By: Kori Yates
Facing our first OCONUS orders, we were a family of four in one barracks room for two weeks. Arriving in our new country, quarantine was expected, but the schedule and accommodations were a surprise.
Scouring Facebook, the go-to platform for military communication, we read all the guides, asked all the questions, and watched all the videos (Thanks, YouTube!).
Exhausted and dragging more luggage than I’d care to admit, we ended up on floor six. Through sleep deprivation fog, we signed the hand receipt for the furniture and proceeded to shower in a place someone forgot to clean. Thanks to the handy guides we brought our own towels. Grabbing the borrowed sheets we made our four twin beds and crashed. At 0730 the next morning our first hot meal from the Dining Facility arrived.
For fourteen days, we hung out in this room with the exception being one hour per day outside in the dirt yard. Thanks to friends and the unit we had non-DFAC food and coffee, along with the nice Soldiers and their Commissary baskets who brought our kids Fanta.
Those two weeks really did feel like solitary confinement. We had no idea about our schedule, couldn’t leave the room unless escorted by a uniformed person, and saw no one other than the four of us except for our time outside. This move has quite possibly been our strangest to date.
We did survive solitary. With PCS season coming on full steam, here are our best advice.
- Breathe – I know it’s automatic, but do some deep breathing. I promise you’ll need this reminder. Everyone is trying to do their best in super strange circumstances. Nothing will move fast nor will anything operate on your schedule. Ever.
- Do all the things – Check facebook groups, scour websites, and watch videos. Knowledge is helpful. It won’t answer every question, but more knowledge is better! Also, finding someone you know on the other end is handy.
- Pack – That French press we stuck in the suitcase with some coffee? Worth it’s weight in gold! Find the things that are most important and throw them in. Clean towels, bath mat, Clorox wipes, snacks, coffee – what would make life easier? Don’t forget games. Think cards games or travel games. The smaller size is great and easy to pull out anywhere.
- Take the free stuff – If someone offers you water, take it. Free snacks? Grab those too. Dinner at the USO? Bring it on. You’ll be thankful for these along the way.
- Do what you can – If you can in-process, get the SIM cards, get an appointment with housing, do it. This is a great time to get things done, but also to rest. Take the opportunity for that too.
This OCONUS move may be like none you’ve ever experienced, maybe it really is your first PCS ever. Best advice? Don’t forget to say thank you. You’ll certainly never get to where you’re going without some help. It will be quite the adventure. You’ll see.