A permanent change of station (PCS) can be one of the toughest—and exciting—transitions for military families. Though you might focus a lot on the actual move and how to make sure it runs smoothly, remember there will still be some work after you arrive to make your new location feel like home. I talked with Tammy, an Army spouse, about what it’s like to adjust after a PCS. Tammy and her family (including 1 kiddo, 2 cats, and a dog) recently made a big move across the country, and they have some experience and tips to share for other military families trying to get settled in a new spot.
Sarah: Tell me about your recent PCS.
Tammy: We moved from Bethesda, MD to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. It was a big change since we moved from a base without on-base housing to living on base. We’ve been here a month now.
Sarah: What’s been your favorite part about moving to a new location?
Tammy: Taking a vacation along the way. We had a long move, so instead of pushing all the way there as quickly as possible, we alternated a day or two of driving and then a couple of days somewhere fun—either visiting friends or sightseeing. We planned fun stops along the way so our kiddo got out of the car. We set up our dog at some doggie daycares (recommended by friends) along the route, so he could get some energy out too.
We also really enjoy our new neighborhood. We got lucky, and our new housing has a park right in our backyard and a ton of families with kids of similar ages to our own. Since we’re on base, everyone is military and understands about the challenges of settling into a new place and having a crazy military schedule.
Tammy: Having no schedule and all our stuff packed for so long made things difficult for our daughter. We had to live in an empty house for a week before we moved, then spent 10 days driving and staying in hotels, and then spent another 3 weeks in a hotel while we waited for our housing.
Dealing with all of that and the schedule disruptions made her pretty cranky, and that made us cranky as well. We did our best to get back to our normal routine as quickly as possible once we got here.
Dealing with all of that and the schedule disruptions made her pretty cranky, and that made us cranky as well. We did our best to get back to our normal routine as quickly as possible once we got here.
It’s been pretty difficult to find all the basics (favorite grocery store, new daycare, doctor, hair salon, etc.) again too. I end up putting off doing things because I’m tired of not knowing where to go without asking around or looking up new places.
Sarah: What strategies have you (or your family members) used to help feel at home in a new city?
Tammy: Go explore. We went on a few hikes. We also hit up the zoo, a few museums, and a splashpad in the first few weeks. My husband’s schedule wasn’t as busy, so we explored as much as possible. That way, when we have a spontaneous day off later, we already have some favorite places to visit.
Also, we go really hard unpacking the first 2 days after our household goods (HHG) arrive. It’s enough time for us to have most of our house set up right away. That way, we can feel more at home as soon as possible, and we use whatever extra time we have—before work and school schedules get crazy—to go do fun things.
Sarah: What advice or tips can you share with other military families to help make things smoother and easier?
Tammy: I like to find Facebook groups for the new base and/or new neighborhood. I spend some time going back through old posts to get a feel for who lives in the neighborhood, where people like to go for different services (hair salon, kids’ extracurriculars, etc.), and what events are happening. And if I still have specific questions, I reach out and ask what people recommend.
Also, if you had a routine before your move, try to get into your new routine as quickly as possible after the move. It’s sometimes hard to get out of “vacation mode” or “move mode,” but having that routine helps me feel settled.
And, again—go explore! Meet your neighbors. Find restaurants you love, a church (if that’s your thing), a new yoga studio, or a favorite walking path—whatever. The sooner you get out, start meeting people, and seeing things, the faster you’ll feel connected to your new community.
Even if it’s a bit outside of your comfort zone, you might find a new thing you love. If you’re used to the big city and love museums, but all you can find are some small-town festivals and an apple orchard, go anyway. You might find something you never knew you loved, meet your new BFF, or create a new tradition for your family.
----- About Author -----
Sarah Steward, of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, is an Education Specialist for the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
* The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the United States Department of Defense.
It’s important to make time to come together as a team in order to build a strong professional organization, whether it’s the military or otherwise. Even though our team here at the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) works on a variety of different research and education projects (including HPRC), we often meet as a unit to touch base, innovate, and even just have fun together!
At our last CHAMP staff retreat, we met to brainstorm what makes successful teams and how we can find success in the workplace. And since we do our best thinking when we’re all together, we thought it would be worth sharing what we came up with.
What makes a winning team?Teams are the foundation of any organization and service branch. Whether you’re a Military Service Member, work with the military (like we do here at CHAMP), or work in the civilian sector, it takes groups of people collaborating together to achieve mission success. But it can take some trial and error and hard work to get teams running smoothly. So, what’s the “secret sauce” that makes the difference between those teams that find success and those that struggle?
Productive meetings
In any context, but especially in the DoD, time is a commodity. It’s crucial that each hour at work is maximized to achieve as much as possible. Meetings often help get everyone on the same page, clarify tasks and next steps, and move projects forward. However, they can sometimes feel like an ineffective use of time—particularly if they’re disorganized or if certain team members are missing or shouldn’t even be there. Think back to some of the meetings you’ve attended. What are some “best practices” from your perspective?
Cohesion and unity
One of the key beliefs of military service is the prioritization of the good of the whole unit over the needs of any single person. And units and teams that work together are able to perform at higher levels than those that struggle to find a shared purpose. But what makes a team—that’s comprised of lots of different and diverse people—one cohesive group?
Employee engagement and motivation
It’s important to understand what keeps employees engaged and motivates them to do their best at their jobs. It’s vital for the health of the workforce, unit, or team—and for the overall success of the organization. People who are engaged and satisfied work harder and better. They stay longer at their jobs too. What keeps you engaged at work?
---------- About Author ----------
Sarah Steward, of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, is an Education Specialist for the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
