“Hi, are you new here?” the words often heard and repeated at the height of PCS season by military families who are “left behind.” The new faces at the pool, park, and in the ice cream truck line abound!

The next step for those that are new to that location is tackling the new school paperwork.

And then there is that dreaded page.

The page where they ask for emergency contacts.

Ugh! Hello! Just moved here – we don’t know anyone besides the driver who is driving our stuff from our last duty station, and James sure as heck is not an emergency contact since he isn’t local!

Realistically – how do you fill out that emergency contact list is up to you. Here are how some other military families do it.

1. Use friends in the area. Thank goodness for military life in that we all move. Meaning that the friends you had two duty stations ago are showing up at the same place you are. Score! Someone you actually know, your kids actually know, and you already have their phone number. Sigh, a big sigh of relief because you have that list completed!
2. Knock on doors. If you don’t know your neighbors because you are new to the area – introduce yourself. Their proximity to your home is useful, and getting to know them means your children will know their faces. Don’t just put their name and phone number down on the list without asking – make sure to ask and offer to be their children’s emergency contact as well.
3. Use a sponsor. While a sponsor is more commonplace overseas than stateside, using the only person you know overseas can be used for the emergency contact. A sponsor is there to help with the transition, and being that they are military as well, they probably fully understand the need for an emergency contact for school paperwork.
4. Contact from a summer group. If you could move in early summer, enroll your children in summer activities, or find a summer moms group. Perhaps you can find a friend or new acquaintance you feel comfortable adding as a new emergency contact within this forum. Consider homeschool groups, church groups, or MOPs groups in addition to any summer camps your children attended.
5. Ask on social media. While this seems a little “new age,” the reality is that local social media groups are used for asking for the best local coffee, extracurricular for the kids, or babysitter suggestions – why not ask about an emergency contact? If asking outright seems strange, if someone appears to have similar interests ask for a meet-up with the kids and feel them out – or ask outright if being bold is your move.
6. Your real estate agent. If you used an awesome real estate agent to find your new home, perhaps they will be kind enough to be the emergency contact.

Remember, you can change your emergency contacts. You might put one person down and make friends with a few other people later. It is okay to change the emergency contact. In addition, it is normal for emergency contacts within the military community to move mid-school year, so updating them on school forms is commonplace! Always ask before putting the person down as the emergency contact, so they aren’t surprised if they get a call from the school about your child. Also, make sure that your child is aware of who the emergency contact is if they have to pick them up from school on the off-chance.

Moving is not easy, and moving for children can be difficult to process. Don’t forget about the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which all 50 states have adopted to help military children transition from school to school. The compact provides protection and details on the transition processes if there are other questions about schooling – from special needs assessment to extracurricular activities. In addition, reach out to the School Liaison at your new duty station. Finding schools, determining the best placement, and enrolling in schools is not always simple or easy – the school liaison should have the best local resources.

Military members must maintain a certain level of fitness to complete their jobs and pass fitness testing. COVID-19 presented a challenge in maintaining fitness when gymnasiums on and off base closed. Getting back into the routine of working out takes the same amount of time as building any routine. It takes 21 days to build a habit, so start building the habit of a new exercise routine with these exercises.

Do it like boot camp – a 12-week regiment where you start off low and slow and increase the reps and weights used over the 12-week period.

Before doing embarking on any exercise routine, check with your medical provider to ensure you are healthy enough to do so.

Equipment needed: barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells – weight amount dependent on what will be challenging to you.

If you have a question on what the exercises are, descriptions are below and you can use your friendly internet search engine to find videos on how they are done

Bodyweight Exercises

Start with 3-4 Rounds of 10-20 reps of these exercises, and slowly build up as able. If you need to go down to 2-3 rounds – do it! Any start is better than no start. Rest for 30-60 seconds in between sets.

1. Jumping Jacks – these are great for getting the heart pumping and muscles warm
2. Push-Ups – Challenging muscle groups of the upper extremities, core, and cardiovascular system with this – mix it up with putting your hands out wide or narrow to challenge different muscle groups of the arms and back
3. Inverted Rows – These challenge the upper extremities and core similar to push-ups, but with the different position it challenges different muscles
4. Box Jumps – these can be done on a park bench or your (non-carpeted) steps in your home; the key is to not jump off the box/step/bench but to step down to avoid injury to the Achilles tendon (the back of the ankle)
5. Reverse Lunge – stand hip feet apart and step one foot back and bend your back leg so your lower leg is parallel to the ground and the forward leg is parallel to the ground as close to 90 degrees as possible
6. Forward Lunge – stand hip feet apart and step one foot forward and bend the forward leg, so the knee is over the foot and get as close to 90 degrees as possible
7. Sumo Squat – feet outside the hips and squat low with putting the knees over toes and getting the knees as close to 90 degrees as possible
8. Plank – try 30 seconds at a time and build up from there

Weighted Exercises

Start with one set of 10 of these exercises and increase the number of sets as able. Rest for 30-60 seconds in between sets.

1. Weighted Squat – Rack dumbbells at the shoulder, feet hip-width apart, and squat with the goal of getting the lower legs at a 90-degree angle
2. Renegade Dumbbell Row – While in plank put a dumbbell in each hand. With the arm fully extended, squeeze the muscles between the shoulders to bring the dumbbell toward the chest pulling the elbow behind you. If a full plank is difficult, go to your knees. If you do not have back problems, you can do a bent-over row bending at the hips with soft knees and doing the same squeeze between the shoulder blades to pull the weight toward you.
3. Bicep Curl – With a weight in each hand of the extended arm towards your body, bend at the elbow pulling the weight toward the chest.
4. Overhead Press –With two dumbbells, one in each hand, you can start from fully extended arms to bicep curl and then push the weights overhead; or start from racked weights at the shoulders.
5. Weighted Sumo Squat – Add one dumbbell or kettlebell centered at your core and hold the weight steady as you do the sumo squat.
6. Kettlebell Figure 8 –With feet shoulder-width apart with soft knees, hold the kettlebell in one hand and go between the legs switching to one hand and going around the corresponding leg and then back between the legs and to the other hand and corresponding side. This one is not only strength training but cardio too!
7. Skull Crushers – While standing or in plank position, with arms extended out with dumbbells in hand, bend the elbows to 90 degrees holding the weights on the sides of the head – don’t actually crush the skull
8. Chest Fly – From plank position, extend the arms out in front holding the dumbbells and lower the weights to the sides and then squeeze your chest muscles to pull them back to in front of you.

Mix and match bodyweight and weighted exercises and increase sets with each passing week or two to increase strength training. Add in cardiovascular exercises like jogging and dancing. A variety of exercises like yoga can add flexibility in addition to strength training.

Any start is a move in the right direction. What is your favorite exercise?

After finding housing for your family as part of the move, when you have school age children, finding a school is the next step. It is not an easy task choosing a school. Sometimes you don’t have a choice if you have limited housing choices. However, sometimes you can “choice into” another school that is not in the district your house is assigned to. It is called a different program in each state (of course), but ask around in your new neighborhood. So how do you choose a school that is right for you and your family?

Where to Not to Look for Information

We all do it. When looking for a home we scroll to the bottom of the real estate facts which list the schools, with grades. We look for the higher rated schools thinking that really equals quality of school. That is not the case. Do not just look at the ratings assigned by the big grading companies.

Where to Look for Information

The most objective facts about schools can be found on the states Department of Education website. Each school should have a “report card” for the school on their department of education website. The report card should provide detailed information on assessments, enrollment, the finances of the school, statistics like free and reduced lunch participation and socioeconomic categories, teacher assessments and school readiness milestones. This objective information can provide an assessment about the school without “grading.” This helps you make the decision that is best for your family with the reality of school.

Know the MIC3

The MIC3 is the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, which was designed to help ease transitions for military families moving from one school to another. The idea is that if your child is in the gifted program or has an IEP at one school, those placements are still in place in the next school. This helps ease moving schools are there is some similarity and familiarity, without having to do the testing or re-evaluation again at the new school. This doesn’t mean that every school knows about the MIC3, or is even aware of it. Like with all regulations, even within the military community, print off the parts that apply to you and bring it into the school. For high school in particular, when schools may not teach things in the same order, make sure to have the course description for each course they took. This helps with placing into the next school. For instance, if you move your child’s sophomore year and in the new school they took History of America but it was called something else at the previous school, the course description allows the new school to know what to provide credit for and place them in the next appropriate history subject.

There are Other Options

For those who can afford it, private school is also an option. Private schools are not assigned a district, so you do not have to live in a certain area of this. Private schools do not report to the state government since they do not take funding from the state, so they do not have a readily available report card like public schools on the Department of Education website. Reach out to the private school for specific information.

Homeschool is a popular option with military families as it allows for non-traditional school schedules. Want to do school through the summer because the active duty member will get a month off in the fall and you want to schedule a trip, then homeschool might be for you. Each state is different on guidelines for homeschool. California for instance requires that you register as a private school providing a private school affidavit. Virginia requires sending a Notice of Intent to the school your children you are districted for letting them know you are homeschooling. Each state has different timelines for this as well, so make sure to research when the dates are required.

There is not one answer for schools for every family. Know the objective information you need to know for your family. Before looking, make a list of what you need and are looking for. Do you need a gifted program? A certain sport? Know what you are looking for when researching schools. Not that you need another thing on your to-do list, don’t be afraid to call and “interview” schools with questions. Their response and openness (or lack thereof) in discussing can help you.

Read that again – you do not have to do it all. You do not have to be doing something every day and every minute. Creating boundaries is healthy, it creates parameters for your valuable time and energy.  It protects YOU as a resource. You are worthy of that. In a community where you often hear that volunteering is the way to get ahead in a career, or how to learn a new skill, it is easy to fall into a pattern of giving and giving.

• Learn to say No.

Know how to say no. Even if you don’t have a specific reason for saying no, give yourself a break every now and then. You don’t need to say yes to making cupcakes for the PTA, bringing a meal to your spouse’s work, or volunteering with yet another organization. It is hard to create those time boundaries, especially when you are used to going and doing all the time. Knowing when to say no protects you, your time and your abilities. It allows you to cultivate the skills you want with the time you have. It also allows for down time and space as this also helps you.

• Don’t volunteer all the time.

Give yourself boundaries for your time. While it is easy to slip into the routine of volunteering at school, at the unit, at a local charity, you do not have to. Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, volunteering is great for learning new skills. But the military spouse market is an over tapped market for volunteering. The frequent moves lead to frequent jobs, often of different job types.

• Take a social media break.

It isn’t a secret that FOMO is real. Seeing the grass on the other side of the fence has created pressure for parents to do it all – the handmade clothes, homemade meals, trips that may not be affordable. Taking a break from social media may be very 1990s, but it allows for more time. Social media provides for distraction and mindless scrolling but this is not necessary. Take time off from social media, or create timers so you respect your time and only accomplish what you need to.

• It’s okay to have cereal for breakfast.

This was a life saver during my spouse’s last deployment. One night a week was breakfast for dinner and the kids loved every minute of it. Take the shortcuts when you can. Cereal for dinner once a week, or more if needed, is allowed.

• Take a break.

Have zero guilt in taking a break. If you need a babysitter so you can have dinner alone without goldfish as a side, do it and do not feel one ounce of guilt.

• Buy the prepared stuff.

Your time is valuable. In a busy time period, buy the pre-cut fruit, the already made frozen pizza and the grocery store sub sandwiches. Down think of it is as short cut or sell out, think of it as resource management. Maybe your budget can’t support it every grocery trip, but on the occasion that you can, do it.

• Pen in self-care.

This is hard. It is adding one more thing to the to-do list, I get it. Schedule it. Take the time that you can to do something for yourself. Maybe it is just a 20-minute virtual yoga session. Or maybe you can do an hour for reading for pleasure. Don’t just pencil it on your calendar, PEN IT IN. Self-care is sometimes self-preservation. You are worthy of penning in that me-time, so don’t just pencil it in.  

• Seek support when needed.

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to be the all for everyone. If you have reached your limit, it is okay to reach out to your trusted friends and tell them. If you prefer confidential help, reach out to Military One Source counselors or the DSTRESS line. These resources are there to listen and provide guidance as able to.

You can protect your mental, emotional and physical health by not trying to do it all. Prioritize your time, and know that taking breaks is okay. Remember that there is a season for everything, and sometimes you can’t.

Once your family receives orders, the typical next question is – where do we live? There are two options here – on-base or off-base. There are pros and cons to both options. It can feel like a substantial choice. Consider these characteristics when making your next housing choice.

On Base

Pros:

• Short Commute: If you are able to secure on-base lodging near where the active duty member will work, there is the added bonus of a short commute. This typically means more time at home, occasional lunches together if the family is home, and maybe even saving on gas if a bike can be used to get to work. Cycling can accomplish cardiovascular exercise, cut down on gas costs, and is green! Research your base and neighborhoods before accepting a home to understand where the housing is in relation to the assigned job if a short commute is your family’s goal.
• Save on rent: On-Base housing, no matter the size of the home, the cost is equal to the basic housing allowance (BAH) of the service member. So, you don’t have to pay over BAH for a home.  
• Community: There is a kindred spirit among military families – the common bond of frequent moves and common base locations and challenges provide a common ground to build friendships on.
• Playgrounds galore: Neighborhoods on-base often have multiple playgrounds appealing to all ages and abilities. And you can walk to them easily making it easily accessible.
• Free maintenance: If your family will have many deployments, or you don’t feel as handy, the free maintenance may be your jam. They even provide certain types of light bulbs in some locations.
• Included lawn maintenance: Common areas on base are all maintained by the base. This means your non-gated front yard will be manicured by the base. This also a bonus when there are other family stressors and the lawn just isn’t going to get mowed. Or you don’t have a mover because you have never lived anywhere with a lawn.

Cons:

• Never Off Duty: For the active duty member, sometimes living on base means they are never off duty. A neighbor down the street may work in the same office and want to discuss work in the off hours. Or knock on your door late at night for work.
• Homes are the same: All the homes are the same size and same look, for the ease of building and maintenance.
• No Choice: There is typically a wait list for homes on base, this means that you are not typically offered options for available homes. Instead, you are provided one address – the first available. Also, typically you have to respond within a very short time frame.  This is not always an easy task if you are not currently in the area or able to look at housing.
• Age of homes: Base dependent, the age of the homes may be from the 1940s or 1970s, and some without updates in the last 20-30 years. This means that homes may not be updated like homes off-base. This may mean maintenance issues or
• All of BAH is used: Since housing is rank-based, all of BAH is taken for the home. Even with promotion, all of the housing amount is taken unless there is a concession for that housing area.
• Long Wait Times: Area dependent, the on-base housing list can be lengthy – sometimes years! If on-base housing is what you desire, apply as soon as you have orders. Be aware that each base/post has different standards for when you are placed on the wait list – either when you apply for housing or when you check-out of your current unit.
• Maintenance: While having someone else do your maintenance is nice, it is also a con because base housing is in charge of the maintenance. This means they schedule cleanings or maintenance without care for your schedule. For instance, a power washing can be scheduled by them and they will give you 24-48 hour notice for a week-long period. This means bringing all outdoor items in for the time period or until the cleaning is complete.

Off Base

Pros:

• Personalization: When you choose a home off-base, you can choose a home that fits your needs allowing for personalization of the home to the desires of your family. You can look for a home-based on the yard, bedroom number, or size. This is not an option when moving on base when you are put into a rank-based category based on with or without dependents.
• Choose Your Community: When you are looking for housing off base, you can search for a home-based on the community you are looking for. If you want a neighborhood that is walkable to restaurants or if you want a neighborhood with lots of parks for your children, you can look for and find a home in that desired area.
• Save Money: If you are able to find a home that is below BAH, you can use that money to pay for utilities. This is very area dependent, and the BAH rates fluctuate on location.
• Shorter commute for the spouse: If the spouse is working off-base, living off-base can mean a shorter commute for them.
• There is Off-Duty time: If you are living in a neighborhood where no one knows your job, you can escape work when you are at home.
• No on-base business rules: If you have a side hustle, or your home is totally home-based, the only rules and regulations are the ones for the county/city and state. Since on-base businesses are required to get on-base authority to run an on-base business, this is an extra hurdle – but there is no on-base hurdle for off-base businesses!

Cons:

• Longer Commute: Depending on where the job is on base, and the location of the home off-base, the commute will be a bit longer. It’s true that on-base traffic can be long due to lower speed limits, but distance and traffic patterns off base can lead to a longer commute.
• Expense: If you are in an area where BAH doesn’t stretch far, you may be paying out of pocket for both your home and utilities. This can be a burden on a tight budget. Make sure to know approximate costs before choosing or picking a home. In addition, things off-base are not subsidized – grocery shopping, schools, and activity options may be more expensive.
• Need for more than one vehicle: If you are living off base, two vehicles are needed to get around unless you are in a walkable location. The active-duty service member will have to drive to their job on base, and if the spouse works, will have to drive to their job or children’s school as needed.
• Can feel isolating: This is location and area dependent, but living off base can feel isolating. If the neighborhood isn’t outdoors, or if you don’t feel like you can plug into the community, it can get lonely.

A con to both options for pet owners is that there are often breed restrictions on rentals both on and off base. Make sure you know what the restrictions are before applying for a home on or off post.

Each family has different criteria in a home and neighborhood, and there is no right or wrong answer here. It can also fluctuate based on where your orders are to. For instance, OCONUS orders may mean you have to live on-base if the occupancy rate is not high enough. Each move, make a pro/con list for you and your family and what you are looking for in a home and neighborhood.

And for those PCSing, may the odds be ever in your favor.

The past year has flown by remarkably fast despite being indoors and social distancing for most of it. The normal way of making friends through activities with shared interests or when outside walking around has changed. The social distancing guidance of masking up, maintaining distance, and limiting gatherings do not provide the traditional ways of meeting new people. As if starting over isn’t difficult anyway, to meet new people and make new friends, you have to get creative.

Be Flexible.

Meeting new friends in the current environment is not traditional. As much of military life, flexibility is key to making new friends. Much of the activities are virtual, which can be hard on extroverted individuals. Some effort will need to be made to seek out groups in a non-traditional way. The beauty of online events is no traffic, less need for a sitter, and more opportunities to check out different activities that you may not normally seek out. Be flexible and give yourself grace to meeting new people at your new duty station.

Still Say Hi

Just because you have to wear a mask or socially distant doesn’t mean that you can’t introduce yourself to your neighbors. Being a good neighbor is still appropriate. While it may be difficult to say hi when initially in restricted movement, consider writing cards introducing yourself and leaving them on your neighbors’ door, letting them know when you will be out of ROM. Something as simple as an introduction can be the foundation of a new friendship.

Technology is your friend.

Before PCSing during a pandemic, research on social media for base-specific groups. These groups can provide real-time information on-base housing, schools in the area, housing availability outside the base, and current base information. While in these groups asking about the area, consider asking if there are interest groups among the base-specific group. Maybe there is a meet-up group or running group. Maybe there is someone already there with common interests where you can talk as you navigate a PCS and build the foundation for a friendship before your arrival.

Virtual Meet Ups

Check out the base-specific social media pages for any virtual clubs. On base and off, local libraries have held various book and activity clubs for a variety of different topics.  If you enjoyed a book club at your last duty station, join the virtual book club. Or maybe you are looking to try something different like tea time or trivia night. Virtual meet-ups provide an opportunity for growth on personal interest. You won’t be meeting them in person, but you will be virtually meeting with others with similar interests.

Touch Base with Your Volunteer Group

While in-person activities are limited, if you were a volunteer with an organization prior to the pandemic, see if there is a branch at your new base. While they may not be holding in-person activities, they may still hold online activities or ways to volunteer at home. This can build a friend base in an environment you are familiar with and provide an outlet for the volunteering you have enjoyed in the past.

Spouse Clubs

The spouse club’s idea is to provide a social group for military spouses at each duty station. The common bond of military life is a stepping-off point. There are usually nominal membership costs involved, and these funds are typically used to provide food or activities to the group. In the current environment, the spouse clubs are doing virtual events like 80s nights, game nights, and exercise challenges. This provides an opportunity to meet new friends in a virtual environment.

Maintain Contact

Chances are, if this is not your first PCS, there may be someone at your new duty station that you have been stationed with before. That connection of a known entity can be an amazing starting point for developing a new start to your friendship.  Building on someone you already know or building on those casual connections is easier.

Manners in the Time of Pandemic

Currently, there is a federal requirement for masks on base when social distancing cannot be maintained. When meeting new people, ask what their comfort level is in regards to masking and social distance. Part of building trust is respecting your community’s wishes regarding the comfort level for mask-wearing and distancing.

Admittedly, it is additionally challenging to make friends in a world with social distancing rules. It’s in the name – social distancing. It can be done with some creativity and flexibility of exploring opportunities. Good luck with your PCS, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Have a suggestion on making friends at a new duty station? Let us know in the comments!

April is the Month of the Military Child.  Former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger established it in 1986. Sponsored by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy, the month of the military child is a month dedicated to reflecting on the sacrifices and challenges military children face as part of military life.

April 15^th every year is Purple Up! For Military Kids day where people around the world wear purple to demonstrate their support of military children around the world. The color purple was chosen as the color is a mix of all the service branch colors – Air Force blue, Army green, Navy blue, Marine Corps red, and Coast Guard blue.

In celebration of the month of the military child, we asked some military children of the different service branches what military life meant to them, or what their favorite part of military life was. They were unabashedly honest about their thoughts. From ages 4 – 21, here are what military children from around the world shared.

L.E., age 21, Marine Corps – “I learned to appreciate the little things and the small moments because we knew that things could change in the blink of an eye. We learned that we never knew how much time we got with our friends or in one place so we learned to appreciate every second we had.”

C.E, age 20, Marine Corps – My favorite thing about military life is “getting to experience new people and places that a normal kid growing up doesn’t usually get to do or see. It definitely makes you well rounded.”

A.P., age 10, Marine Corps– “Military life means moving from friends and family. It’s also an adventure, and you get to see new places. What I like is meeting new people and seeing new places.”

K.M., age 13, Marine Corps – “[I have a] level of pride and getting to experience more than civilian kids,”

L.M., age 11, Marine Corps – “My favorite thin has been moving and making new friends.”

A.A., age 10, Army – “My favorite thing about military life is that you can live pretty much anywhere.”

R.D.S., age 10, Navy – “I like that I have lived around the world and that my dad gets to help serve the country.”

G.P., age 8, Marine Corps -“Military life sucks because you have to leave your friends when you move.”

R.T.S., age 8, Navy – “I feel special being a military child because my dad is important. We have been able to see a lot of things being in the military.”

R.R.S., age 8, Navy – “My favorite thing about military life is that I get to meet people from all around the world and country.”

M.J., age 8, Marine Corps – “I love that Daddy can protect us and keep us safe if a bad guy breaks in.”

A.W., age 8, Navy – “I like getting to see lots of places, and li

H.J., age 7, Marine Corps – “My favorite part of military life is the adventures I get to have with family and friends. Every time we move it is somewhere new and fun to explore.”

K.D., age 7, Marine Corps – “Oh that’s a hard one. I like being able to see all the Marine helicopters and vehicles that are on base every day.”

A.P, age 4, Marine Corps – “Military life means papa is always gone a lot.”

G.A., age 4, Army – “The best part about [military life] is watching the Army football game.”

There’s a central theme in these shared thoughts – while there are adventure and exploration involved in military life, there is a lot of leaving and being left behind. Thank you, military children, for being part of your military parent’s support network – it is not an easy task.

Punxsutawney Phil may have said 6 more weeks of winter, but with PCS time around the corner for some, military families’ minds have turned to spring cleaning. There is something therapeutic in clearing out a closet and going through that box you moved with two moves ago. Whether you are moving or not this summer, take a month to clean out clutter and organize your home makes moving the next time that much easier. If you are spring cleaning this year, consider using these items that you can get from your base Exchange to tidy up around your home.

1. Storage Tote Bags: These are the unsung heroes of many a move. These square bags come in a variety of sizes from small to extra large. Store quilts, blankets, and towels in them when you are not using them seasonally. Place seasonal clothing in them in a closet. This removes clutter from valuable drawer space, but the clear bags keep them in eyesight so you are prepared when the season is upon you again. And the best part, they slide easily into moving boxes. When you unpack them on the other end, you pull them out and are ready to use them.
2. Seasonal storage: Have ornaments, lights, and stockings? Put them all in one storage bin and label it for the holidays. Better yet, get specific containers for ornament storage to protect valuable and sentimental items. More into pumpkins, ghouls, and spider webs? Get a large storage bin to provide better protection than a cardboard box for a move. Labeling each tote will help you determine what everything is in your storage area at a quick glance. If you are moving, labeling will help you determine where to put it when you unwrap the non-descript brown paper the movers placed on it. And goodness knows it will be labeled “tote” and not “Halloween decorations.”
3. Binders: Yes, raid the school supply section for binders. Even if you aren’t moving, keep a list of high-value items updated each year, updating it during spring cleaning. If a high-value item breaks in a move, the amount provided by the moving company should be replacement value. It helps to have an updated link of the high-value item and the item number for this replacement. Keeping all high-value items in one location in a binder is paramount.
4. File folder: Every year update your families’ paperwork – make sure you have copies of marriage certificates, divorce decrees, any legal documents, passports, birth certificates, etc. Have them all in one place. This allows for easy reference if needed but also to ensures you have everything updated. Renew passports, as you are able to. Make sure you have enough copies of birth certificates, especially if you have a consular birth abroad certificate as these can take several weeks to process and receive a new copy if the original is lost.
5. Stamps/Stickers: Consider a family stamp or sticker to put on totes as you organize and spring clean. This makes it easy to identify what items you may have added to your household goods during a move, and what you may be able to thin out and purge If you have duplicates of.
6. Zip ties: This may sound silly, but hear me out. All those cords you have behind the tv, or the desk, can be messy. Zip ties are helpful to keep things clean and organized. When going through cords you may find you have extras you don’t need anymore – that charger for the computer that died can be recycled through e-waste.
7. Denture Cleaning Tabs: These multi-use tabs clean a lot of things. Clean out your coffee pot of all the build-up with these tabs, or pop one in the toilet to get it squeaky clean. Cleaning these daily use items keeps them working longer for you, and prepares them for moves.
8. Dishwashing gloves: While images of a 1950s housewife may pop into your mind when you see these listed here, they are worth it. Spring cleaning, and quite often post-PCS clean, involves washing a lot of dishes and cleaning a lot in general. These gloves protect your hands from the deluge of water and cleaning solutions.
9. Disinfectant Wipes: If you can find them this year, these wipes are useful for cleaning and disinfecting bathroom and kitchen surfaces quickly and easily.
10. An all-in-one mop: Cleaning the floors is not an easy task. A mop with the convenient storage of the cleaning fluid and spray is a lot easier than mopping the old way with a bucket and solution. And older children can manage it to help with the spring cleaning to-do list.
11. Bleach: When diluted with water, this cleaning fluid can also disinfect non-porous surfaces and floors. Clean off mirrors in the bathroom easily, or wipe out the bathtub.
12. White Vinegar: Another double-duty cleaner- use vinegar to clean out your washing machine, descale your coffee pot or single-use coffee maker. Mixed with water, vinegar is a useful multi-use cleaner for daily cleaning. Because it is also used in cooking, it is safe for younger children to clean with as well.
13. Baking soda: This soft abrasive is well known for its disinfecting powers while you put one in the fridge and freezer to stop unwanted smells. It is also great for scrubbing bathtubs, toilets, and kitchen counters.  It can pull up grime and yuck
14. Broom: Sweeping under the cabinet’s nooks and crannies may not be done daily, but spring cleaning is a great reminder to get at it.

Spring cleaning isn’t everyone’s favorite thing to do. Doing a large scale clean helps make the daily cleaning a little bit easier. And for a military family, can prepare them for an expected or unexpected PCS.

What is your favorite spring cleaning tool?

Childcare in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic has had its challenges for the military family. The Child Development Center (CDC), on most bases, provides care for children ages 6 weeks through school-age up to the summer after 7th grade. These centers provide up to full-day care for the children of active duty military service members, spouses of active duty members, and government service employees. At times, children of retirees can even receive care at the CDC, depending on the space available.

Getting a coveted spot at the CDC is not an easy task. The first stop is often the Department of Defense website militarychildcare.com. After setting up an account, find the specific type of care desired of full-time or part-time care at a CDC, or perhaps a home-based child care program on base (also known as an FCC). If there is no available spot at the CDC or on-base in-home providers, Child Care Aware of America can be utilized to find fee assistance.

While already dealing with the unknown of child care and moving, the pandemic has added a new unknown variable.  Many CDC centers on base have the added hurdle of being open to essential personnel only, prioritizing active duty military and dual working couples. While the priority has always been to provide dual active duty and working families childcare, this year has lessened the ability for parents who are students to find care at the on-base CDC. With smaller class sizes and short-staffed facilities, many families have moved to seek care off base through fee-assisted care through Child Care Aware.  Families with a spot for fee assistance may have challenges if a childcare center temporarily shuts down or if work care has been delayed. These questions and more have been answered here.

If the on-base CDC has moved to essential personnel only and your family is unable to receive child care there, the military family is able to apply for community child care fee assistance.

If space is offered under the fee assistance waitlist, and there is not an immediate start date, the start date must be shared as soon as it is known.

If a family voluntarily removes a child from care, the family will still be provided the fee assistance if they are required to pay the provider during the absence.

If fee assistance is provided for one childcare program and that program is shut down, fees will not be paid for the same dates of service.

Due to these changes in care availability, many military families are seeking fee-assisted care for their childcare needs, which is not surprising. It is hard enough maintaining professional careers or pursuing a degree with multiple moves and around the world, child care is necessary for families with children. COVID-19 has led to less available at the affordable on-base CDC options, leading to increased use and need of Child Care Aware. Have you been affected by the change in childcare availability in the last year? How have you overcome this obstacle?

Over 124,000 working military retirees and their families were dropped from TRICARE Select at the beginning of the year due to a change in the requirement for a monthly enrollment fee. In June 2020, Tricare notified TRICARE Select beneficiaries that are Group A (sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment occurred before January 1, 2018) they must pay monthly enrollment fees to maintain their TRICARE health coverage beginning on January 1, 2021. This change is the first time this group will pay enrollment fees. At that time, Dr. Danita Hunter, director of the TRICARE Health Plan at the Defense Health Agency said, “In 2021, some TRICARE beneficiaries will pay enrollment fees for the first time, a change mandated by Congress. We’re communicating this well before the change is implemented so beneficiaries can be informed about the change, as well as their TRICARE plan and cost options.”

The initial group of more than 124,000 was dropped due to failure to set up payment for the new fees. Thru January about 75% have set up payment. For those that did not set up payment you were disenrolled and have 180 days from your disenrollment date to be reinstated.

What You Need to Know

Why is this happening?

This change to pay enrollment fees was part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The Defense Health Agency received a delay in implementation to calendar year 2021.

Who did this affect?

This only affected Group A which is those that entered the military prior to January 1, 2018 and are enrolled in TRICARE Select. Active duty family members enrolled in TRICARE Select won’t pay enrollment fees and see no change. Those that use TRICARE For Life, TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Young Adult will also see no change.

How do I set up payments?

Your TRICARE regional contractor can help you set up payments. Don’t set up your payment through your Department of Defense (DoD) pay center you must go through TRICARE. If you don’t receive payments from a DoD pay center you can set up payment through electronic funds transfer, a credit card or a debit card.

How do I know when changes are made to TRICARE?

Visit the TRICARE website and sign up for email alerts. It is important to keep up to date so you are prepared for changes.

Additional Information

The new enrollment fees are $12.50 per month for an individual plan or $150 annually and $25 a month or $300 annually for a family plan. Only those family members enrolled in TRICARE Select with a Group A retiree sponsor pay the enrollment fee. You can have family members enrolled in different plans. So, if you only have one family member enrolled in Select you will pay the individual fee not the family rate. The catastrophic cap is increasing from $3,000 to $3,500. TRICARE Select enrollment fees count towards your catastrophic cap. The enrollment fees are waived if you are an active duty family member, a medically retired retiree or family member, or if you are a survivor of an active duty sponsor or a medically retired retiree.

For those in TRICARE East contact Humana Military at 800-444-5445. For TRICARE West contact

Health Net at 844-866-9378. TRICARE Overseas contact International SOS or contact your TOP Regional Call Center.