WELCOME TO YOUR NEW BASE - NOW WHAT?

If you've just relocated to a new base, here are some tips for immediately getting oriented and organized:

Contact your sponsor or Unit Orderly Room for initial sign-in. If arriving after duty hours, contact the billeting office and sign in the next duty day at the Orderly Room (spouse needs to bring Permanent Change of Station package).

If expecting personal property shipment, call the Traffic Management Office (TMO) upon arrival or Personal Property Customer Service:

Tel. ___________________________________________________

Remember to bring several copies of orders to the TMO.

Access your new base's website and explore appropriate sections dealing with available services:

Base website: __________________________________________

Compile local phone numbers you'll need for immediate reference:

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Contact the base post office and give them your current address.

Rent a post office box until you get a permanent address.

Make sure you and members of your family have current military ID cards. Remember, your ID is key to accessing military benefits!

Get a map of the base - pick one up at Family Services. The gate guard or vehicle registration building may have maps.

Locate on your map key buildings you'll need to soon visit:

  • Commissary: _________________________________________

  • Exchange: ___________________________________________

  • ID card building: ______________________________________

  • Car registration and stickers: ___________________________

Register your vehicles within 72 hours of your arrival on base at the Pass and Registration Building. You'll need to present:

  • proof of vehicle insurance
  • military identification card
  • state vehicle registration
  • state inspection proof
  • a valid driver's license

If the vehicle has a DoD vehicle decal issued from another base, and it's located on the lower left driver's side or upper-middle of the windshield, bring the six-digit decal number so it can be reissued.

Register privately owned firearms within 72 hours of arrival. Call the armory to register firearms:

________________________________

Know before you go and stand in line:

  1. If you're newly married, you first need an ID card, which requires the presence of your spouse and a copy of your marriage license.

  2. All children over 10 years of age need an ID card.

  3. Check the expiration date on your ID card - it needs to be current in order to receive benefits.

 

SOURCE: Adapted from Trudy S. Woodring and Ronald L. Krannich, Ph.D., The Military Spouse's Map Through the Maze Pocket Guide (Manassas Park: Impact Publications), pages 5-6. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Copying strictly forbidden.