The page provides information and resources for military personnel assigned to support U.S. embassies, consulates and other overseas locations in the SOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility. Many of the resources are provided and managed by our friends at the Department of State. Your SOUTHCOM point of contact is the Quality of Life Advisor.
Arriving at Your New Post
Contact SOUTHCOM's QoL Advisor
Maurice Tricarico
Quality of Life Advisor
J-1 Personnel Directorate
U.S. Southern Command
9301 NW 33rd St.
Doral, Fla. 33172-1217
Phone: (305) 437-1122
See more on SOUTHCOM's Quality of Life efforts
Spouses Facebook Group
For spouses of U.S. Southern Command personnel both inside and outside of the United States. It is a forum for news, photos, and questions about life as a military or civilian spouse.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/131929440155922
Community Liaison Office (CLO) Program
The CLO is among the first points of contact for newly assigned or arriving employees and family members, and provides pre-arrival information, orientation, and assistance with settling in at post. CLOs identify the needs of their community and respond with effective programming, information, resources, and referrals. They serve as advocates for employees and family members, advise post management on quality of life issues, and recommend solutions and family-friendly post policies. Their duties are defined in the following eight areas of responsibility:
- Community Liaison
- Crisis Management and Support Services
- Education Liaison
- Employment Liaison
- Events Planning
- Guidance and Referral
- Information and Resource Management
- Welcoming and Orientation
More on the CLO at http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/c1964.htm
Family Liaison Office (FLO)
FLO serves U.S. government direct-hire employees, their family members, and Members of Household (MOH) who are serving, have served, or will be serving at Missions overseas. FLO's mission is to improve the quality of life of all demographics by identifying issues and advocating for programs and solutions, providing a variety of client services, and extending services to overseas communities through the management of the worldwide Community Liaison Office (CLO) program.
Major areas of interest include:
Family Member Employment
Education and Youth
Crisis Management Services
Unaccompanied Tours Support
Expeditious Naturalization Support
Transition
More on the FLO at http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/index.htm
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Non DoD Schools Program (NDSP)
Provides support and funding for the education of authorized command-sponsored dependents of military members and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees assigned to overseas areas where no DoDEA school is available within the commuting area.
Schools (K-12)
Office of Overseas Schools: The mission of the Office of Overseas Schools is to promote quality educational opportunities at the elementary and secondary level for dependents of American citizens carrying out our programs and interests of the U.S. Government abroad.
International SOS (ISOS)
ISOS administers the TRICARE Overseas Program for uniformed service members, retirees, and families. International SOS is the TRICARE Overseas Program contractor and is responsible for:
- Benefit and enrollment information
- Claims
- Medical information
- International SOS Medical Assistance
- Referrals to providers
TRICARE Latin America and Canada (TLAC)TRICARE is the health care program for uniformed service members, retirees and their families worldwide.
http://www.tricare.mil/tma/tlac/
TRICARE Beneficiaries website
Also see:
Real Post and Real School Reports
Real Post and Real School Reports (from Tales from a Small Planet site)--
(need a login to view, but signing up is quick--and free.)
The Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW)--
http://www.aafsw.org (some good information on its website about Foreign
Service life and also runs a Yahoo Group called Livelines (must be an AAFSW
member to join.)
Department of State Resources
Foreign Service Assignment Notebook
"What Do I Do Now? "This 222-page resource offers invaluable information and guidance on all aspects of preparing for an international move. Available to ALL employees and family members transitioning to an overseas assignment. Though written for U.S. Department of State Foreign Service audiences, there is a wealth of good information about life overseas.
http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc/c49274.htm
Post Info to Go
U.S. Department of State Overseas Briefing Center at the Foreign Service Institute's Transition Center maintains the "Post Info to Go", which has a myriad of information provided by CLOs, as well as briefing boxes, audio visuals, etc. For a fuller explanation of what they offer virtually and in person, please take a look at their Internet site:
http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc/c6954.htm. Their email address is
FSIOBCInfoCenter@state.gov
Diplopedia
Official Department of State post reports have recently been moved to Diplopedia, the DoS' wiki. Employees with a .mil or .gov email account can access Diplopedia (and other resources) at home with an Intelink account (a password-protected account that employees can obtain by signing up at
www.intelink.gov), allowing them to more easily share information with their families.
Overseas Travel Information
Travel Info -- Travel documents, emergency info and resources.
Travel Warnings -- Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.
Theater Clearance Info -- Requirements for Theater Clearance approval into countries in SOUTHCOM's Area of Responsibility.
Country-specific travel information -- For each country, find information like the location of the U.S. embassy and any consular offices; whether you need a visa; crime and security information; health and medical conditions; drug penalties; and localized hot spots.
International travel A-Z -- Info and links for variety of resources.
Websites Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions