Survival Tips for First Termers Overview
Being a family in the Army of the new millennium presents many unique challenges. Not the least of those challenges is that of adjusting to new surroundings upon entry into the Army family, and to moves periodically thereafter. Planning and preparation in advance are keys to adapting successfully. Initial entry to the world of the military can be a particularly anxious time for you and your family. The information you obtain now about the post and surrounding area where you will be stationed will assist in making the transition smoother. You should see the relocation program staff at the Army Community Service Office where you are stationed, to obtain a SITES booklet on the base to which you will be PCSing. It will give you lots of information about your new home.
BEFORE YOU MOVE, be well informed on survival tips to help you and your family as you face the unique challenges and opportunities of the mobile military lifestyle.
Call ACS Devens 978-796-3119 for a relocation e-packet and information related to living in Massachusetts.
Before You Move
Dividing the process into basic stages is the way to organization. Although the unexpected can never be ruled out, most military moves can be anticipated. Basically, the best strategy is to plan "backwards." In other words, decide what you want as your end result in the new location and plan from there.
In general, the more complicated the lifestyle, the more complex the move and the greater the need for preplanning. A single officer with no dependents, no mortgage, one car and few household goods can afford to think about transfer in vague terms. However, when you have family and extensive personal property, it is necessary to be more specific.
Housing at both ends of a relocation is obviously a critical factor. Even if you are unsure of your destination, it is wise to begin thinking early about future possibilities. Homeowners have a special need to begin gathering information early. The decision to sell or rent your house is usually determined by factors such as market conditions, need for capital to reinvest, housing availability at the new station, anticipated duration of the upcoming PCS, and the odds of returning to your home in the future.
If you plan to sell your house, consider the time, cost, and tax implications, as well as the need for major or minor repairs. The expenses incurred in readying the house for market cannot be deducted in computing the actual gain on the sale of the home, nor are they deductible in determining your taxable income.
Your housing office can tell you if you might be eligible for government assistance in selling your home under the Housing Assistance Program which is controlled by the Corps of Engineers. This program is designed to help members who are homeowners at installations being closed, or where the mission is being downsized.
Part of the pre-move mind-set is avoiding long-term local commitments. For example, when orders are expected in six months, expensive club membership fees and major investments in area-specific activities (such as scuba diving gear or cross-country ski equipment) may not make good economic sense. What does make sense is planning ahead for the inevitable expenses of relocation.
The Finance Office can inform you of your options regarding advance pay and travel funds. With all the entitlements, special pay, allotments, advance pay options and income tax breaks, however, moving can still be expensive. Setting up a special savings plan in advance of the move or making invested funds more readily available will reduce stress on yourself as well as on your credit cards. In addition, families facing the loss of one income during the transition will feel additional financial impact. Start saving now because moving costs money. Experts say 3 to 6 months pay in reserve will cover emergencies amply.
Request a sponsor from your unit at the new installation well in advance of your move. A sponsor will probably be able to answer a lot of the questions you will have, and can save you a lot of time by filling you in on where to find goods and services.
Be sure to get your new mailing address. You'll need at least a temporary new address, at your new location. Send out change of address notices to people/companies who send you mail. Go through your bills, financial papers, address book, etc., and make a list of addresses, account numbers, telephone numbers, etc., for later use.
Leave a forwarding address with your post office and your old unit.
Collect all important papers, records, ID cards, wills, etc., and keep them safe and accessible throughout the move. Pick up your children's school records or arrange for them to be sent to their new school. Don't forget medical records. Some may be held by civilian medical providers in their office. Carry medical records if you may have medical service needs en route.
If you have been renting an apartment or house off-post, request an inspection as soon as your household items are removed. Get a commitment in writing that your security deposit will be refunded.
If you get married before you PCS, you must inform your losing unit commander and follow the procedures exactly as you are given. The military will not pay for travel and housing if you do not follow proper procedures.
Contact Army Community Service (ACS)978-796-3119, Relocation
Assistance Program well before you leave to obtain information
about your new installation. Information is available at
ACS on installations world wide. Request a Standard Installation
Topic Exchange Service (SITES) booklet on your new installation,
which is packed with everything you wanted to know about
your new community, and maybe some things you didn't think
about. Welcome Packets are available for most bases, world-wide,
in the ACS Welcome Packet library.
Name : ACS Relocation Office |
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Address : Box 11 |
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30 Quebec Street |
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City : Devens |
State : MA |
Zip : 01434 |
Phone : 978-796-3119 |
Fax : |
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DSN Phone : 256-3119 |
DSN Fax : |
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Travel Planning
In transit costs - the Army will pay a certain amount of the travel and lodging expenses incurred en route from one duty station to the other. If you decide to take leave en route, however, that will of course be at your own expense. There may be several additional costs such as transportation, lodging, and food bills. The expenses should be budgeted in your finances prior to departure so that you will not face financial difficulties en route. There are several regulations regarding en route costs; for instance family travel is not authorized at GOVERNMENT EXPENSE TO A TDY training course en route. If your family wishes to join you under such circumstances, it must be a personal expense.
As mentioned earlier, the Army does provide for most of the direct costs of all military moves. And in recent years, the Army has significantly increased its efforts to expand entitlement to soldiers and families for relocations. Now first term families are eligible for paid family travel on stateside PCS moves and have received a significant increase in weight allowance for their household goods. In addition, temporary lodging expenses (TLE) are now being paid for CONUS moves. In order for you to be aware of these allowances, we have listed several of them below. If you believe you are entitled to these or any other costs or allowances, please see your Finance Officer for verification of payment.
Shipment of personal belongings - clothing, furniture, and all other household items are moved at government expense.
Travel costs - the cost of food, lodging, and transportation en route are paid by the Army. Restrictions and requirements can be clarified at your finance office.
Temporary lodging - two types of payments are given for food and lodging. The Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) is paid to personnel traveling overseas and is set at a fixed amount for the soldier and each family member. TLA payments are usually made for 10 days after arrival overseas and for 10 days prior to departure from the country of assignment. TLA can be expended under certain circumstances. Temporary Lodging Expenses (TLE) is paid to soldiers and their families for up to four days on statewide assignments. This is to offset lodging expenses while you are house hunting or waiting for quarters.
Dislocation Allowance - a one-time payment which is equal to your BAQ or quarters allowance. This can be collected before you depart your duty station.
Family Separation Allowance - a small monthly payment which begins only after you have been separated from your family for 30 days. This payment is made only for separations resulting from directed Army duty and may be made for extended TDY, unaccompanied tours, or delayed daily travel.
Advance pay and casual pay are alternatives if you have
extra financial obligations at moving time, but they can
create even further financial needs themselves. When repayment
time rolls around, you may be forced to borrow money from
AER or ARC, just to "make ends meet" until your normal pay
is resumed. The bottom line is DON'T DO IT unless there is
no other alternative---even then it would be better to get
financial counseling to be sure that YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE.
After You Arrive
Arrival at a new location doesn't mean the moving process is complete. Obviously it takes time to get settled. For income tax purposes, be sure to keep receipts of your expenses while in temporary lodging.
Before the unpacking begins, there is plenty to be done. The transportation counselor at your new assignment will handle the arrangements necessary for you to receive your shipment from the moving company. Once again, the military member has the responsibility to establish contact with the government shipping control office as soon as possible, to ensure the best possible service. More often than not, you have to contact the moving company as well.
When receiving your household goods, make sure you have your inventory list and that you check each item carefully. Examine in particular all "high risk" cartons, such as china, crystal and electronics, and any cartons that appear to be damaged. Movers are expected to place each item in the room you indicate, unpack all cartons and reassemble all furniture and equipment disassembled by the movers at origin.
After a full day, most people choose to set aside some cartons for unpacking later. Living with cardboard boxes is an expected part of settling in. Just remember that damage to contents discovered after delayed unpacking must be documented carefully to make an insurance claim.
If you need cooking utensils, etc. go to the Army Community Service (978-796-3119) office loan closet. Also, ask ACS for information about housing off-post, as none is available on post. ACS can also provide community information and assistance to save you time locating the services you need. Your sponsor can be invaluable in helping with the settling in process.
Contact your loved ones to notify them that you have arrived safely at your new duty station.
Reporting Procedures
Refer to PCS Reporting Procedures. Call ACS for
assistance on relocating to Devens at 978-796-3119.
Billets are available for Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers when at Devens for training. Call ACS for information on billeting for Reserve and National Guard soldiers.
Persons in PCS status are authorized 30 days in Temporary Lodging Facilities. Hanscom Air Force Base billeting require reservations. Reservations can be made by calling 781-377-2112.
Temporary government quarters for others is not available on post. The Devens Inn is available which has 60 rooms, all suites completely furnished with a kitchenette (fully stocked with flatware, cookware and dinnerware essentials), dinner table with four chairs, two queen beds, a pull out sofa, entertainment cabinet, dresser, nightstand, iron and ironing board. The military rate for one evening is $60.25 (tax included) and the civilian rate is $69.76 (tax included). Their phone number is (978) 772-4300. Accommodations may also be found in surrounding communities. Housing is extremely expensive and scarce. Check prices for hotels/motels in the area. Contact ACS for a complete list
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Name : Dir of Plans and Training, Oper Branch |
POC :Staff |
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Address : Building 673 |
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City : Devens |
State : MA |
Zip : 01434 |
Phone : (978) 796-3951/52; DSN 256-3951/52 |
Fax : |
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Name : Hanscom Inn |
POC : 1427 Kirtland Street |
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Address : Building 1427 |
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City : Hanscom AFB |
State : MA |
Zip : |
Phone : 781-377-2112 |
Fax : 781-377-4961 |
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DSN Phone : 478-2112 |
DSN Fax : |
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Email : Hanscominn@hanscom.af.mil |
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Name : Motel 6 |
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Address : Commercial Road |
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City : Leominster |
State : MA |
Zip : 01453 |
Phone : (978) 537-8161 |
Fax : |
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Name : Sheraton Four Points Hotel |
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Address : 99 Erdman Way |
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City : Leominster |
State : MA |
Zip : 01453 |
Phone : (978) 534-9000 |
Fax : |
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Vehicle Ownership
Before you register your car, you need insurance certification issued by a licensed Massachusetts insurance company. You may register at any office of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and must present a title, bill of sale or past registration. A one time $30.00 fee is required when you register and automatically be sent to you yearly at no extra charge for the same vehicle. Truck registration in massachusetts is good only for 1 year. Application for a Massachusetts title must be made at this time. The cost is $50.00. Within 7 days of registration, the car must be inspected for safety and emissions at a certified service station. The test costs $15.00.
However, if you have a European license only, you must take a test in order to receive a Massachusetts license. You will need to bring with you: Proof of your insurance, title, license, your current address, telephone number, and your I.D. card.
Excise tax is assessed on the value of the vehicle. However, if the vehicle is registered in the soldier's name only and soldier is not a Massachusetts resident, then the tax is waived. If the vehicle is registered in the name of the soldier and a family member then they are required to pay half of the assessed amount. If registered in the family member's name only, the full amount must be paid.
Automobile insurance discounts are available in 2000 in Massachusetts for a variety of group memberships, including anyone belonging to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The discount can be as high as a 10% reduction in the cost of insurance. Contact ACS for a flier describing these various MA automobile insurance discounts.
Housing and Billeting
Billets are available for Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers when at Devens for training. Call ACS for information on billeting for Reserve and National Guard soldiers.
Persons in PCS status are authorized 30 days in Temporary Lodging Facilities. Hanscom Air Force Base billeting require reservations. Reservations can be made by calling 781-377-2112.