July 2009 – robinchartier

This is a checklist that Josh forwarded to me from a current overseas spouse. I love the detail included in it (like telling you which post office to go to and what day to visit the DEERS office), but it makes the overseas move seem a little (ha!) daunting. I copied the entire thing to the blog because I know I’m going to want to study and follow it step by step 6 months from now, and this way I will know exactly where it is (instead of hunting around on my hard drive for a few hours. 😛 )

FROM A USMC FAO SPOUSE TO AN UPCOMING USMC FAO SPOUSE…
2009 – “We are in the midst of our ICT training in Ankara, Turkey and I wanted to create a checklist of sorts for future spouses going through the process of moving overseas. I fully realize each move is unique due to the various areas in the world, your family size, expectations, etc. but there are many similarities from family to family and I hope this comprehensive outline will at least get you started, and even more importantly, empower you to ask questions that are unique to your family. Good Luck and remember a Marine does their mission best when their family is in a state of family readiness!”
So… you are in the middle of DLI training… you realize your Marine is going to make it through this intense course… now what?
6 months out:
1. Go get yourself a book about the country! Lonely Planet is a really good one because it has detailed information about the little towns in the country which you will most likely be going through. In your spare time, read it and get excited about where you are going!
2. Go get your passport pictures taken for passports, visas, ID badges, etc. You will need about 25 each, ask for more for your spouse. They are FREE! Go to DLI. There is a man who does this for you and your family. Make an appointment with him and go with everyone (including your spouse) at once so it is done! Ask for your pictures right then.
3. Walk next door to the TMO office and process your official FREE passports. Depending on the country you are going to, the passports may be diplomat passports (black), some are official passports (brown), some are unofficial passports (blue with a stamp in the back). Make sure you have an idea of what you are supposed to get… but ultimately the State Department decides when processing. ***Prior to going, get the paperwork on-line (state department website), actually fill it out on-line and then print (3 copies: one for TMO, one for your tourist passport application, one for your records). *** So, now you have your application, your passport pictures, bring your birth certificates, and social security cards. You are set! (OH! YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT ORDERS! They will just hold your passports at the office until you get your orders. Your spouse can then pick them up.)
4. Go to the DLI Health Clinic on a walk-in basis (Friday afternoons seem to be best) and get your vaccinations. This is a process because many of the immunizations are a series of shots, taken every couple of months. You do NOT need orders to do this. Go to the State Dept. website for your country to view your country’s current vaccination list. ***If you have small children, you will need a written letter from your PCM stating that the DLI Health Clinic can administer the vaccinations and that your child is in good health.*** Remember to get yours too… I did not have any records at all, so they just started over… it doesn’t hurt as much as you remember!!!
5. Once you get your Birth Certificates back from getting the official passports (or if you have more than one copy, which I highly recommend), go to the PACIFIC GROVE POST OFFICE to process your TOURIST passports. You can call ahead and make an appointment for Saturday morning so all can be present! (This is great when you have little children as both parents must be present)***Bring your checkbook with lots of checks in it!*** They will be around $100.00 each… the lady is great and will walk you through the writing of them all individually. Again, come with your filled out applications that you printed off earlier, birth certificates, picture ID, passport photos, and Social Security cards.
6. Get your OVERSEAS SCREENING FORMS. Have your spouse go to the Navy Medical Building on DLI (next to the Health Clinic) to get the following forms: 2807, 1300, 1302. You will need these for each member of your family.
7. Make an appointment with your PCM for yourself and your children (probably best on separate appointments since you will have to have a PAP if you are female). Tell them when making the appointment that you need an ‘overseas screening’. They usually know what this entails. Basically, for the children, it is just a check-up and they are signing a form stating your child is fit to move overseas. Same goes for you. If you have health complications, then this might entail more. ***Make sure you get a copy of the actual Well Baby check form from your doctor too. I do not know why, but you have to have this along with the forms the doctor is filling out!***
8. Make an appointment to do the same thing with your dentist. Even the baby of the family needs this check-off. ***If you have dental problems, i.e.: cavity, old crown that needs fixed, etc… some dentists will insist that these get fixed before they will sign off on your overseas screening. This can be costly, so be prepared.***
9. Make sure your spouse does his/her overseas screening too via the Health Clinic and Dental Clinic at DLI (She/he needs those copies of the doctors check sheet too)
10. Once all family members have completed the Overseas Screening forms, MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!! I have heard of many Overseas Screening forms getting lost. Not something you want to do over again, especially if you have a big fam! Make a nice and neat package and send it off with your spouse to drop off at the Navy Medical Building.
11. Legal – Make an appointment with the DLI Legal (get the number on-line… by the way, NPS does not do this) and go with your spouse together. Update your wills and get a Power Of Attorney for PCS move out and in (sometimes the Marine is on TAD in DC when the movers come), and a General POA for whatever may come up (we did ours for the length of the ICT period). The forms are there and they are quick and easy. It will be a 3 appointment deal with both of you present. Fill out the forms to update wills on-line before going. 1st appt. is to give the forms and discuss, 2nd to review and proofread wills and OK the final drafting. 3rd is for sign off and pickup the wills.
12. Go to your country’s Embassy website and find the CLO (Community Liaison Officer). E-mail her/him and tell them who you are and that you would like a Welcome Packet e-mailed or mailed to you. Also, you can request a sponsor of sorts that you can ask questions to, but really, the CLO knows most of your questions, and it is their job to answer them!
13. Go through your credit reports and make sure all is good with them. You can request a free copy from all three bureaus on-line once a year. Take advantage of this. Also, you can mail them a written letter stating you are moving overseas and would like an “Active Duty Alert” put on your report. This is very helpful since when you are overseas, you don’t have to worry that someone is buying a car in your name, etc. They will have to call you first and ask your permission before any major purchase or credit card is opened in your name.
14. If you take medication regularly, you will need to sign up with Tricare’s Mail-In Pharmacy Program. The paperwork is on-line and you will need separate forms for you and your spouse if they use meds too. Get this started early and delivered to your stateside address first, then you can call to change your address when you get your overseas address.
15. Renew all Military ID’s! If you or your spouse’s ID are going to expire while overseas, make sure you get it renewed! You will have to have your spouse present with you to do this!!! You can go on a walk-in basis (Friday mornings seem to be best at DEERS) YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE ID CARDS FOR YOUR YOUNG CHILDREN OVERSEAS! Just like the states, they will fall under you.
16. If you are taking a car overseas, or buying one overseas… Get a STAR card account! You will need this to buy gas overseas. It is a crazy system that is used to give you tax free gas and also to monitor your gas intake… it is a bit of a hassle, but do it because gas is VERY expensive overseas! The easiest way is to go on-line and print off the application. Fill it out and take it to the Exchange on DLI. They will process it and a card will be sent to you in the mail. ***On your first purchase, the STAR card takes off 20%! We used it to pay for our vehicle maintenance/new tires/etc. when preparing our vehicle for overseas! Just a thought…***
17. Start working with your spouse on their In-Country Trip Plan. This is fun! You will make many, many drafts, but be a part of the planning! You are working hard at this too!

By now, you have created some sort of binder to collect all these passports, birth certificates, etc. If not, please do this, keep it handy somewhere so it won’t get packed away!
Now, it is about 3 months out…
1. How are you going to stay in touch with your extended family while overseas? Get a Skype Account (or another Internet based phone service)! This is a priceless tool that our technology guru’s have created! It is a phone line through the computer. I was leery of it at first, but now that I am overseas and talking face to face with my parents, siblings, and sharing Christmas with them (virtually), it is a great tool. All you need for this is have a computer and a web camera. Next, go to the website and create an account. This is free. It is very easy and the Skype website walks you through this. Now, you can call anyone who also has a Skype account for free and talk webcam to webcam. This is great, but what about grandma and grandpa who don’t have webcams and aren’t going to…. Then, all you have to do is buy a Skype phone number. This number can be any area code you would like (we bought a N. Carolina one since grandma and papa live there). Again, very easy to get on-line. It costs about $25.00 for an entire year! Now, grandma and papa can call you from their phone, to a stateside number, and it rings to your computer, wherever in the world you may be!!! Great, huh! Now, one more thing to make your life so easy… buy a plan to be able to call anywhere in the US of A for a very small price… again, around $25.00 for an entire year! Now, you can call grandma and papa from your computer to their phone line and talk for hours if you wish and there is no bill… you bought the plan to talk to anyone in the US! It is just awesome!
2. Start thinking about what you want to move overseas in your express shipment (PRO gear is taken in this shipment. These items don’t count against your weight limit… use it as much as possible! I have heard of people’s bikes, desks, etc. counting as PRO gear before! It is worth the try right!!!) Remember to not pack anything that is electrical if you can at all help it in this shipment… if you do it will really slow things down when it comes through customs. What you want to move overseas in your HHG shipment? What you want to put in storage, and what you are going to pack with you in your luggage and take with you. Also, there is one other option… what you want to mail to yourself to help you survive those first couple weeks in a new country. I highly recommend this! Especially if you have children! I have 4 little girls who really appreciated having some puzzles, crayons, coloring books, and their favorite baby greeting them when they got there! I loved having one set of my own sheets! My husband liked having his tools with him to help with the new home. Mail it to your sponsor or someone who is going to be there right away to greet you when you arrive in country. That way it will in your home already or arrive shortly after! ***Use the great post office APO boxes that are a flat rate box. The biggest ones are currently only $10.95 to mail no matter what you stuff in it!***
3. While you are doing this, you may want to create an updated inventory list for your Renter’s/Home Insurance. Take pictures of things on and working, video is even better… if something breaks while in transition or ends up missing, you will have documentation ready for the claim with your insurance agency. By the way, most renters’ insurance (ours is through USAA) covers your items while in transit overseas.
4. Do you have good luggage for this move? Might want to invest in some good gear for this. You will definitely be using your luggage over and over again while traveling about. We definitely visited the new REI store in Monterey frequently!
5. Make extra keys for all locked items. We made extra vehicle keys, fire safe box keys, etc.
6. Start stocking up on any US comfort foods and toiletries that you may want to pack with you. Some countries allow you to have a ‘consumables’ allotment for your move. Others do not. (usually given if moving to a very poor country and no US commissary or base is near-by) For us, we were not given a consumables allotment so we took very little, but what we did take went into sealed plastic containers that the moving company felt was appropriate. The fear is that rats and other rodents will get into the shipment while on plane or boat and find your food. Use your senses regarding this and pack with caution. ***If you are sending in the express shipment, put anything that could leak into separate zip-lock bags, because the air compression can make things explode.***
7. While you are stocking up on things, here are some tips…
a. Take lots of surge protectors and extension cords.
b. If a birthday or holiday is going to occur near the time of your arrival, you may want to purchase and pack gifts, wrapping paper, etc. ahead of time. These may even be something you mail ahead to yourself. (Halloween came right after we arrived so we packed costumes and mailed them… good thing since the Embassy had a huge Halloween event with the kids collecting candy, chili cookoff, etc.)
c. Take lots of wipes and Purrell… you will be traveling a lot and will need these, no matter where you are going!
d. Tampons and razors are sometimes uncommon in certain countries so you may want to stock up!
e. Take lots of batteries for flashlights… at least in the Middle East, the power goes out quite regularly. Also, battery powered clocks are best.
f. Cleaning supplies.
g. Get some good hats for everyone!
h. Sunglasses.
i. Movies that you or your children really love to watch and if you are a book lover, then maybe stock up on a few good reads!
j. Printer paper and refill ink cartridges for printer.
k. Make-up
l. Pet Food
m. Clothes that are appropriate for the climate you are heading to. We had lived in sunny California for years so we did not own snow boots, winter coats, etc. Glad I bought them and shipped in the express shipment… we needed them right away!
8. Check up on the status of your On-line Bill Pay. Make sure you have all the correct addresses and payment amounts. Set up your auto payments so you don’t have to worry about paying the bills during your move. Do it now to make sure all is working smoothly before you depart.
2 months out…
1. Tell your car insurance company about your plans. If you do not own the car, then you will need a letter drafted from the loan owner authorizing that the vehicle is allowed to go into your country. This letter will be sent to you usually 30 days out.
2. Get written statements from your doctor stating that you can carry your daily medication in your carry-on luggage and is allowed to be with you at all times. This is really on the cautious side, but some countries require it as you go through their customs.
3. Start getting the required items needed for your vehicle to be allowed in your country. Each country is different, and TMO can give you a detailed list of the needed items. For Turkey, they wanted snow chains, extra bulbs for your headlights, extra wiper blades, and about 20 other things! All of these go into a box and are shipped with your car so it is there at the inbound customs. ***Car seats CAN be sent with your vehicle if they are strapped in!!!***
4. You will also need a copy of the title for export of the vehicle. If you cannot obtain one, then a letter from the leaser should be sufficient.
5. Create a travel medical kit … stock up on the yummy green stuff that helps your tummy feel better after eating foreign food (Imodium)!
6. Get a travel power adaptor that includes a small transformer!!! REI again!
7. Packing alcohol? This is a good question to ask your CLO. We did not pack any because we didn’t want it poured out at customs. You’re taking a chance, especially if going to a Muslim country.
8. If you are being supported by the Embassy (find out from PLU), then ask if they have placement for you. You will most likely need to fill out a housing form for them. It is quite different from place to place, but for Turkey, a board met and decided where we should live, since the housing is disbursed all about the city (for security purposes). If/When you are assigned to a home, ask the CLO to put you in touch with the current person living there or in another place nearby. You can ask this person if you need curtains, shower curtains, a vacuum, a grill, play equipment for your children, outside/deck furniture, etc. If items are already provided, it will save a lot in your shipment weights!
9. TRICARE will cover you while in transit, once you are in country, and when traveling aboard in general. No worries. But, if a relative is coming to visit, then they may want to look into international insurance. Also, you may want to ask your children’s grandparents or a close friend to get a tourist passport and have it handy, just in case they were needed… again I am being on the cautious side here!
10. Overseas Schooling for the children and Marine… a whole new bear to contend with! Seek guidance from the CLO on this! My husband swears by private tutoring… after being in school for 2+ years, being able to meet at a coffee shop or at home was a better setting, plus a private tutor can allow for much flexibility in your planned travels.
11. Animals… another beast in itself. There are lots of issues to consider. Prepare early. We did not have a pet, but a neighbor did and the biggest issue was getting their pet on a plane earlier than they were leaving, but arriving at the same time so they could get their pet off the plane. This will need to be thought through if you plan to take some leave along the way as well.
Assuming by now you have your orders…
1. Go to TMO and set up your move and shipments dates/times. There are a lot of dates and times being shouted out here so don’t be afraid to ask questions!!!
2. When setting up your flight to your country… did you know you can ask for a layover in a mid-way place? This is especially good for children who cannot endure a 14+ hour flight and a change in time zones that is higher than their age! Split it up! And while you have stopped, stay over for a few days and enjoy the country you are in! For us, the military sent us to London. We asked for a 5 day layover period to acclimate ourselves to the time change and give the kids a break from the flights. They agreed and we made a vacation out of it! ***OH! Ask for a night flight… this will help make the flight easier for the kids (hopefully they will sleep), and will make the transition in time zones a bit easier. ***
3. Now that you have your flight arranged…. Think about what is going to make this doable if you have children. For us, we invested in TWO little DVD players that were battery operated and have a long play time (around 3 hours). We bought child headphones (they need to fit on their little heads) for each, and splitter with sound booster (get this… when you split the sound goes down, and on an airplane there is a lot of humming noise). We stocked up on crayons, coloring books, snacks, etc. Older children will appreciate a MP3 player with music. We had one and put lullabies on them. During our hotel stays, we would play it to help them go to sleep!
4. Get the correct country codes for each country you are going to be flying through. Should you miss a flight or something goes awry, you will need to call the Embassy and get some help. Each country has a different country code that you have to dial before the number. Also, make sure the Embassy phone numbers work!!! Try them on your Skype line!
5. Continue to get your Hep B shots… it is a series shot!!!
30 Days out…
1. Call to set up your cancellation of internet, phone, cable, etc.
2. Set up move-out pre-screen and final inspections if you live on-base. If paying to get your house cleaned, make sure you get a certified check. Fill out the stop allotment form at the housing office. Get the e-mail, phone number, and name of the person who handles this. Most likely, it will not be completed correctly and you will have to call and check on this once overseas. This happened to us, not fun.
3. If taking your vehicle overseas, get it professionally cleaned. It has to be clean at the export dock. Treat yourself… have it done!
4. Get one last prescription refill that will last through your transition period.
5. Fill out the Post Office form to forward all your mail to your new address.
6. If you think you might need it, go get an International Driver’s License from AAA. It is cheap and very easy to get (location is on Soledad Street in Monterey). Good for 1 year from date of issue. Just need a passport picture. We haven’t used ours, but I am told in Europe they are used more.
7. Make one last check on all important papers. Compile them and HAND CARRY these with you as you travel:
a. Copies of Orders (at least 10)
b. Official and Tourist Passports
c. Birth certificates and a copy of each
d. Immunization records
e. Social security cards
f. Updated Wills
g. Power Of Attorney(s)
h. Rental Insurance Policies AND updated inventory list
i. Marriage Certificate
j. Car registration, title (or letter), insurance documentation, and spare keys
k. Bank book and checks (have at least a 3 month supply)
l. Finance worksheet with account information and payment due date and amounts
m. Extra identification pictures
n. Any school papers needed
o. Pet records
p. Last year’s tax records (I didn’t bring them and sure enough we needed them… they are stuck in storage right now doing us no good.)
q. Important phone numbers for all relevant Embassy personnel and USMC command (with country codes)
r. Your guide books to help get around your new home!
As I said earlier, each family will have their own needs to add to this list (or book!) but it is a good start to a successful year overseas! Kelley Beasey (mrandmrsbarnstormer@hotmail.com)
If you have any suggestions or ideas, feel free to contact me or PLU and we will add it!

Month: July 2009

Garbage in, garbage out . . .

This? Overwhelming . . .

55 minutes

woo hoo!

Books in the que . . .