Something you may not know, is that we have a weight limit and we can only bring one vehicle if we move over seas, but none are shipped if we move across the country. We have to separate things for professional gear and get rid of anything half way flammable to include craft items, nail polish and home cleaners.
Some tips military wives pass around before moving time are about organizing, and labeling. "Be sure your trash can is empty- the movers will pack it as is" We use paper plates the day of moving because "They packed the dirty dishes in my sink"
All of this can seem like a lot to have to deal with but its not too big of a deal- it's all part of the gig.
What I can never get used to is the waiting on the assignment list.
Let me document for you our experience in assignments:
#1) I had no idea what was happening and that was most likely why it was so easy. Dan called me from a phone at the BYU ROTC and told me we were going to Germany. This was by far our easiest move. WE didn't own much and had the whole world and many years ahead of us. Ignorance was bliss..... Until we arrived!
There were 3 locations we could live at, and we were living at the furthest from the base. Dan's boss told him to not take possession of his moved property because he didn't want him that far from work. We lived in an empty apartment for 3 months before we realized the boss never did anything about it and didn't care as much as he had that night wen he had knocked back a few.
We lived there until we were about 2 months from having Seth (The army housing rule is if you have same gender children close in age they share a room so we only had 2 rooms) We moved to a 3 bedroom, but had to move ourselves.
#2) We knew we were going to Sierra Vista AZ before we had even settled into our 3 years in Germany because it was a required schooling. We were lucky we had friends that go there before us and helped us move over, however they didn't have enough on base housing and didn't like to give what they had to the "Student Soldiers" because they moved in and out too frequently. So I rented a house, that sold out from under me the day I was supposed to move in (Dan was still finishing up in Germany- I was there to get the kids in school on time) I scrambled and was able to find something.
#3) This is when it starts getting interesting. Give us the top 6 places you would like to go. we did, and didn't get any of them. We did a triple trade. We took our assignment and traded with someone who was going to Japan and then with a guy who wanted to go to Japan and was being sent to Washington state. (Seemed we were able to work things out for the people who are supposed to issue these jobs)
#4) Dan told the powers that be, about 6k times he wanted to go to the DLI in Monterey CA. They apologized and said there just weren't any openings. They offered him a job in Maryland and we spent a month believing thats where we were going. Dan's boss's in Washington said they needed him through April. The people in MD said that they needed him in March. Maryland was out. Guess where a spot popped open- Yup! Monterey CA.
#5) We stayed in CA for 4 years because Dan had a deployment. The new assignment waiting list was just as much torture as ever, they gave us San Antonio TX. We were excited and started looking at buying a house. Almost immediately we were told "Oops- sorry that job had been promised to someone else" (Back then they were promising people there choice of assignments if they would accept a deployment) So Dan said "OK what are my choices" The one that came up was a 1 year un accompanied tour to Columbia. So for about 2 weeks thats where Dan was headed. Then he called over there and they said "Army guy? This is an AF slot." Seriously? So then we were back at the drawing board. Mind you 6 weeks before moving day, that when they said we could go to Spain. OK!
#6) We were given a list of 35 and asked to prioritize them into our top 30. Really?? Thats will be hard to work out. Kansas was number 27 on our list. UGH! While we like the area, the job is not so fun. Travel every month for 2-3 weeks. That really sucks. Especially since Dan came off a deployment right before he came here.
As soon as he got to Kansas he asked "how soon before I can leave. " They told him summer 2015
#7) ( most likely last)
We were given a list of 60 and told to put in our top 25. We did. We were super excited because the top 15 or so were really fun places and when an email came out that said "Hey if we can't get your top 25 we will give you a call" NO CALL CAME! Then a few weeks before we were expecting to get the word Dan opened his email to "Congratulations LTC Strode you have been extended for an additional 12 months" WHAT? NO! Then we had to find out why, how and how we can get it fixed. Prove we have real reasons to not be here, and risk being sent someplace not as nice for the family, but hopefully a better job. Possibly something on our 25 list and possibly not and we are back in the waiting game with no idea how long, or what the result will be......
Hug a military family today!
Sending you piles of hugs!
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