MOVING OVERSEAS

Moving overseas involves several challenges relating to shipping, housing, allowances, health care, and moving pets. Here’s what you need to do once you know the location of your new assignment:

Arrange shipping of household goods, vehicle, and pets:

  • You are allowed two shipments:

    1. Essential items: Clothing, flatware, linens, etc. - those things you will need immediately upon arrival and which will be shipped by air as Unaccompanied Baggage. If all goes well, this shipment will arrive about the same time you and your family arrive.

    2. Non-essential items: These are mainly household goods (furniture, appliances, books, etc.) that will be shipped by sea freight and may take 30 days or longer to arrive.

  • Allowance for Unaccompanied Baggage is determined by rank, branch, and destination. It's also deducted from your total allowance for household goods.

  • Check on electric current (110 versus 220-240 volt) before packing electronic equipment and appliances. This website will give you the relevant information: www.kropla.com/electric2.htm.

    If you are moving to a country where the electric current is different and thus requires the use of transformers to operate your electronics (TVs, DVD players, hair dryers, can openers, blenders, electronic tools, etc.), you may want to put your electronics in storage and acquire appropriate ones in your new location (departing servic members will be eager to unload the ones they acquired for their assignment).

  • Arrange to ship one vehicle: The military will ship one Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) at its expense. If you have more than one, either sell it or arrange to have it stored and run periodically to prevent the breakdown of hoses and battery. If the shipped car has a loan or lease attached, get written permission to export it.

  • Once shipped, you can track it at http://www.whereismypov.com with the order number on the DD778 form.

  • Once your vehicle arrives, you must take it to a Vehicle Processing Office for processing. This Army document provides the details: www.sddc.army.mil/sddc/Content/Pub/8808/DBCN8808.pdf.

  • If you want to ship more than one vehicle, you'll need special permission. Most servicemembers ship only one vehicle.

    Many will purchase another vehicle locally. If you do this, you'll be liable for paying local taxes on your purchase, which can be considerable. In the case of the UK, the tax is 17%. Chances are you can get a good deal on purchasing a car from a departing service member, probably the person you are replacing. Some bases have car lots with vehicles for sale.

    Check with your commanding officer for anyone who is moving soon and wants to sell their car or any other goods, such as electronic equipment and appliances.

  • You may need to acquire a local driver's license. Your Newcomer's Brief will include this information. The Vehicle Registration Office usually administers whatever test is required. Also, they will inform you about required license plates or country stickers.

  • Check with your insurance company to see what coverage you may have on vehicles you own and operate outside the U.S.
Newcomer's Welcome (also known as the Indoc or Welcome Brief):

  • It's very important that you and your spouse attend this meeting.
  • This briefing includes essential information about the base and surrounding community.
  • When you leave your overseas assignment, be sure to attend the exit briefing, which is called “Smart Moves.”

Housing:

  • You are eligible for base housing.
  • You can opt for off base rental housing. This is ideal for those who want more privacy and wish to integrate into the local community.
  • It's usually best to avoid buying property overseas.

Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA):

  • Arrange for this five days prior to leaving for your new posting.
  • Availability depends on the base and how difficult it is to find rentals in the local area
  • Expect 10 to 30 days of TLA, but it could be as long as 60 days.
  • The finance office will help you with TLA.

Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA):

  • Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA): This is a one-time payment to make off-base housing habitable.

  • Rental Ceiling (housing allowance): Maximum allowance for rank and dependent status.

  • Utility/Recurring Maintenance Allowance: Based on local and is a fixed amount for everyone.

  • You can check the OHA amounts by visiting this website: http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/ohaform.html.

Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (O-COLA):

  • This is based on rank, time in service, number of dependents, and local exchange rate. At some locations your spouse may not receive an O-COLA.

Command Sponsorship Requirements/Benefits:

  • You will need “command sponsorship” (you're literally included in your spouse's orders) to move with your spouse overseas and to receive military benefits.

  • Without command sponsorship, you cannot receive these important benefits:
    • Get reimbursed to move to and from locations
    • Enroll in TRICARE Overseas Prime or Global Remote Overseas plans as well as TRICARE Dental Program Overseas
    • Participate in overseas spousal education programs
    • Get a ration card for gas and alcohol
    • Get OHA or O-COLA dependent rates
    • Have the military pay for shipping your vehicle
    • Receive dependent money
    • Use the U.S. Postal Service to ship items

Your Responsibilities Include:

  • Acquiring your own visa
  • Meeting immigration requirements for staying in the country

Space Available Travel:

  • Dependents are now allowed to travel without being accompanied by the servicemember.

  • When overseas, you can fly OCONUS or CONUS provided you are command-sponsored and have a letter from the command indicating your status as being command-sponsored.

Moving Pets:

  • Be sure to check on pet importation details/requirements for each country. Do so as soon as you receive your overseas orders.

  • Since you may not be able to import some types of pets, you may need to make alternative pet care arrangements back home.

  • Some countries require that imported pets be quarantined, which could involve an expensive and difficult six-month period.

  • Once your pet gets out of quarantine, some countries may require that it receive a complete medical check up.

Rest and Recuperation (R&R):

  • Servicemembers who are deployed for at least 270 consecutive days are entitled to two weeks of R&R.

  • The military will pay for the servicemember’s R&R, which primarily involves flying him or her back home or to some other preferred destination.

  • Dependents accompanying the servicemember on R&R are responsible for making and paying for their own travel arrangements.

  • For useful tips on making the most of R&R, search for relevant articles on the www.militaryonesource.com website under “R&R.”

  • The following article, written by two experienced doctors working with military families on R&R issues, is well worth reading:

    www.military.com/spouse/fs/0,,fs_deploy_rr,00.html

    Living Abroad:

    Living abroad will probably be one of the great highlights of your military life. The new friends you make and the new places you visit will be most memorable. But you have to make the most of it by reaching out to others and taking advantage of many wonderful opportunities abroad.

    You'll find numerous resources available to help you adjust to and enjoy your overseas experience. For starters, visit several of these websites, which are designed for living abroad and expatriate communities:

    www.transitionsabroad.comwww.expatriates.com
    www.escapeartist.comwww.expatwoman.com
    www.expatexchange.comwww.internationalliving.com

    For books on living and working abroad, visit the “international” section of our online bookstore by clicking here.

     

    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 51-55. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Copying strictly forbidden.