Little girl holding moving box with teddy bear popping out of the top and parents in background ()
No matter the length of your military career, you probably moved at least once. For most service members leaving the military, either at retirement or at their end of active service separation, a final move at government expense is authorized. Make your final move the easiest one yet with six tips.
There are steps you can take and resources available to help you plan and stay organized during your final military move. A final move at government expenses is authorized for many service members leaving the military. You may be excited about the upcoming change and the chance to move to a new home or you may have different emotions about leaving the military and this final move.
The following tips can help make your last move the easiest:
1. Make sure you are aware of your benefits. You may be entitled to a number of benefits that include storage of household goods, travel allowances and a per diem. Travel allowances and other final move benefits vary by service branch, so check with your installation's Military and Family Support Center, transportation office, the Move.mil website or the U.S. Transportation Command website.
2. Take to the web. You really can do just about anything online these days, and planning your move is no exception. Once you have orders, visit Move.mil and set up your final move online. Also check out Plan My Move. This fully-customizable relocation tool can help you organize your move by creating more than 90 individual moving tasks. You can also use online resources, such as MilitaryINSTALLATIONS, to find statistics about your new community, including school performance, crime reports, salaries, cost of living and more.
3. Talk to professionals. Visit your local Military and Family Support Center which has professionals who can help you manage your move. Each move is different and regulations vary by service branch and location; make an appointment with your transportation office or the Military and Family Support Center to help you understand your benefits.
4. Start planning early. Waiting until the last minute to plan your move does not set you up for success. As soon as you know where you're going, schedule the move or storage of your household goods. You may have up to a year to complete your transition, however scheduling your move early will help ensure you move on the date you choose.
5. Get organized. Create a "command center" for the details of your move. This is a central location that houses everything related to your move, such as "to-do lists," contact information and important documents, such as military orders and school records.
6. Prioritize. When you're moving, you may start to feel like you're trying to cram 25 hours of work into a 24-hour day. Rather than trying to do it all at once, prioritize your to-do list and use your resources, such as MilitaryINSTALLATIONS, Move.mil and Plan My Move.
Remember, you don't have to do this all by yourself. There are resources and services to help make your last move smoothly. Reach out through Military OneSource or your installation's Military and Family Support Center.
Original article can be found at militaryonesource.com.
