Any advice or good information pertaining to PCS moves?

2015-09-01T16:49:44-04:00

I will be PCS'ing for the first time in 10 years. My move will be to Ft. Eustis, VA to be an AH-64D instructor. Is there any major points that I should focus on before I make the big move? I have approximately 6 months until I leave.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 5:13 PM

2015-09-01T17:13:59-04:00

Ensure you take pictures of all your valued items. And have a list of what they are. Watch the movers. Put all important document in a safe area you will keep with you. And also jewelry keep it with you. How this helps a little.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 1 at 2015 5:18 PM

2015-09-01T17:18:33-04:00

Get househunting leave.

Also, there are a lot of bad neighborhoods in Hampton. If you're living off post, get the gouge on what are the good neighborhoods...

Response by SPC Kimberley Kerr made Sep 1 at 2015 5:33 PM

2015-09-01T17:33:09-04:00

It was nice housing wasn't very good I don't know if they have new housing I recommend living off post Newport News is ok Yorktown is better and Yorktown has a small post the belongs to the Navy it a better place to get your ID card faster

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 5:53 PM

2015-09-01T17:53:51-04:00

do research in case onpost housing is not available. and like i did, do not do DITY move.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Sep 1 at 2015 5:56 PM

2015-09-01T17:56:33-04:00

USAA, Army One Source, and ACS have checklists of good things to consider. and zillow.com can help you learn a LOT about the area even if you don't plan to buy. they oten have information about the schools and the value of houses in different areas of town based on your BAH can aid you in finding where you fit in best (or should stay clear of)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 5:57 PM

2015-09-01T17:57:34-04:00

Take a newspaper showing the current date. Make a video where you show the date and go through your house and show the condition of your stuff. Turn on all your appliances to show that they work. That way if something gets damaged in the move and the moving company doesn't want to pay, you can show your stuff was undamaged before they moved it

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 6:08 PM

2015-09-01T18:08:57-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member, just left that community last December. Very good installation. 7th Trans BDE Exp is the major FORSCOM entity there, other than that, the post is home to primarily TRADOC units and it's the home of the TRADOC HQ. Commissary is under construction for expansion, should be really nice. PX is decent. CDC and Youth Services has plenty tondo for children. Off post has many parks, running and biking trails and many palaces to fish. Hot and humid summers with its fair share of rain. Fall is Nice, winter isn't too brutal. Spring is nice. Occasional hurricane here and there. Plenty of on-post newer town home style houses and plenty of off post rentals too. Very close to many attractions. 40 minutes to VA Beach, 30 minutes to Busch Gardens and Water Country. 30 minutes from Norfolk Naval base with huge PX facility, really nice. Newport News has plenty of shopping and restaurants. Overall I love that area and Eustis very much. Do you know SSG Mike Chivington? He is at the help school house too, very good friend of mind. I can let him know you are coming and can kind of sponsor you.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 1 at 2015 6:30 PM

2015-09-01T18:30:43-04:00

Know the cost of living. Know the TRAFFIC if you are living off post.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 8:16 PM

2015-09-01T20:16:21-04:00

I am from VA and lived in Yorktown (Grafton) prior to coming back in the Army in 09'. If there is absolutely no housing available on base, then I suggest you take a look at Grafton Station apartments or any other apartments in the Yorktown/Grafton area. Yorktown/Grafton is literally 5 miles down Ft Eustis blvd and from base and there are decent dwellings all throughout that area and at good rates with utilities included/pets allowed. Also Poquoson is a quaint little township in the peninsula area that's not "too far" from Eustis. The Yorktown beachfront is all "yuppied" up and beautiful. I miss doing my run days through the Yorktown battlefields. Fort Eustis is centrally located to a great deal of attractions, ie; Busch Gardens Europe, Yorktown beach, VA Beach (40 min or so). I've read the other comments and there is a bunch of advise for you as far as how to prepare for your move, so no need for me to touch up on that any further. You are headed to a nice area my friend. I miss home.

Response by SSG Timothy Miller made Sep 1 at 2015 10:36 PM

2015-09-01T22:36:10-04:00

I spent a few years at Ft Eustis. I was a Air Traffic Controller during that time frame. I really enjoyed it there. It was one of the better US assignments I had. It ties with Ft Lewis. Overseas, Greece was my most enjoyable. I was doing nuclear weapons at that time. Take it one day at a time. Enjoy yourself. Newport News is not a bad place to live. I lived in the Denbeigh section of N.N. Yorktown is not bad nor Williamsburg. Do lots of sigjht seeing in D.C. and surrounding areas. Best wishes.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Sep 1 at 2015 11:09 PM

2015-09-01T23:09:44-04:00

Make sure to take all valuables personally with you, to include your I Love Me book, physical family photos, etc. Don't let the movers take anything that money can't replace.

PCS moves are also a good time to digitize all those things anyway and to get them on a backup drive in addition to your computer.

Good luck with the move!

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Sep 1 at 2015 11:18 PM

2015-09-01T23:18:45-04:00

Plan it as far in advance as you can, don't hurry, and don't stress. As with any plan, make sure you stay flexible.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Sep 2 at 2015 1:36 AM

2015-09-02T01:36:03-04:00

I would like to congratulate you on your next new assignment as an instructor. You have been selected and approved by your CMF branch at DA . This is your first TRADOC assignment, I advise not to get too comfortable. Maintain your basic Soldier Skills and MOS Standards. Learn new MOSs in and out of your MOS. Network and have a go to person there. Make plans to do only 18 months, you may be there the remainder of your career. I ll be straight forward, as an instructor you will have the opportunity to train with AIT, NCO,WOC, OBC and Allied military. You speak Spanish so you may see some TDY in exotic and arid land sea and air environment. Its a gravy job, however, prepare yourself mentally, physically and spiritually for the challenge of contributing to the militarys 5, 10 and 20 future year plan. You need to set up a career plan to return to the units out in the field, otherwise you may be there for life. Have a plan, realistic goals and do the job there and get back to the units.

Response by SSG Adam Wyatt made Sep 2 at 2015 5:15 AM

2015-09-02T05:15:08-04:00

Burn down CIF

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-09-02T12:31:14-04:00

I just PCSd to JBLE a month ago to be a 15Y Instructor. We got right into on post housing, and as far as I know they still have vacancies. When you put in for PCS leave, make sure that your end date goes through the end of your 10 day permissive TDY. For example, if you are taking leave from 01 SEP through 15 SEP, and 10 days TDY after that for house hunting, make sure that your leave end date on your DA-31 is 25 SEP, not 15 SEP. The in-processing office will kick your paperwork back and send you to BTN S1 to have a new, correct leave form generated if your leave ends before your TDY starts. If you plan to stay at the inn on post, go online and make reservations as soon as you can.

If you are going to be an instructor, you will be in Green Platoon when you get here. Make sure that you can pass the APFT and Height/Weight. If you are flagged (for any reason) you cannot be a primary instructor. Green Platoon is about three weeks long, and you will go through CTC (Cadre training Course) and ABIC (Army Basic Instructor Course) during that time. You must pass both to be an instructor, but don't worry, it's not that hard. Prior to CTC/ABIC, you will in-process the post, BDE, and BTN. You will have plenty of time to in-process during that time. I also suggest going to the gym/working out on your own.

So far as PCSing...WATCH YOUR MOVERS! Make sure that EVERYTHING is documented on the inventory sheets, especially the large items that won't fit into the boxes. They lost my 6' ladder, and the moving company would not reimburse for it because it was not on the inventory sheet. When you unpack, take pictures of everything that is broken, and keep the broken item. The movers will send a claims adjuster (sort-of) to look at all the broken stuff, even if you take pictures and upload them to move.mil for your claim.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 2 at 2015 12:34 PM

2015-09-02T12:34:34-04:00

You should keep all valuables like jewelry in your possession. You can get paid for a partial DITY.

Response by SSG Clarence Blackburn made Sep 2 at 2015 6:26 PM

2015-09-02T18:26:27-04:00

Check with ACS they have some good material on making your move run smooth. Hope this helps.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 9:40 AM

2015-09-03T09:40:37-04:00

Go to armyonesource, they will put together a great welcome packet to where you're going. Will include neighborhoods, housing, schools (rating them as well), what's around for activities, just name a bit . Good luck

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 8:31 AM

2015-09-04T08:31:47-04:00

Yes! The Army has really started focusing on the sponsorship program. You can find info on armyonesource. Request a sponsor and put them to work. Your sponsor will be able to answer questions specific to housing areas, schools if you have kids, and services available on the post. It's really the best approach.

Also, take the dislocation allowance up front! Yes, your move is funded by DA, but there are those little expenses that aren't, and the DLA really helps.

Keep receipts for everything. You may not get reimbursed for everything, but you can't even try without receipts.

Let the Army move you. You may want to consider a partial DITY (do-it-yourself move), but it's a gigantic hassle to pack everything, and you can experience some push back if you legitimately break something and make a claim (people abuse that, so it becomes suspect when legitimate people need it).

I'll probably think of more. I'll post if I do.

Kevin

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 5:18 AM

2015-09-05T05:18:52-04:00

Photoing everything, recording the high end item serial numbers, don't take any pay advances, save all receipts. If you have children, call the school district ahead of time.
I'm here now, you can call housing (Balfour Beatty) at [login to see] - however there are only a few "good" areas on post (drama free) 2100 and 2200 blocks are nice, the 1100s LOOK suspect but are drama free quiet areas. There are also breed restrictions if you have a dog; Akita, Chow, Doberman, Pit breeds, Rottweiler, Stafford breeds, and wolf hybrids. I would also reccommend Verizon for internet services (good price, great customer service).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 9:46 AM

2015-09-05T09:46:44-04:00

Make sure everything goes in the crates. Nothing should find its way to the front of the truck!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 3:19 AM

2015-09-11T03:19:36-04:00

Is it me or am I the only one that seen that this is his first move? IN 10 YEARS!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2015 2:45 AM

2015-09-24T02:45:54-04:00

SSG be as an anal as possible about your household goods. If you have the means I would even suggest a full DITY move and you make money too. Movers today don't care anymore and the process to file a claim has become a pain. Also when looking for a home in that area I would suggest some where away from the immediate area around Eustis on Warwick Blvd. Maybe try some of the areas off of Jefferson. Some parts of Newport news is rundown. Take the time to drive around. Just don't get too far out because of traffic. It sucks

Response by SSG Wesley Burnham made Oct 21 at 2015 2:40 PM

2015-10-21T14:40:12-04:00

Stay away from the the clubs if you're married!!