We know this COVID-19 pandemic is causing anxiety like we’ve never known. The sun will shine again – we will see the end of this. We asked our audience how the DoD travel ban is affecting your military family, and here are your answers. We’re all in this together – even while practicing proper social distancing…
We were supposed to PCS overseas next week, but that is on hold. We were all ready to leave our house with our suitcases all packed. And we have already shipped our car. Fortunately the ban happened 2 days before our HHGs got picked up so we still have our belongings and the commander forced the housing office to allow us to stay in our house. But now there is talk of my husband going to our next base unaccompanied soon and me staying behind with our kids (5 years, 3 years, and 2 months) for the foreseeable future.
Chelsea J.
We PCS’d right before the ban. We arrived at our destination, but due to the travel ban, those families that were supposed to move out to create vacant homes for us to move in, now can no longer do that. We have 2 kids (2 and 4 months old) and 2 dogs living out of a hotel room for an uncertain amount of time. Our area is in a shelter in place so we really can only hang out in this hotel room.
Victoria P.
My husband and I live in separate countries so we were planning on a visit this Friday with our daughter (which also happens to be my birthday). That had to be canceled. It’s the fear of not knowing when we’ll see him again that frightens/upsets me.
Rebecca M.
Husband is TDY for training and comes home most weekends. He won’t be coming home again until the travel ban is lifted and I’m not sure what this means for our PCS in June.
Crystal V.
Husband returning from a 9 month deployment finds out half way home they have to undergo a mandatory 2-week quarantine.
Diana S.
Uncertainty of my husband being able to come home for the birth of our baby in less than a month.
Natasha B.
Just got back stateside from living overseas for 4 years and we had to cancel our trip home to visit family. Haven’t seen them in 4 years, though what’s a few more months right? Lol. I Know a few families who are in the middle of PCS or were about to and now they’re stuck where they are until further notice.
Christian B.
We were supposed to pack out and PCS this week. That is now on hold. We bought a house at our new duty station and now we have to pay a mortgage and pay rent where we are on hold. Lincoln Military Housing takes all our BAH, therefore we have to deplete our savings so we don’t get penalized for not paying a mortgage. We talked to NFCU and they are trying to help us the best way they can. Putting out a policy without considering the repercussions, such as financial strain on service members and their families is just crazy.
Stephanie S.
We are currently stationed in Guatemala. The country was put on lockdown at just one confirmed case. The borders and schools have closed, along with airlines, stores, shopping malls, public transportation, and restaurants. If there is one thing that I learned after being in Guinea during the Ebola outbreak is that YOU will survive! If we got through the Ebola outbreak we will get through this. Stay healthy, spend time with your family, and don’t take life for granted. Everything will be ok in the end. Love to all! 😙
Jessica P.
I don’t even know where to start…… Never did I think back on July 16th that we would be apart more than the 14 weeks of school for my husband. October 4th, Nick told us we were going to Germany! Right away Monday morning I was in the office getting our paper work for EFMP started and other screening done. His Oct 23rd return turned into a November 5th return. Only to be home for 1 week. We had high hopes because I started our paperwork so early that it wouldn’t take long for the kids and I to be in Germany with him boy were we wrong. Week after week passed. Thanksgiving, Wava’s birthday, Christmas, New Years and Levi’s birthday go by. Mid February we thought we were so close so I put my 2 weeks in at work. My last day was the 25th. Which didn’t have to be because then we have another hiccup that pushed it back. Finally March 13th we got our Command Sponsorship approval only to be told the same day that all travel for military stops for PCSing. Then school is closed till April 7th. Only to hear our kids talk daily about moving to Germany or when we are with dad. I guess this too shall pass.
Kirsten T.
We were supposed to PCS overseas next week but that is in hold. We were all ready to leave our house with our suitcases all packed. And we have already shipped our car. Fortunately the ban happened 2 days before our HHGs got picked up so we still have our belongings and the commander forced the housing office to allow us to stay in our house. But now there is talk of my husband going to our next base unaccompanied soon and me staying behind with our kids (5 years, 3 years, and 2 months) for the foreseeable future. 😔
Chelsea J.
We PCS right before the ban. We arrived at our destination, but due to the travel ban, those families that were suppose to move out to create vacant homes for us to move in, now can no longer do that. We have 2 kids (2 and 4 months old) and 2 dogs living out of a hotel room for an uncertain amount of time. Our area is in a shelter in place so we really can only really hang out in this hotel room.
Victoria P.
My husband and I live in separate countries so we were planning on a visit this Friday with our daughter (which also also happens to be my bday). That had to be canceled. It’s the fear of not knowing when we’ll see him again that frightens/upsets me.
Rebecca M.
Just got back stateside from living overseas for 4 years and we had to cancel our trip home to visit family. Haven’t seen them in 4 years though what’s a few more months right lol? I Know a few families who are in the middle of PCS or were about to and now they’re stuck where they are until further notice
Christian B.
Currently stationed in Guam, PCS date scheduled for April. I’m pregnant. We were originally scheduled to PCS in February, but got extended to March due to deployment – which he returned from early in preparation of a quarantine period that would have interfered with our flight date. Now this is bumping us even further back if we get held up with the no-PCS ban. Add to it a Mission Critical spouse, I’m over halfway through my pregnancy, our HHG and POV shipped over 2 months ago, and by the time the travel ban is lifted I’ll be too far along to travel. Which will mean me delivering a baby, while my Sailor will be stateside again, alone with 2 young children for which to also care. Instead of allowing us to leave as soon as all of the concern began. Everyone upset about vacations – I wish that was my concern.
Alyson N.
Husband is TDY for training and comes home most weekends. He won’t be coming home again until travel ban is lifted and I’m not sure what this means for our PCS in June.
Crystal V.
My husband out processed the base, taking leave in route before heading to new base in Germany. We are now stuck in Arizona but thankfully with family as all of our other leave plans (Disney and Alabama to see my parents) and Germany tickets have been cancelled. Thankful, we are still with family and healthy as we are in limbo. Oh, and all of our stuff is already waiting for us in Germany.
Amanda B.
3rd vacation my family has tried to go on in the past two years that has been called off….all related to military restrictions/schedule changes. This one was supposed to be the big one too! We were all so pumped to finally go but now, just thankful we are together as I know a lot of other mil families are apart right now.
Lizz K.
Husband returning from a 9-month deployment finds out half way home they have to undergo a mandatory 2 week quarantine.
Diana S.
We are in the middle of a PCS and are having to cut our travel time in more than half. We won’t be able to see family and friends like planned and our house at the new duty station won’t be ready so we will have to stay in a hotel and spend money we were planning on saving. That’s the army, I’m just happy we are together and safe.
Simone H.
We bought a house, told our landlord our PCS move date. Movers set, and now we are having to find another place because the landlord found new tenants, and we will have to pay for our mortgage and rent for another place. We have talked to everyone with no answers as to what we can do. I understand there’s really not much that can be done at this time. I know it could also be worse so being positive, thankful for my blessings, and learning to trust better in the Lord through these times
Amber B.
Awaiting refund for all accommodations for a spring break trip to Spain, awaiting refund of my parents airfare to come visit us, learning how to homeschool 2 teenage boys, prepping for a PCS that will more than likely be pushed. All with a smile on my face because there’s nothing we can do about it except roll with it. ❤️
Alana L.
My husband has been overseas on unaccompanied orders for over a year now while I’m still here alone away from my family in CONUS. We received our hard orders to Japan last year and we were ecstatic! We couldn’t wait to PCS there a few months from now; it’s literally our dream orders we’ve been trying for since he joined up. My Husband was scheduled to fly home super soon to begin his 30 day transfer leave before we PCS to Japan but now due to the travel ban we don’t know when he’ll be able to fly home to begin his transfer leave or when we are PCSing for that matter. They are also having to issue us an entirely new set of orders with new report by dates due to everything being placed on hold. We haven’t seen each other in over a year and we were so close to reuniting so to have everything cancelled last minute is hard, frustrating, and really disheartening. I recently sold my vehicle as well in preparation for our overseas PCS which now due to the quarantine doesn’t affect much. I understand that it’s for the health and safety of everyone but I just wish I could at least be quarantined with my Husband.
Heather J.
Uncertainty of my husband being able to come home for the birth of our baby in less than a month😢
Natasha B.
This is the first Easter we’ve been w/in driving distance of the grand girl, & she’s already asked a few times when we’re coming to see her next. She’s outside the 100 mi radius by 200 mi tho, so…
Angela C.
I’m from the UK going through my first deployment with my husband. My family were going to visit in March and May to help break up the time he is away, I have no-one really where I am, I have no children and miles from my support network. I am sad and disappointed that I won’t get a chance to see them now. But their lives and the lives of others are more important to me to ensure their long-term safety for a short term sacrifice.
Hayley D.
We flew from the east coast to Okinawa the day before the ban. During our newcomers orientation about a week later new guidance came in that anyone arriving after March 3rd had to go back to residences/hotels on restriction of movement. Within 24 hours that became full on quarantine. So my husband, 7 year old daughter and our dog are stuck in a hotel room until at least the 26th. During the week before quarantine we did all the check in stuff, signed for base housing, and purchased 2 cars. We were suppose to get our licenses after the newcomers briefing but everything got cancel.
Lesia O.
Travel ban happened to fall on the same day we were supposed to out process last Friday. Should have PCS to Germany 2 days ago. We had moved out of our home and HHG picked up 2 weeks ago so only have a few suitcases to our name. Now since they wouldn’t out process us, on paper it looks like we’re still with our unit, when in reality we’ve done every step except for fly over. So since we’re still with the unit they won’t put us on TDY to help pay for hotel and per diem, just say to use BHA. But that divided up into days won’t even cover half a night of a hotel and doing that for 60 days will not even come close to covering a hotel not even including food. They’re saying we need to pay for it out of pocket and to just deal with it. Or get an apartment, but if we do that, that’s first and last months rent, deposit, pet deposit, and we won’t even have furniture to put in it not to mention having to say we’re moving out in less than 60 days. So BHA wouldn’t cover that either and everyone seems to just be pushing us aside when we’re quite literally homeless with a few bags to our name with no idea how long that would be for. Grateful we have a friend giving us a room and a mattress on the floor to stay on. Trying to be positive and I know everyone is going through their own version of this but it feels like the timing couldn’t have been worse to be out of our home with nothing besides a few bags of clothes and no end in sight. Sending love to all the families being affected right now, you’re not alone ❤️
Nicci K.