Advice for the first move? PCSing to FT Drum, and I have no clue....

Christine - posted on 02/23/2010

Thank you ladies!! I just found out that i'm leaving Vancouver WA on Friday (WOW, that's fast!), and will be in NY Saturday. Yipee!!! now comes the FUN part, finishing up the packing & meeting the movers!

Suzette - posted on 02/23/2010

The movers will move most of your stuff. We just did the move across the states for the first time and I had many helpful tips given to me. Your husband will do most of the paper work, but you have two kids, so getting a copy of their medical files makes it go smoother on the other end when getting a doctor, Keep all important documents with you, If you have pictures you dont want lost, my friends suggested keeping them with me. Just in case. Which turned out as great advice as the moving company lost some of our things.

Shaquoia - posted on 02/23/2010

Hi Christine-
If your still looking for housing, there are many options off post that are close to post that are currently open. You can always apply to those places over the phone and have them send you pictures of the property that way when you finally transition to Drum you'll have your housing and you won't be worried about getting on the housing list orn waiting at the inn. I had to find housing when I was in NYC and my husband was already on post so I understand the anguish of finding a place to call home. That's if you haven't found housing yet. As stated before AHRN.com is a great site to find adequate housing near post. Hope this helps and welcome to Drum!!

Rebecca - posted on 02/05/2010

Yes, exactly what the ladies stated below. The Army will tell your hubbie exactly what to do. Are you planning on living on or off post? I am currently at Fort Drum, when we PCS last February we were in lodging on post till houseing openned up for us(4 weeks). But a lot of guys are coming home and are leaving to PCS so housing should open up hopfuly quickly for you. Email me if you have any questions about the area! beckysjewelryshop@yahoo.com

Caralyn - posted on 02/03/2010

My hubby at fort leonard wood missiouri too (Fort LOST IN THE WOODS) LOL. He graduates Feb 19th. Ive been PCSing too. I found the move webcite its move.mil. and then the AHRN.COM its the automatic housing refereal network If your looking to live off base. Its helping so much on finding a place. If your looking to live on base check out the home page for your hubby's base. Really from there I'm like you just finding things out for myself. I hope this helps. Email me if you have any other questions ill see if I can help. We're all in this together.

Christine - posted on 02/03/2010

Thanks Eileen. I am most worried because most of our stuff is packed up and in storage (minus the neccesities), as we are living at my in-laws house till we get to our duty station. I appreciate the insight, though!

Thank you ladies!

Shannon - posted on 02/03/2010

When he goes to his PCS briefing they will give him all of his paperwork, and all the numbers to call to set up household goods shipment etc. Until he goes through that breifing though, they don't take to him about it. No worries, you will get all that you need. The Army never says..."Oh, you are moving, figure out how to do it yourself." ;)

Eileen - posted on 02/03/2010

How funny, My husband is a Drill Sergeant here at Fort Leonard Wood! We've moved 4 times now and it seems like most of the paperwork stuff will be done by your husband. We've had movers come pack EVERYTHING up so other than cleaning and putting aside what you don't want packed up there really wasn't much to do. We have dogs, so I took them to vet on post to get them updated on shots and microchipped. Not sure what youll need to do with the birds. Sorry, that's not really very helpful, we've been lucky. Most of the moves have went smoothly.

C. - posted on 02/03/2010

Well when my husband went to his first duty station after AIT, he went to Hawaii.. He went first b/c I was like 8 1/2 months pregnant with our first. I'm sure things are different when you are still in the Continental US, too. We (my son and I) had to get physicals and run around and get a bunch of paperwork signed and stamped and then the Army wouldn't accept it b/c it was the AF that did the physicals (the closest military facility to us other than the Naval Base). They did end up accepting it, but then we were waiting on the Army to finish the Command Sponsorship and well, my husband came back home and got us b/c he was tired of waiting on the Army and our son was almost 5 months old and he hadn't seen him yet. So we had to deal with a bunch of crap that HOPEFULLY you won't have to deal with. Sorry :( I hope someone is able to answer your question soon! Good luck!!!!