipts, rabies vaccine receipts, all vaccine records and health certificates and go make 4 or 5 copies of EACH thing. (Keep these in your binder.)

     Next will come up the shipping of your Unaccompanied Baggage (UAB) and Household Goods (HHG). The base has a list of approved moving companies and will pick one for you. The moving company will send someone to your house to assess how many boxes they will need to bring, how much bubble wrap, packing tape, etc. If you plan on selling anything or don't want things packed, let them know or set it to the side so they won't assume it's being packed too. Your Unaccompanied Baggage shipment will come first. Usually just one guy from the moving company will be there since it's just one big box. Your UAB will consist of things you'll need when you find a house, things to get you by until your HHG arrives. Blankets, a set of inexpensive dishes, a few pots and pans, some silverware and kitchen utensils, dvds in a binder, something to play your dvd's on (we brought our laptop with us, on the plane). The mover packing the box will write everything down on an inventory list, and the value of each item. When he's done, read over the inventory list and make sure he didn't forget anything. If you agree, sign away. He will give you a copy of it. (Put it in your binder.)

   

     Your HHG shipment will be set up about a month before your departure. Before the movers get there take pictures of EVERYTHING that is of value to you. Take pictures of your 50 inch flat screen while it's on to show it works. Take a picture of your couch to prove there aren't any rips, fading, etc. If something gets damaged in the move, you'll want proof that it wasn't like that before the move. Depending how much stuff you have in your house there will be 2 or more movers there. This day will be hectic, things will move fast. Try to stay out of the movers way. If you have something precious that needs to be packed carefully let them know. Make sure and take all your garbage out, it's been packed before too. If it's out, they'll pack it. So if you're planning on bringing things with you on the plane or giving away or selling things, put it in the car or in a cleared out, closed off room and let the movers know. There are a few things they CANNOT ship. Things like food, shampoo, nail polish, hairspray, etc. Take all batteries out of remotes so they don't explode and put them all in a separate plastic bag. Once the movers were 3/4 of the way done, we ordered everyone pizza and hubby went to go pick up some pop for them. Take care of them, they'll take care of you :)  The movers will have an inventory sheet where they list every single thing that's been packed, and the value. If you agree, sign it. They will give you a copy for your records. (Keep this copy in your binder and bring it with you on the plane.)

Here's our master bedroom packed up. All these long flat boxes? Clothes.

See on the other boxes all the slots for writing? The movers will mark what is in that 

box on those slots, so when you receive your boxes you'll know what's in them.

    Now that your home is all packed up, it's time to get to the hotel. The military will pay for your hotel stay. We had to drive from Luke AFB to Los Angeles where our flight was leaving from.  Our flight didn't leave for 4 days so we stayed in a hotel super close to the hotel. Which in case you didn't know, is next door to Comptom. It was scary. Hubby had to take our truck to the port so it could be shipped to Germany. It has to be completely clean and nothing can be in it. All of our cell phone chargers, windshield reflector, CD's, etc. had to be put in a box and mailed to our APO address in Germany. The port will inspect your vehicle and look for dents, scratches, etc. and give you a copy of the forms. (Put them in your binder.) 

   Now for the fun part... Flying! Get to the airport about 2 hours early. Since our dogs are the same size and breed, they could be kept in the same kennel. Make sure and put something of yours (like an old t-shirt) in the kennel with them so they have your scent and can stay somewhat calm. Don't let them eat or drink much the day of the flight. We bought a water bottle for a rabbit so they could have fresh water without it spilling everywhere. Keep their leashes and a ziplock baggie of their food taped to the top of their kennel in case there's a delay boarding your reconnecting flight, someone can feed them. We flew from LA to Detroit to Baltimore. Every stop I'd take them out to the designated area to let them potty and stretch. Unfortunately, on all flights our doggies had to be stored under the plane in the baggage area. I was such a nervous wreck the whole time since they've never flown. Make sure and ask an attendant on the plane if your pets made it on safely. When we got to Detroit we had a 2 hour layover, which was good because when I got the dogs at baggage, they had explosive diarrhea everywhere in the kennel (due to nerves.) Have you ever tried to wash off two scared chihuahuas in an airport? It was not pretty. I called our vet and she said to get some Imodium AD and give each dog half a pill, which helped a lot. My advice? Buy puppy pads and keep them on hand to change out the ones in the kennel so you don't have to throw out their doggie bed or blankie. 

   Once you get to Baltimore, you'll be tired but feel better once you see all the other military families boarding the rotator flight (separate terminal just for military/DoD civilians flying rotator flight). I didn't know this, but during the overseas flight your dogs have to be in separate kennels.  *PANIC* Luckily, the staff have spare ones. Apparently this happens a lot, they were a Godsend that day. Anyway, all the pets are put in one spot by the desk. Still have your binder of important stuff? Good. The staff will ask for your dogs records and attach them to the top of the kennels. Now that your dogs are dropped off it's time to relax until the flight boards. I HIGHLY recommend going to the USO in the airport. The people who volunteer there are ANGELS. Just go in, show them your military ID, check in and get something to eat and drink, totally free. They usually have a big tv in there, movies to watch while you're waiting for your flight, books, etc. 

    I don't have kids of my own yet, but since I was surrounded by 15 of them on the 9 hour flight I have some good advice for keeping them entertained and content. 

1. Keep their blankie or favorite toy with you at all times.

2. Bring some non-noise small toys and small books.

3. A portable DVD player is a must. Most kids won't like whatever's playing on the big screen on the plane.

4. When the Captain says you're free to move around the cabin, LET THEM WALK. People LOVE cute kids. Half the people on our flight were deploying troops, seeing a happy wobbly baby walk up and down the aisle probably put a little smile on their face :)

5. Bring their favorite snacks. Because airplane food is.... eh.

6. If he/she starts crying PLEASE try to comfort them. We had one couple sitting to the left of us who let their 2 year old "cry it out." I had a 5 year old sitting directly behind me who kicked his feet against the back of my chair for over 10 minutes, neither parent said a thing! This is such a long flight, we had already been flying for 12 hours so taking a nap would've been nice if there was some peace and quiet. 

7. A small notepad and some crayons or washable markers.

   Okay, I think that's it for now. If you have ANY questions don't hesitate to ask. I love to help :)

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