Any time you prepare to move, things can get a little dicey without the proper information and planning. Therefore, if you happen to be on active duty and are also preparing for a move, the military has all the hard stuff taken care of for you. This isn’t to say that you won’t have to put your end of the work in as well, but they help make the overall transition a little easier. This is how moving a family in the military works for those in the military curious to know before their first move. (Or simply for others who’re interested.)
Restrictions Overseas
The military is chock-full of restrictions on what you can and cannot do and moving is no exception. Generally, when moving, you can take everything with you—but if you’re moving overseas things tend to become complicated. There’s a limited amount of items and specifics on what you can take when traveling overseas. The military will step in to put your things in storage during your entire time overseas at no cost to you. As a bonus, they’ll pay to have everything shipped. Make sure to take precautions before things start happening.
Filing Claims
It’s never ideal if something gets lost or broken during a move. Some things are priceless, so you should be careful of what you choose to have moved in bulk and what you decide to take with you personally. Otherwise, the military will reimburse you for issues like this. It is up to you, however, to make sure to file your claims with your command wherever you end up. You have a limited amount of time to do so before it’ll be counted as void.
Finding Your Footing Afterward
For military members, moving is just another aspect of the job. But for the spouse, it’s more of an intricate situation. They have to uproot themselves from their lives every few years. This can be a complicated process, so the military has assistance programs for them during and after moves. One thing military spouses worry about is how to continue with their normal lives when they must constantly move. The government has programs in place to help them if they’re seeking to further their careers when their spouse is on active duty.
Moving doesn’t have to be as complicated of a process as people tend to imagine. If you have the proper plan and strategy in place, it can make for a very simple procedure. So, if you’re wondering how moving a family in the military works, then it’s as easy as referencing this article. Alternatively, you could ask a military service member what their experience was like. You might be surprised to hear how effortless it is for them.
