Back Up Plan
Before making a decision to move home during deployment, consider what you will do if things do not go as planned. What if you find that living back at home is not what you imagined and it is causing undue stress for you or your children? What if the living situation of your hosts change and you no longer have a place to stay? How do you plan to move, where would you go, will you be able to afford to do so?
Ultimately, let this decision be one that you make after careful consideration and communication with your spouse and those with whom you might be living with during deployment. There will be people who question your decision, either way…but only you can make the decision that is the best for your family.
If you DO decide to make that move, here are a few things to remember:
Things to Remember if You Move Home
- Communicate the move to your Family Readiness leader. It doesn’t matter if you are not crazy about the program or if you have never had contact with them before. It is imperative that they know where you are moving to and how to get in touch with you so they can contact you with vital information about your service member, homecoming, etc.
- Take a look at the Service Members Civil Relief Act to see what those deployment orders can, by law, allow you to change. For instance: your lease, phone contract, gym memberships, etc.
- Give appropriate notice to vacate a rental property or on base housing (read your lease) to avoid extra charges and headache.
- Tricare: Call them and get directions on how to transfer your medical care, even if you are not transferring to another region. If you will not be near your current PCM, you will need to establish a new one depending on the length of your absence.
Have you made the choice to move back “home” during deployment? What was your experience?
Read Next: 12 Things TO DO During Deployment
