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PCS Part 3: Top 10 Moving Tips

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Moving Tip #1 – Take pictures of everything– Take pictures so you have documentation if something gets broken or lost in the move.

Moving Tip #2 – Make an inventory of your most valuable items– Write down each item, the value, the manufacturing identification number, and take a picture of the item.

Moving Tip #3 – Purge items you don’t need– Get rid of old items that you don’t need. Have a yard sale, give to charity, sell items on Craigslist, whatever you do, get rid of things you don’t need!

Moving Tip #4 – Scan everything to a disk or cloud– Scan all your personal documents and medical records. Make a list of companies that you need to change your address with. Scan and print 10 copies of your orders, you won’t believe how many times someone needs a copy of them. 

Moving Tip #5 – Organize Everything– The more organized, the better! Put decorative items and breakables in one room for easier sorting and packing. Take artwork off the wall and tape a baggy with the screws/nails to the back of the painting. Bag all loose items, especially kitchen or desk drawers. Empty each dresser drawers into a trash bag and zip tie hangers together for easy unpacking once you get to your new home.

Moving Tip #6 – Empty anything that will smell or mold– Empty all your trash cans (yes, movers will pack trash), disconnect and drain outdoor hoses, and unhook washer and dryers a few days before the move so they can dry out.

Moving Tip #7 – Designate a DO NOT PACK area– Choose a closet, bathroom, or bedroom, and write DO NOT PACK on a poster board and tape it to the door. Put all items you don’t want packers to pack.

Moving Tip #8 – Clearly label everything - Get colored duct tape to put on boxes coordinating with each room in the house. Label an ‘Open First’ box with paper products, soap, towels, sheets, a pot and pan, and anything else you will need the first day you get there. If your stuff is going into storage, then take this box with you.

Moving Tip #9 – Get help– Ask friends and family to help you while the packers pack and on moving day. If you have small children, hire a babysitter to help watch your kids so you can watch the movers.

Moving Tip #10 – Treat movers with respect– If you want them to treat your stuff nice, then treat them with respect! Provide drinks and snacks. Providing lunch is optional, but I recommend it. Make your rounds from room to room and watch them like a hawk. Make sure they carefully navigate your big items through your house so they don’t scrape or scratch the walls. Watch them carry large items out to the moving truck and help navigate.

Good luck and stay positive!

Read Part 2 in our series about How to Choose On or Off Base Housing and watch for Part 4: Unpacked and Settled, Now What? 


MilitaryTownAdvisor.com is a PCS relocation resource and military housing site that allows military families to help other military families by writing reviews about military towns.  When searching for information about where to live on our military housing site, read reviews about military housing, off base neighborhoods, areas surrounding the base, apartment complexes, condominiums, andschools.

Find military friendly realtors through our realtor directory. If you see the Military Friendly Logo, you can trust they understand the needs of military families. Due to the fact that the PCS relocation process in a military environment happens quickly, it can be extremely stressful. MilitaryTownAdvisor's on and off base reviews help families make an informed decision on where to begin looking for a place to live that will fit with each family's goals and lifestyle choices.

Cameron Allison, Navy Wife
Cameron is the founder of MilitaryTownAdvisor.com. She realized after a tough PCS to Hampton Roads, VA there needed to be a place where military families can leave insider information for other military families. That’s when she created the site: a place for military families to leave reviews for their neighborhoods, areas of town, and schools. Tweet her @MilTownAdvisor. LIKE Military Town Advisor on Facebook.

 


Summer Camp Opportunity for Milkids

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Camp Corral is currently still accepting registrations for many of its 20 camps located across the country, especially for children of wounded, disabled or fallen service members

Camp Corral is a free, week-long summer camp for military children, ages 8 to 15, with priority given to children of wounded, disabled or fallen military service members. Camp Corral provides a fun and developmental experience where kids are free to be kids, apart from the day-to-day challenges they face within their military families. Campers participate in traditional camp experiences, including horseback riding, canoeing, swimming, fishing, archery, a ropes course and other outdoor activities while learning new skills, building character and making new friends.

Camp Corral works closely with Redwoods Group to select partner YMCA and 4-H host camps, and currently has 20 camp locations in 16 states, with 22 sessions offered throughout the summer. For more information about Camp Corral, visit www.campcorral.org, email campinfo@campcorral.org or call Camp Corral’s hot line at 1-855-605-1267.

Mission

Camp Corral’s mission is to “serve those who have served us”.  They do this by providing the “week of a lifetime” for children, ages 8 to 15, of wounded, disabled or fallen military service members. Camp Corral is committed to increasing the number of children served by expanding its reach in communities around the country through meaningful, recreational camp experiences where military kids are free to be kids and enjoy non-stop fun, free of charge.

Origin

In 2010, Golden Corral founder James Maynard began working with his team to explore ways that they could serve those who have served us, and provide something meaningful for military families. Golden Corral has a long history of honoring the military and veterans organizations; therefore, supporting the children of military families was a natural extension of what the company was already doing. In 2011, Camp Corral opened as a pilot, one-camp program.

Funding

Camp Corral is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt, non-profit corporation and relies on donations to fund its camp program, and operational costs. Golden Corral is the founding sponsor of Camp Corral and continues to generously support the organization through its in-store fundraising campaign in April and May. To ensure that Camp Corral can continue to expand and serve even more military families, the organization depends on other sources of support. To make a donation, visit www.campcorral.org or mail donations to Camp Corral, 5151 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612. To inquire about donation or sponsorship opportunities, please email donate@campcorral.org.

 

Unpacked and Settled, Now What? Part 4 of 4

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You have successfully traveled to your new duty station and you have unpacked all the boxes, now what? Here are some ideas to help you get out and enjoy your new town!

1. Get Connected

Social media provides a great outlet for military families to keep in touch with old friends and meet new ones. Join Facebook and start to connect with other military families in your area. Ask them if they want to meet for coffee or for a playdate.  You will enjoy your time at your new duty station if you get out and get connected with other families. Feel free to join these Facebook Groups: Navy, Marine, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard.

2. Explore your New Town

Research your new town and find things to do near your military base. Make a list of new restaurants you want to try or take your kids to all the different museums and local parks. In Part 1 of this series (link to part 1), we discussed having your kids make a list of the top 3 things they want to do in their new town, so now is the time to get out and try those new things with your kids. If you find the good things about your new town, you will have a brighter outlook about your move.

3. Volunteer

Research local charities and get involved. Not only does this help you meet friends, but it gives you a sense of self worth and accomplishment when you are helping others.

4. Start Finding Childcare

Don’t wait until you and your spouse need a date night to start looking for a babysitter. Start interviewing potential babysitters and find a good one at the beginning of your tour so you can use the sitter for date nights, a night out with friends or taking the time to volunteer. Sittercity partnered with the DoD and offers free memberships for military families.

Military moves can be difficult on everyone involved so make sure to take care of your spouse and your kids, but most importantly, remember to take care of YOU. If you are happy and find the good things about your new surroundings, your attitude will rub off on the rest of your family and everyone will be happier!

If you missed it, Check out Part 3 in this series Top 10 Moving Tips. 


Cameron Allison, Navy Wife
Cameron is the founder of MilitaryTownAdvisor.com. She realized after a tough PCS to Hampton Roads, VA there needed to be a place where military families can leave insider information for other military families. That’s when she created the site: a place for military families to leave reviews for their neighborhoods, areas of town, and schools. Tweet her @MilTownAdvisor. LIKE Military Town Advisor on Facebook.

MilitaryTownAdvisor.com is a PCS relocation resource and military housing site that allows military families to help other military families by writing reviews about military towns.  When searching for information about where to live on our military housing site, read reviews about military housing, off base neighborhoods, areas surrounding the base, apartment complexes, condominiums, andschools.

Find military friendly realtors through our realtor directory. If you see the Military Friendly Logo, you can trust they understand the needs of military families. Due to the fact that the PCS relocation process in a military environment happens quickly, it can be extremely stressful. MilitaryTownAdvisor's on and off base reviews help families make an informed decision on where to begin looking for a place to live that will fit with each family's goals and lifestyle choices.

 

 

 

 

 

A Visit to the US Army Aviation Museum

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About a month ago I received a Flat Stanley in the mail.  The general idea of Flat Stanley is, you take him around town and photograph him in a variety of locations, so the children who sent him can learn something about where Stanley has been when you mail him back. “What in the world can I do with Stanley on Ft Rucker, AL, which would be of any interest to a group of preschoolers?” I wondered to myself. Sure, the kids would love the bases polar bear mascot that gets redecorated in different outfits throughout the year, but it’s not educational in the slightest. It could also be a bit misleading to that age group, as there are definitely no real polar bears roaming around Alabama!  

Then it hit me…the U.S. Army Aviation Museum!

The preschool class primarily consisted of boys, and what boys don’t love planes and helicopters! Even my two girls enjoy going there. Off we went, Flat Stanley in hand.  The museum is a Blue Star Museum, which means an active duty military member and up to 5 family members can get in for free from Memorial Day through Labor Day. It’s a great deal! To make this museum even better though, it is free for everyone who wants to visit year round, which means you can not only bring your family, but your friends as well, at no cost to any of you!  As the museum is on the base, all adults and teens 16 and older will have to show identification at the gate, but its smooth sailing from there.

Once you get inside, there’s no shortage of exhibits to peruse, from a variety of helicopters and planes the Army has used over time, to old Army aviation memorabilia. My favorites are the variety of war scenes, complete with drones, jeeps, helicopters, etc. They look so real, you might think you were there, except for the quiet and, of course, the lack of imminent danger! It is mainly a “look at” museum, but there are a couple more hands on things upstairs in which kids (or adults) can climb into a cockpit or man a control station.   

I highly recommend swinging by this amazing Blue Star Museum for a visit. We really enjoyed it…and so did Stanley! 

First, he went on a reconnaissance mission on a drone and spotted the target.

On landing, he radioed the airfield and told them he’d need a helicopter gassed, loaded and ready to go upon his arrival

He had to hitch a ride on the back of a jeep to get to the airfield. Those legs are not meant for running.

He destroyed the target and completed his mission, but…

He got shot down in the process. Don’t worry though...he’ll be ok. Stanley is sturdier than he looks! That boy will do whatever it takes to protect his country!


Christy Dalby is an Army wife, mother, and writer. She and her husband, along with their two kids and yellow lab, enjoy getting out of the house and exploring new areas in their truck camper. You can read more about Christy and her adventures at www.christydalby.com, or find her on twitter at @ChristyDalby.

DON'T FORGET we love guest bloggers! Tell us about your visit to a Blue Star Museum!  molly@bluestarfam.org and we'll post your blog! 

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