PCS and Money

PCS – Permanent Change of Station – or moving. Relocating. Completely uprooting your entire family and trucking across the country. It is one of the things that are certain in the Military life; Death, Taxes, and PCS’ing.

Let’s talk money. Moving is expensive. No one is disputing that, but the Military has a few extra allowances to assist in the cost of moving.

DLA (DisLocation Allowance): The purpose of DLA is to partially reimburse a member, with or without dependents, for the expenses incurred in relocating the member's household on a PCS, housing moves ordered for the Government's convenience, or incident to an evacuation. This allowance is in addition to all other allowances authorized in this Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR) and may be paid in advance. (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/dla.html) I highly recommend taking this in advance to help ease the cost of moving. This allowance amount changes every year. Always look up on the DOD Travel website for the current rate.

POC (Privately Owned Conveyance) Mileage Rate: Since you have to drive your car(s) to your new duty station, the Military will pay a Mileage Rate. As of January 1, 2010 the rate is 0.165/Mile/per vehicle. (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/faqpovpast.html)

TLE (Temporary Lodging Expense): If you have not found a house when you are due to report at your new Duty Station, you will live in the on Post lodging for a few days until you find a place. To help cover this cost there is TLE. TLE is very complicated, so make sure your Soldier/Airman/Seaman clears everything with S-1 first.

For more FAQs go to http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/faq.html

Want free samples?

Who doesn't like free stuff? Here are a few samples I found today:



Free sample of Huggies Snug'n'Dry:
https://www.shoppersampling.com/orders/index.php?sid=86674&lang=en

And this is a wonderful resource for more free samples: http://mommysavers.com/boards/samples-freebies-offers/

What do you do about TriCare when you move?

(The credit for the idea for this post goes to one of my very good friends, who asked for this advice)

So, you're PCS'ing (that's Army talk for moving). On top of deciding how you are going to move, finding a house, taking care of the previous house, enrolling your kids in new schools, you have to transfer their TriCare too... Because if it was easy to do, then it wouldn't be the Army.

My experiences have varied COMPLETELY from the two moves we did last year.

1. Fort Stewart- Fort Jackson: (If your husband is still on 10+ days of leave when you arrive at the new Duty Station, this is what you should do.) I was about 8 weeks pregnant by the time we got there. I had to get in the system to see an OB. What we did is we went physically to the Hospital on Post and told them we needed to sign in. Since my husband was still on leave and would not in-process for another month, we had to do this ourselves. It didn't take too terribly long, but still rather annoying.

2. Fort Jackson - Chicago (Recruiting): This was easy. We simply called TriCare and the hubby took care of everything during in-processing.

I would recommend calling TriCare and asking them what you should do. http://www.tricare.mil/contactus/

Every Post is different. Good Luck!!

IF YOU ARE STANDARD: I HIGHLY recommend personally hand walking your Medical Records to your new Doctors. Don't trust any one to do anything for you that you can do yourself.

Dennis earns his Gunners Badge!

Dennis has held quite a few different jobs while in the Army. After 27 months of deployments in 4 years of Marriage, he decided, after the Career Course, to take Command of a Recruiting Company. Though he the Commander of a Recruiting Company, he isn't a Recruiter... though it is tradition that he Recruit one person into the Army.

Yesterday, he took a young man to MEPS to clear Medically and join the Army. Today he will have his Gunners Badge pinned on and all the Soldiers in our Family/Company will get to beat it into his chest (Another Army tradition).

I am so proud of Dennis. He has always done his duty.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Today is my parents 31st Wedding Anniversary. They have been married for 31 years, 18 of those years my father was Active Duty in the Army.

My mom was a small-town, farm girl from Mississippi when she met my father. They got married and off they went on the Army Life Adventure. She raised two kids across two continents, dealt with multiple deployments, field exercises, PCS moves, and budgeting for a family of 4 on a single income.

My father is an Army Brat himself, turned Army Officer. He served in Germany in the early 80s, Gulf War, and the Haiti UN Mission. Through it all, he made time for my mom and their marriage.

By example, they've taught us kids how to be man and wife. How to have a good, strong, Christian Marriage. I am truly blessed with such Parents.

Hopefully you can read the article... But as I prepare for a busy day of errands, I think of what was written. How it takes twice as long now because I have Luke. I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world but I do sure miss being more efficient and only taking 15 minutes to get ready.

Saying Goodbye...

Homecoming 2nd Deployment

Homecoming 1st Deployment

Well, this morning I said Goodbye to Dennis as he went to work...

As I sit on the couch while Luke is happily batting at his toys on his mat, I think back on all the times I have said Goodbye to my husband. There were a few times I honestly didn't know when or if I would see him again. Saying Goodbye at 4am with his rucksack obstructing that one last hug is much harder than a light peck on the cheek as he goes into to work, I know he will be home around 1800 (that's 6pm for you civilians) today. It was still hard to see him go.

Man, I do not envy any wife going through a deployment right now... They are so hard. During his second deployment he did not get R&R (the two week vacation all soldiers get if they are deployed for over a year) until a year after he left. Imagine not seeing your husband for a full year... You put your life on hold almost, waiting for him to come home.

I guess that is the life of an Army Wife... You have to say Goodbye a lot. On the positive side, our Hellos are so much fun!

Okay, Luke is done playing and wants to be held.

HOPE Scholarship for Georgia Military

Just found this out:

"For anyone stationed in GEORGIA...check out the Early HOPE Scholarship. The state legislature has expanded the program to include military (AC, AGR, RC, and NG). If your child is presently attending or will be attending a "poor performing" school, you would be eligible for a voucher ($5k-$9K per child per year) to send your child to private school."

http://www.educatedgeorgia.org/foradvocates-q10167-c1-What_is_the_Early_HOPE_Scholarship_Program.aspx

What should do if the check engine light comes on?

So how many of you have been in this situation: You are driving along, picking up the kids or some other important errand, and your husband is deployed. All of a sudden the check engine light comes on. You call the dealership, they tell you to take the vehicle in then you pay close to $2,000.

I personally feel taken advantage of as a woman with little mechanical knowledge. The Dealership could lie through their teeth about what needs repairing. Even if they do need to fix something it is still going to cost an arm and a leg because of labor costs.

Well, there is something you can do! When ever your check engine light comes on go to Auto Zone, or a similar store, and have them check the code. This code will tell you exactly what is wrong, decoding the problem.

This will save you thousands of dollars in the long run and save some serious headache!

http://steve-olson.com/what-to-do-when-your-vehicle-check-engine-light-turns-on-and-the-warranty-has-expired/

MyCAA is shutdown! Where is all the money going?

You know, I always try to be positive. I am a pretty upbeat, albeit sarcastic, person. But I am starting to get pretty freakin' pissed.

First, Education Centers close.

Second, Congress takes forever to approve the Defense Budget.

Third, though the Defense Budget is the largest in recent history, not much of the money is going to the Military. Most of the money is earmarked for special projects. Thanks Congress!

Forth, Our COLA is cut. We are living in Chicago. With a 11.25% tax rate. No Commissary. Now, what makes me so furious is if you are living somewhere and they lower your BAH rate, it's alright. You get to keep your original rate. Not with COLA! (Cost Of Living Allowance). And they didn't just take away twenty bucks or so... NO! They cut it in half. IN HALF! Guess we aren't eating beef for awhile.

Fifth, Now MyCAA is shut down. This is a program for Spouses to go to school to have a career that can move with their Soldier. It is very difficult to live on a single income nowadays. No explanation why MyCAA was shut down... Not much information going out... Such crap.
Here are a few links about MyCAA shutting down:
http://marnemessages.blogspot.com/2010/02/dod-halts-mycaa-program-unclassified.html
http://military-education.military.com/2010/02/new-faqs-for-halted-mycaa-program/
So many Spouses are now scrambling to pay for their classes that they assumed were covered.

I am very frustrated at, what I feel, is a complete lack of support from Congress. They are really sticking it to us this year. Guess who I'm not voting for in 2010!

New wives and Identification Cards

The Military ID. When you have one with the worst picture even, your features blurred from the awful government lighting, your Social Security Number for everyone to see.... It is the right of initiation for Military Spouses.

But for those wives with their Soldiers as they go through the grooling enlistment process, where do they go? For some, the closest Military Installation (Post for the Army, Base for Navy and Marines) is over a 100 miles away. Especially when you have kids, where can you go?

The good news is a lot of Reserve Stations offer ID Services. You simply look up the closest one, call and see if they do offer ID Services or, if they don't, the closest one that does.

You can also ask your Recruiter.

Bet you never thought a white-washed photo would look so good, huh?

Where should I go?

So I have no idea what I should do with this blog... Where should I go with it? Should I allow my personal opinions into my posts? Should I write about my daily life and struggles not just as an Army Wife but as a Wife and Mother?

I think I am going to allow my personality to shine through this blog... and write about not just the technical know-how of Army stuff, but about me. My life.

Hopefully, it becomes more entertaining to read!

2010 BAH Rates

Finally, the 2010 BAH rates are now available.

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html

Remember, if BAH amount goes down for your duty station, you will still receive the higher amount you originally received.

Military Spouses Residency Relief Act Passed!!!

Military Spouses Residency Relief Act awaits the President’s approval

Washington, DC –Tuesday, November 3, 2009. A comprehensive military family legislation, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (S 475 and HR 1182), which will legally recognize military spouses by providing them the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, passed through the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support, and is now being brought before the President to become a law.

The bill was introduced by Congressman John Carter (R-TX), who represents Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the country. “This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide,” says Carter, who has been pushing the legislation for the last three years.

Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the companion bill into the Senate, which passed unanimously in August. The legislation will amend the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of 1940 allowing military spouses to share a home state with their spouse, the service member.

Currently, military spouses experience impediments in voting and property ownership as well as deterrents in employment and education. The bill offers fair treatment of the military spouse and improves the quality of life for military families by allowing the stability of a single state of domicile to call home.

Over 8,000 military spouses, friends and family members united to support the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Military-Spouses-Residency-Relief-Act/51457362877 They shared their individual stories as they contacted Congressional representatives to ask for support. Initially, Army Spouse, Rebecca Poynter and Navy Spouse, Joanna Williamson, approached Congressman Carter with their request to petition. “It has been a grass roots effort by thousands of spouses across the country, who have campaigned to get this passed, by telling their stories,” explains Poynter.

“The support from Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Veterans Service Organizations who testified in our support is greatly appreciated,” said Williamson, “and together we claim this victory for all military families.”

In other words. I have a home state!

Military Spouses Residency Relief Act

As many of you don't know, I have been working with a wonderful group of military spouses in an attempt to get The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA) signed into law. This Bill would enable military spouses to declare and keep a home state of residence, just like our Active Duty Spouses are allowed to do. Currently, military spouses are required to change their residency with each and every move. This means reregistering to vote, countless hours spent at the DMV, and huge headaches with every tax season. The MSRRA would allow us the opportunity to share the same home state as our spouses. It would enable us to put our names on vehicle titles without having to reregister with every move. It would simplify our tax situations greatly.

The Senate has already passed the MSRRA, and in the House, it is now in the VA Committee. We now have 190 BI-PARTISAN co-sponsors and are optimistic that it will pass. However, our goal is to have 200 co-sponsors in order to strengthen the chances of passage.

My husband is a New York state resident and I have to change my residency with every move. This year alone I have already lived in two different states with plans to move again in October. And now the hassle of attempting to file taxes with my Husband having one State Residency and I have three different states of residencies; Turbo Tax doesn't exactly have an option for multiple filings in different states.

Changing my residency is an ordeal that is added on top of the stress of moving. Each state has different laws when it comes to Driver's License, registering vehicles (which need to be in both of our names because he is overseas every other year), and registering to vote. The hassle of changing my residency could interrupt my constitutional right to vote. I also lose any ongoing connection to a community to become politically involved.

If you believe that military spouses should be spared some of the hassles caused by frequent moves, I encourage you to call your representative and ask to speak to their MLA (Military Legislative Assistant). Share your stories and tell them why this would make your life so much easier.ASK THEM TO COSPONSOR HR 1182, The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act. If you have already called, thank you. Please CALL AGAIN!

Also, please help spread the word to ALL of your military spouse contacts, not just those on Facebook. We need to harness the power of the military spouse network in order to get this passed. For updates on the bill, please join our FB group at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Military-Spouses-Residency-Relief-Act/51457362877

2010 Defense Budget

Oh! I am so frustrated right now! No, strike that. I am furious, fuming, and all around angry. 34 weeks pregnant and this angry is not healthy for those that are the cause of my anger.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Army finances, the Fiscal Year is actually begins October 1st. This means the defense budget needs to be approved by Congress by September 30th each year. Congress decides our pay, our housing allowances, money for such programs as the Education Centers located on many major Military installations.

This year President Obama proposed a 2.9% raise, 6% increase in some BAH rates, and an increase in BAS rates. (2.9% is the lowest increase in base pay that can be proposed. Thanks for the lovely pay raise, Obama). Congress came back and propose a 3.4% raise in base pay. Then that was it. Nothing more.

It is October 11, 2009 and the 2010 defense budget has not been passed, or if it has it has not been released to the public. Remember that the Fiscal Year 2010 began October 1st? We are 11 days into the new year with no money. Many programs have had to stop running, many have lost their jobs that their families depended on for income.

So instead of maintaining our Military with appropriate funding, something they do every year, Congress continues to argue over Healthcare and President Obama flies to Copenhagen to discuss the Olympics. This sure does makes my husband and I feel super appreciated in our sacrifices to serve our country.

Things NOT to say to an Army wife

1. “Aren’t you afraid that he’ll be killed?”
(This one ranks in at number one on the “duh” list. Of course we’re afraid. We’re terrified. The thought always lingers at the backs of our minds —but thanks brilliant, you just brought it back to the front. Maybe next you can go ask someone with cancer if they’re scared of dying.)

2. “I don’t know how you manage. I don’t think I could do it.”
(This is intended to be a compliment. Though, its just a little annoying. Here’s why: it’s not like all of us military wives have been dreaming since childhood of the day we’d get to be anxious single moms who carry cell phones with us to the bathroom and in the shower. We’re not made of some mysterious matter that makes us more capable, we just got asked to take on a challenging job. So we rose to the challenge and found the strength to make sacrifices.)

3. “At least he’s not in Iraq.”
(This is the number one most annoying comment for those whose husbands are in Afghanistan. What do they think is happening in Afghanistan? An international game of golf? Guys are fighting and dying over there.)

4. “Do you think he’ll get to come home for Christmas/anniversary/birt

hday/birth of a child/wedding/family reunion, etc?”
(Don’t you watch the news? No! They don’t get to come home for any of these things. Please don’t ask again.)

5. “What are you going to do to keep yourself busy while he’s gone?”
(Short answer: Try to keep my sanity. Maybe there’s a military wife out there who gets bored when her husband leaves, but I have yet to meet her. For the rest of us, those with and without children, we find ourselves having to be two people. That keeps us plenty busy. We do get lonely, but we don’t get bored, and drinking massive amounts of wine always helps keep me busy.)

6. “How much longer does he have until he can get out?”
(This one is annoying to many of us whether our husbands are deployed or not. Many of our husbands aren’t counting down the days until they “can” get out. Many of them keep signing back up again and again because they actually love what they do or they VOLUNTEER AGAIN and AGAIN to go back to Iraq b/c there is work that needs to be done.)

7. “This deployment shouldn’t be so bad, now that you’re used to it.”
(Sure, we do learn coping skills and its true the more deployments you’ve gone through, the easier dealing with it becomes. And we figure out ways to make life go smoother while the guys are gone. But it never gets “easy” and the bullets and bombs don’t skip over our guys just because they’ve been there before. The worry never goes away.)

8. “My husband had to go to Europe for business once for three weeks. I totally know what you’re going through.”
(This one is similar to number two. Do not equate your husband’s three week trip to London/Omaha/Tokyo/etc. with a 12-15 month or more deployment to a war zone. Aside from the obvious time difference, nobody shot at your husband or tried to blow him up with an I.E.D., your husband could call home pretty much any time he wanted to, he flew comfortably on a commercial plane, slept between crisp white sheets and ate well, paying for everything with an expense account. There is no comparison. We do not feel bonded to you in the slightest because of this comment and, if anything, we probably resent you a bit for it. Comparing a 12 month combat deployment to a few weeks business trip is like comparing a shitty ford taurus with mercedes convertible.)

9. “Wow you must miss him?”
(This one also gets antoher big “duh”. Of course we miss our men. There are some wives who do not and they’re now divorced.)

10. “Where is he exactly? Where is that?”
(I don’t expect non-military folks to be able to find Anbar Province on a map, but they should know by now that it’s in Iraq. Likewise, know that Kabul and Kandahar are in Afghanistan. Know that Muqtada al Sadr is the insurgent leader of the Mahdi Army in Iraq and that Sadr City is his home area. Know that Iran is a major threat to our country and that it is located between Afghanistan and Iraq. Our country has been at war in Afghanistan for seven years and at war in Iraq for five years. These basic facts are not secrets, they’re on the news every night and in the papers every day —and on maps everywhere.)

11. “Well, he signed up for it, so it’s his own fault whatever happens over there.
(Yes, ignorant, he did sign up. Each and every day he protects your right to make stupid comments like that. He didn’t sign up and ask to be hit by anything, he signed up to protect his country. Oh, and by the way, he asked me to tell you that “You’re welcome.” He’s still fighting for your freedom.)

12. “Don’t you miss sex! I couldn’t do it!”
(hmmm, no i don’t miss sex. i’m a robot. seriously…military spouses learn quickly that our relationships must be founded on something greater than sex. We learn to appreciate the important things, like simply hearing their voices, seeing their faces, being able to have dinner together every night. And the hard truth is, most relationships probably couldn’t withstand 12 months of sex deprivation.)

13. “Well in my opinion…..”
(Stop right there. Yo, I didn’t ask for you your personal political opinions. Hey, I love a heated political debate, but not in the grocery store, not in Jamba Juice, not at Nordstrom, not in a restaurant when I’m out with my girls trying to forget the war, and CERTAINLY NOT AT WORK. We tell co-workers about deployments so when we have to spend lunch hours running our asses off doing errands and taking care of the house, dog, and kids, they have an understanding. We do not tell co-workers and colleagues because we are giving an invitation to ramble about politics or because we so eagerly want to hear how much they hate the President, esp. while we’re trying to heat up our lean cuisines in the crappy office microwaves.)

last but not least….

14. “OH, that’s horrible…I’m so sorry!”
(He’s doing his job and he’s tough. Don’t be sorry. Be appreciative and please take a moment out of your comfortable American lives to realize that our soldiers fight the wars abroad so those wars stay abroad.)

If you want to say anything, say thank you.

Which TirCare to choose?

Choosing your medical plan is a huge decision that affects not only yourself, but your family as well. I hope this post helps you make an educated decision; Prime or Standard/Extra, it's your choice.

Things have changed for the better since I was a child on Prime. But my experiences as a child and now as a wife still push me to stay Standard and my husband and I have chosen to put our son on Standard as well.

Here are true experiences that prompt me to stay Standard:

1. At Fort Stewart a young woman was suffering chronic fatigue, acute displaced pain, and other symptoms. After two years at Winn they finally out sourced her to Liberty Regional Medical Center for Pain Management. As apart of the Doctor's preliminary testing, she tested positive for Hypothyroidism. A Condition that is easily regulated with medication and but can be extremely dangerous left untreated. Prime does not cover this simple blood test with their Primary Care Managers.

2. I have hypothyroidism (No I am not the lady mentioned above). And with it you take synthetic thyroid to regulate and make up for what your body doesn't produce. If you have low thyroid levels while pregnant it can cause low IQ levels in your child. Prime would not cover regular blood draws during my maternity care to make sure my hormones are throwing my thyroid out of whack. Thank God I am on Standard because I have had to adjust my medicine during my pregnancy.

3. The average wait for Winn ER is over 8 hours. Ask any wife on post. The average wait for the ER at Liberty Regional, directly outside of Fort Stewart, is less than 2 hours; more often less than an hour. (They have a fabulous Fast Tact ER attached to the ER for the less severe cases)

4. With Prime it can be difficult to get referrals for specialists. I have to see an endocrinologist about my thyroid because I have a severe case. Standard it is too easy to pick up a phone and make an appointment. OBGYN's are considered specialists and you need a referral as well.

5. With Prime, costs are covered 100%. With Standard you have a $150 for individual $300 for family deductible. After you meet your deductible you enter into cost share. Now, maternity is covered completely under Standard as well, with a $15.65 per day/$25 whichever is more co-pay for hospital stays. With all the specialists I see, and I have to get paps every 3 months (it's so lovely, but cervical cancer runs in my family and I am very high risk), I still don't pay that much at all.

6. My father's kidney ruptured on my 17th birthday. He never knew he had a enlarged kidney or that was causing his horrible back pain. He had complete coverage from the Army for his entire life, from birth until current, and no one caught this problem. Rather traumatizing to walk into the hospital room after your father has had to have emergency surgery removing said kidney.

I am very lucky when it comes to health care because my Mom works at a hospital directly outside a large Army post, so she is always up to date on TriCare issues. I am also spoiled because the Doctors knew who my Mother was and I admit I got special treatment. Now I am no longer in that area I expect the same level of care and have yet to find that with Prime, though I did give it a try at Jackson. I quickly transferred back to Standard and found my own OB for my pregnancy.

We all have our own opinions but you have to make what is best for you and your family. I choose to stay Standard and give my child the best possible treatment.

And NEVER let a resident treat you without seeing an Attending. You should always see a Major or higher in Military Treatment Facilities.

September 11, 2001- Army Wives, We Will Never Forget.

September 11, 2001 is a day we will all remember.

We all remember exactly where we were when the news came that a plane had hit the North Tower at 8:46am.

We remember at 9:02am when another plane hit the South Tower; we saw people jumping to escape the burning inferno, we saw men in suits covered with gray dust running from Trade Center Plaza. We saw Policemen and Firemen running into the burning buildings to save lives while sacrificing their own.

We remember at 9:37am when a plane hit the Pentagon.

We remember at 10:03am when brave Americans prevented more innocent casualties by over taking the terrorists and sacrificing their own lives in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Our foreign allies came together to pray for our Nation. Outside of Buckingham Palace they place our national anthem. In Seoul, South Korea people gathered outside our embassy to pray for our nation.

Since that day we have taken down Saddam Hussein. We have forced Osama Bin Laden into hiding like a coward. We have taken down the Taliban. American Forces are still in the Middle East helping them rebuild their countries and their government.

In the words of a Great President, "This great nation will never tire, never falter, and never fail."

God Bless our Soldiers still fighting the Good Fight. God Bless their families who allow our Troops to fight over there. God Bless the families who gave the ultimate sacrifice. And most of all: God Bless the USA! HOOAH!

4th Generation Service Brat!

My husband and I are expecting our first little child this Thanksgiving and it is going to be a boy!

We went to another ultrasound yesterday afternoon for my 28 week check up... Words cannot describe what it was like to see our son moving around in my womb, and he was an active little guy! He mooned us, then gave his Daddy his first Salute!

Luke is going to be the 4th generation Service Brat. My grandfather was a Navy Brat, My father was an Army Brat, and I was one... now that I married Dennis, who plans on staying in the Army for at least 14 more years, our children will all be Army Brats. I couldn't be more proud!