Orders

Slates, orders, and PCS season fast approaching.

Every few years, this is the norm for the military family.

When the time comes, we excitedly (and a little axiously) await slates to make their way out to us. We look at our choices and make submissions hoping and hoping for our top choice that either keeps us where we are or moves us to a new location for a new adventure. The slate results come back with what the military has chosen (sometimes with one of our choices and sometimes with something else entirely).

Orders come out which make it all official. At this point, you can start prepping fully for what needs to be done if you are going somewhere else. If you stay, you just continue on in your life; if you have to move, a whole slew of things needs to be done that probably sends the non-military spouse into full action of prep time.

When you end up being ordered to move (PCS - Permanent Change of Station), CONUS (within the continental US) you need to do the proper prep to get your house packed up and moved. You need to research neighbrohoods, schools (if you aren't homeschooling), possible jobs for the non-military spouse, churches, extra-curriculars for the kids, pet daycare.....everything you have and do currently, you need to find in your new location. If you are homeschooling, you need to check homeschool laws for the new location as well.

If you are ordered to PCS OCONUS (outside the continental US), there is much more prep needed.

Are you storing your belongings or taking them with you? You have to find out what restrictions and prep need to be done specifically for any pets PCS'ing with you. Medical clearances need to be met. Passports and No-Fee Passports need to be acquired. You have to decide if you will be living on base or immersing yourself in a new culture while living off-base. A new language to learn may be beneficial.

For all of the possibilities that come with PCS season, research needs to be done towards, housing, individual family members, pets, schools (or homeschool), medical, and possible languae barriers.

The next possible stressor for families that come with this are: Did we get our top choice? -OR- Did we get at least one of our choices?

When the slate comes out, your military spouse gets to put down choices for preffered PCS locations whether that's wanting to stay in the current location or moving to a new one.

There's usually one week to make the choices and then one more week before the results come back.

Then there is wait time for the officialorders to come out which say where you are going (or staying).

So now we get to the info that you may have been waiting to hear from us:

What are Matt's orders?!

We are PCSing OCONUS and overseas to Japan.

Was Japan one of our choices on his slate? No.

Our top choices were Millington, TN, and San Diego, CA.

Does the military tend to overlook the choices made by the service member?

Not always (although this is the second time that they have picked a location that was not even one of Matt's choices). We know plenty of people who always get their top choice or at least one of their choices.

What does this mean for us?

It means that we have to figure out housing offbase since we have too many animals to live in base housing. We have to figure out how to ship eight animals overseas and what ridiculously expensive cost that will be. We need to do all of the medical for the animals ASAP to avoid the 180 day quarentine in Japan. We need to (already have actually) start learning Japanese. We need to get physicals done for all of us which includes dental. We need to get the kids Passports and we need to get all of us No-Fee Passports (Passports used for OCONUS orders). We need to decide if we will look for a house in Japan to rent or if we will need to buy due to how many animals we have. If we are able to rent, we need to decide if we will be bringing our household with us or storing it and renting a fully furnished house. We need to figure out what neighbrohood we will be living in.

There are many more pieces that must be done but that's the general "what needs to be done" list.

Are our heads spinning?

Mine most definitely is.

How are the kids taking it?

They are not happy.

How is Matt taking it?

He's fine like he always is. God has blessed him with the ability to handle everything well.

How am I taking it?

I am stressed. I am scared about such a big change. I am sad to be leaving all of my family and friends with the villiage that I have made and am still making here.

BUT!

I know that this will be an absolutely amazing experience and that I will love it once I'm am there and past all of these preperations.

I know that while this was a surprise for Matt and me, it was absolutely not a surprise for God and He is the one in control.

I know that because this is God's plan, it will all work out and be better than we could have ever expected.

So there you go.

Now you know what we know!