Tag: MILITARY PCS

Express shipment for OCONUS PCS

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

So that day has come, it is time to decide what to pack for your express shipment. The main question is, what can’t you live without? While you may want to say everything, you may have to narrow it down a bit. Here is my list of musts for express shipment.

– Plates, silverware, and dishes. Ok, this is more of personal preference. Realistically you could always go to the commissary and get disposable plates, cups, and silverware.
– Some pots and pans. Don’t take all now, you will still be living in your home for a bit so send maybe one pan and one pot to help you get started in your next location.
– Some Mugs, cups, and glasses.
– A few Bath towels. Oh sure, you could buy more, but it is an expense that can be prevented.
– A few sets of sheets & blankets. Very important, especially if you are using loaner furniture. This will help make your place feel more like your own.
– Kitchen towels & pot holders
– Kitchen necessities (Wine bottle opener, bottle opener, can opener, sharp knife or two, etc.)
– A mop/broom/vacuum. You will want to clean sooner rather than later.
– Mattresses w/ accessories (pad, box spring). This is one of those things you can hold off on if you are ok with using the loaner furniture for a bit longer.
– Folding chairs, small tables (until your other stuff arrives)
– Small, simple tool set (hammer, pliers, etc.)
– Sports or exercise gear or baby toys and furniture. Won’t normally have space for both, so it’s time to choose which you will pick.
– Coffee maker. In my household, this is very important.
– TV, you want to take at least one. Especially if you have littles.
– Desktop Computer w/ accessories (cords, printer, etc.)

Household goods shipment (HHG)

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

So your express shipment has left, and your luggage is packed (maybe), so al that is left is your HHG shipment.

Oh sure it’s easy to say (write), but getting to that point is a whole different story. Here is my basic outline of what goes in your HHG shipment.

– Small kitchen appliances
– All the rest of your cooking gear (specialized pans, etc.)
– The rest of your plates, dishes, silverware, etc
– The rest of your clothes
– Extra blankets, pillows, and sheets
– Extra towels
– Large Furniture (chairs, couches, loveseat, etc.)
– Sports/exercise gear (the big stuff)
-Guest bed
– Desks
– decorations & artwork
– dining table & chairs
– bookshelves
– The rest of your games, entertainment, electronics, etc

Ok, so this shipment is probably the easiest thing you will do in your whole process of PCS’ing. Everything that didn’t meet the cut for express shipment or your luggage goes here. So if you are just reading this to get an idea, remember while hectic now it will all fall into place. For those of you already here, take a seat, breath in and out slowly, and have a drink. You are one step closer to being in your new home, and most of the stress (should be) is gone.

Best of luck on your move!

Michelle

Overseas Medical Clearance

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

So the good news is, that if you are reading this, you now have a letter of intent to go to your overseas station. Welcome to the chaos that will be your life until you get to your new home. My hope is that I can help you out enough where things will be easier for you than they were for me.

Let me start by saying each and every case is different, especially so depending on the military branch you belong to. We are Navy, and while you may or may not be this should still serve as a basic guideline for you.

Your first step will be getting the paperwork for the overseas screening. In our case, we had to pick up a packet, fill it and then it was entered into a computer system. Only once that had been completed did we get scheduled for our appointments. Depending on how busy your medical is, your appointment may be scheduled for a few weeks off. Keep in mind that from the moment your service member receives the letter of intent they have 30 days to do their screening, and the dependants have 90. So do not panic when your hear your service member’s appointment is four weeks before your own.

If you are completely cleared by your installation with no medical “issues,” then the process is very easy and straight forward from there with nothing more for you to do on your part. However, should there be something in your record, i.e., depression, thyroid things like that, your medical packet will be sent to the overseas installation to be reviewed. At that point it is a case by case scenario and what capabilities they have to treat you.

For pregnancy, it depends on where you are going. For example, I am going to Iwakuni Japan; they have become more strict as of late and only medically clear women who will be in either their first or second trimester when arriving. If you are in your third trimester at the time of arrival, you will be rejected for clearance and would need to travel at a later date. As for if your service member gets extended at the current command or they leave before you, i do not know. I believe that too would be a case by case scenario and something that should be brought up as quickly as possible.

Dental: This aspect is much easier. Minor things like cleanings and fillings can be done overseas where the dental provider will clear you. If an extraction is needed, they may ask for it to be done stateside before departure.

Have a specific question or concern I did not cover? Please feel free to message me, and I will get the answers and either respond to you directly or write a new post on it.

Good Luck!

Michelle