What You Need to Know to Prepare for an Overseas Military Move

Attention OCONUS Virgins

Here is the dirty little secret about OCONUS relocation: It’s the most stressful, most time-consuming, and most memorable PCS your family will ever encounter.

The rare Armed Forces gift of an OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) duty assignment morphs the standard moving day jitters into a process of antacid-popping anxiety. But once you conquer it, you can move anywhere.

Here is a list of the top 5 secrets every OCONUS virgin needs to know.

Paperwork & Passports

Spouses, double-check your service member’s orders to ensure that your name is spelled correctly for this command-sponsored and accompanied relocation. A misspelling hiccup will quickly become a huge headache if you don’t correct it.

Next, apply for a no-fee, government passport for all family members. Your civilian or personal passport will not work for government travel. Research if your intended destination requires a visa for U.S. military. If the answer is yes, then guess what? Grab your favorite black ballpoint and fill out that form.

Lastly, schedule your overseas medical screening. When we moved to Japan in 2008, I was shocked by the length of this 10-page questionnaire. I needed to track down a copy of my immunization records from my hometown pediatrician before scheduling my medical screening. And without a medical screening, you won’t get your travel orders.

Every step in the paperwork and passport process takes time. Plan to diligently work through these forms to avoid missing any deadlines.

Decide to Downsize

 Moving overseas requires a lot of preparation about which household items will ship to your new location and which will stay in storage in the United States. Each overseas duty station has its own weight allowances for household items (which may take as long 8 weeks for delivery) and unaccompanied baggage (which is a small express shipment of essential household goods). The unaccompanied baggage should arrive within 3 weeks. We selected a TV, microwave, pots and pans, silverware, towels, toilet paper, shower curtain, air mattress, sheets, and extra clothes and shoes for our express shipment. We also included our beach gear so we could immediately explore the island. If you have a baby, a crib may be part of this shipment.

The military pays for the storage so we stored our large appliances (washer, dryer, and refrigerator) and large dining room table and 8 chairs. We sold our sofa and held a garage sale before moving. We used the loan furniture from the Air Force while we lived overseas.

If you can’t ship your vehicle, you will need to decide to sell or store it. Each choice has consequences that must be carefully considered and there is plenty of paperwork in each decision.

Make separate inventory lists for storage, unaccompanied baggage, and household goods. I used  different colored Post-Its to label items. For example yellow for storage and red for express. When the day came to pack the express items, we moved those items into the living room, so the movers didn't need to look all over the house and risk forgetting an essential item. Make a video showing your household items in case the boat sinks. It’s one of many OCONUS horror stories you’ll hear. I wish I was joking.

Finally, on moving day, watch the movers seal your crates. This is unique to an OCONUS relocation. Don’t sign any paperwork until every crate is sealed shut. Otherwise you may find your DVD collection was stolen before it even left the States.

Lean on Your Sponsor

I can’t emphasize enough to use your sponsor. This person is assigned from his superior to assist your relocation. At a minimum, a sponsor should arrange your arrival transportation from the airport to the military installation (a great one will pick you up) and assist in temporary lodging reservations. Most will set up a PO Box at the military installation, so you can mail any last-minute items to yourself and begin forwarding your mail.

A sponsor is your eyes and ears in this new country. He and his spouse know the specific details for a move to Italy compared with relocation to Korea. But a sponsor isn’t a mind reader. You need to ask questions to get answers.

My husband and I made a list of 50 questions that we emailed our sponsor. This list included everything from “What did you bring that you wish you would have left in the States?” to “What kind of recreation items (camping, hiking, snorkeling, surfing) should we bring?” I asked very detailed questions about the need for lamps, rugs, dehumidifiers, and dressers. My wonderful sponsor and his wife told me there was no reason to bring lamps, fans are in short supply, carpet is unheard of in Okinawa, a dehumidifier is a necessity and most homes have built-in closets.

Alongside with your sponsor, take advantage of the online military spouse network. You are not the first person to move to Germany and you won’t be the last. I guarantee that one question posted on a Facebook group will generate at least 20 responses.

Soak up the Red, White, and Blue

The best advice we got before moving to Japan was stock up on our favorite nonperishable items that aren’t available at the commissary. For me, it was Trader Joe’s pumpkin pancake mix. How do you know if it’s available in Spain? Ask your sponsor.

Buy renter’s insurance before you leave the country and update your mailing address with your financial institution. Check the expiration date on your driver’s license. You need a valid stateside driver’s license in order to take the test for the international driver’s license. Consider memorizing a few key phrases in your host country’s language such as “where is your restroom?” Install Skype on your computer and reassure your family and friends that you are only an email away. We set one clock in my mom’s house on Okinawa time so she always knew the time difference.

Heels on the Ground

Starting with the moment that you first walk through customs and see your host country, you are living a dream so take advantage of every opportunity. Learn the language. Eat the food. Participate in cultural events.

Okinawa wasn't my first choice for overseas. In fact, it was my second to last choice. But when I saw those orders, I mentally told myself to making the best of this situation. I ran into many unhappy families there, who were counting down the days until their departure. Unfortunately their negative focus was a constant distraction from fun.

Consider writing a blog or at a minimum posting photos and first impressions on Facebook or Instagram for your stateside friends. The time will go fast. Enjoy every minute.

This article was published September 20, 2013, at Military One Click. 

Know the Law: Unemployment Compensation

A military move is stressful in many ways and the loss of income when the civilian spouse is forced to quit his or her job shouldn’t add to the financial burden. That’s why the majority of states have passed laws approving unemployment compensation for Military Spouses. Normally, employees aren’t eligible for compensation if they voluntarily leave their job, but state legislators have recognized that Military Spouses aren’t resigning voluntarily; they are quitting to accompanying their Service Member to a new state.

What is Unemployment Compensation?

Unemployment compensation provides weekly income to workers who can’t find jobs. Each state has different requirements that must be met in order to receive unemployment compensation, such as minimum hours worked for the employer, the reason for leaving employment, geographical distance between employer and your new location, and if you are actively pursuing other employment opportunities from your new location.

How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits
1. First, know your rights. Research if you currently live in a state that allows the civilian spouse of a transferred Service Member to receive unemployment benefits. Eligibility is based on the rules within the state you left, not your new state of residence. As of August 2012, 45 states and the District of Columbia permit Military Spouses to claim unemployment due to a permanent change of station or PCS. Please note that in Virginia, home to the Pentagon, Naval Station Norfolk, Fort Myers, and Marine Corps Air Base Quantico, Military Spouses are ineligible.

2. Document, document, document.  When quitting your job, be sure to notify your current employer in writing that the reason for your resignation is a military relocation. Always keep a copy of this letter. Most states allow you to resign or quit 30 days before the report date listed on your spouse’s orders, so be careful about quitting too early if you plan to file for unemployment. If you are forced to move on shorter notice, document this situation to support your unemployment claim in your new state.

3. File and follow-up. File for interstate unemployment benefits in your new state’s unemployment insurance office as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines. An interstate claim allows you to receive unemployment compensation from your previous state while meeting the job searching requirements from your new state. Always attach a copy of your spouse’s military orders to your unemployment application, even if the office doesn’t initially request them and list your spouse’s military relocation as the reason you quit your job on all forms. You also may need to provide an official written letter from your spouse’s chain of command as proof of the transfer.

After filing for unemployment and being granted wages, your residency state will require you to register with a local workforce center. You need to show evidence that you are actively seeking employment. In some states, workers are required to attend resume or interviewing classes and even obtain career counseling.

Freeloader Stigma

I first heard about unemployment compensation for Military Spouses from a friend and Air Force spouse in Okinawa, Japan.  Prior to that, I never considered filing for unemployment because I mistakenly assumed that it was only for workers who were laid off. As a Navy newlywed and a recent college graduate, I thought my former employer would be penalized, if I filed. This is false. Generally, the unemployment compensation a Military Spouse receives comes from the state’s general unemployment fund, not the employers’ account. I also thought that I didn’t qualify because I choose to relocate with my husband and that my friends would think I’m a freeloader or lazy if I cashed unemployment checks. With three military moves in seven years, I have completely changed my opinion on this issue. Now I encourage my friends to apply for the benefits and lobby for law changes in states where Military Spouses are ineligible for unemployment.

Here’s the bottom line: Always file for unemployment compensation when you are relocating. If you are denied compensation, appeal the decision and be prepared to explain your situation at a hearing.  You have a right to this weekly income. Just because your Service Member volunteered for the military doesn’t mean that you voluntarily quit your job.

This article was first published April 26, 2013, at In Gear Career.