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Why Military Families Need a Dog

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Why Military Families Need a DogWhy Military Families Need a Dog

I knew we would probably always get a dog someday. I grew up with a cat, I didn’t know dogs very well but I knew our family would have one someday. My husband grew up with dogs and even worked with military working dogs in 2011. He knew dogs so I knew that he would help me figure things out once we got one.

We had talked about getting a dog once things settled down after my husband got out of Active duty. But, one day, a few months before his ETS date he came home from work with a picture of a dog on his phone asking me if we could get a dog now. A buddy of his needed to find a new home for their one-year-old Hound mix.

I wasn’t so sure at first because I had never had a dog before and I thought I would have more time to prepare. I asked my husband if he thought she would be a good fit for us and he thought she would. At first, I said no, but then I looked at that photo again and all I could think was that she was our dog. She would be perfect. So we said we would take her.

A few days later, she came by with her owners and fit right in. That was almost three years ago and I can say I have LOVED having a dog. For so many reasons. I get now why so many of my friends who have owned dogs love having a dog. I wish we had gotten one sooner.

Why military families need a dog

Our dog, Gwen, 3 years old.

So, why should military families get a dog?

For when your spouse is deployed- I LOVE having a dog when my husband has not been home. She is my protector and my companion. I can always talk to her and she always listens. She helps with the loneliness that can come from having a husband who sometimes works away from the home. I think of all the years and deployments I went through without a dog and how in the future, I wouldn’t want to go through a deployment without one. And I know our dog did provide comfort to her previous owner during a deployment as well.

For the children- All of my boys love our dog but my son with Asperger’s has a special bond with her. I love that. She can help calm him down and he enjoys giving her a hug every night before bed. You can also have your children help with the dog chores which can help them feel even more a part of the dog’s life.

For the joy they bring to your home- One big difference between dogs and cats is that cats will pretty much ignore you and dogs will follow you around the house. When we first got her, she was always at my side. I would go downstairs to grab a drink of water and she would follow me. These days she tends to not do that as much unless I have been away from the house for a while. Then she greets me like I had been gone for years. Our dog has brought us so much joy and I love having her.

The hard part about having a dog when you are a military family is the moving you have to do. Having a dog will make PCSing a little bit harder than it otherwise would be, especially if you are going overseas. Here are some posts I found to help with PCSing with your pet:

PCing and Your Pet

5 Things to Remember when PCSing with a Pet

Pet PCS: Moving Tips For Pet Owners

What about you? Do you have a dog or any other type of pet?

21 Tips For A Better Military PCS

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21 Tips For A Better Military PCS

I remember the day well. My mom was watching my 18-month-old son and I was waiting at my apartment for the movers to come. It was moving day for our very first PCS. We were headed to Germany and the day had finally come for the movers to start packing up all of our belongings overseas. It would be about six weeks before we would see our stuff again.

I was not a stranger to moving. By this point I had probably moved about 12 or 13 times in my life, most of them before having kids or even being married. I would take a few weeks to pack up my stuff and then friends would come over and help me move. Then I would spend a few weeks unpacking.

This was different. We were moving to a new country and the Army was going to do it for us. I would not have to pack up all of my stuff. I would not have to look for boxes. I would have movers come over to my house and do it for me. Bliss.

21 Tips For A Better Military PCS

We have done two military moves and a move of our own since then. Moving is for the birds! I would rather not but as a military family you sometimes don’t have a choice. You will pcs and you might do so every 3 years or so.

There is a lot of stress associated with a PCS. You will have a lot to do and a lot to decide about. You will need to see if you want to do a DITY move or have the military move you. People are divided on this. Some want to do the move themselves, others don’t mind if the military does it for them. After moving myself so many times in my life I would always be happy for the military to move me. We have always had a good experience. That being said, not everyone does. There are reports of things being damaged, things being lost and things being stolen. You really have to decide what you want to do and what you can deal with.

After deciding how you actually want to move, you have to do all the rest of the things to get ready for your PCS. You need to plan, even if you are not a planner. You need to know what is going on and what dates things need to happen.

Here are 21 tips for a better military PCS:

1. Declutter. Get rid of stuff you don’t want or don’t use. Plan a day or two to go through your whole house and donate or sell as much as you can. You don’t want to go over your weight limit. We did once and had to pay about $250 for that mistake.

2. Feed the movers. If you have movers, make sure to offer them food and water. They will usually appreciate it. We did have movers once that didn’t want the pizza we got for them but they did love the Oreos so you never know.

3. Prepare to be without your stuff. When we moved 2 hours away we only had to be without our stuff for a few days but overseas moves can take six weeks or even longer. Sometimes moves within the US take time too. And there could be reasons why your stuff will need to be stored for a while. Make plans for this. Especially if you have kids. There are certain things they will need.

4. Label everything. It’s a good idea to label which room everything goes in. Some people get really into this and color code every room. I love this idea. That makes it so much easier to unpack later on. You can put notes up where you want your things so they end up in the right spot. If you want you can also have them put together your furniture such as beds and dressers. This will save you a lot of time.

5. Make a binder. You should have a binder or folder with everything you need for your move. You should keep your to-do lists in there as well as any important documents. You want to have everything with you at all times, no matter where you are moving to.

6. Put aside what you don’t want to be packed. Make sure to clear out one room and put all the things you don’t want to be packed in that room. Then lock the door. That way the movers can’t accidentally pack anything.

7. Save money. Save as much as you think you will need and double that amount. No really. Moving always costs more than you think it will, even if it is a military move. You will need to eat out more often, you will need to buy things at your new place, you will need to have that extra in your bank account.

8. Take the important stuff with you. If you are driving to your new duty station, take all your most important things with you in the car. When we moved overseas it was a bit harder to do this and I was so worried about a few things but if you can take them in a car, do so. Then you know they will be safe.

9. Take a House-Hunting trip. If you can, go out to your new duty station for a house hunting trip. It is so helpful to be able to see where you might live in person first. If you can’t do this and you know people at your next duty station, see if they wouldn’t mind going by potential places and taking photos for you. That way you can get a better sense of your choices. Sometimes you don’t get a chance to look until you actually get there.

10. Take photos before movers come. Take photos of everything important before the movers get there. That way, if there is any damage you have a record of what it looked like before the movers came.

11. Research schools. One mistake we made moving here is we did not double check on which school our house was zoned for. In some areas, the most logical school isn’t always the correct one. Even though there was a school in the neighborhood we were renting in, we were zoned for another one. You should be able to get a general idea about how a school ranks and if it would be a good choice or not for your child. Great Schools is a good resource.

12. Rent vs Buy vs On post. You will probably have to decide if you want to rent, buy a home or live on post at your new duty station. Sometimes you have to live on post as there is no off-post housing. Other times on post is booked so you have to go off. You should think about if you should buy a house or not and base that on if you want the responsibility or if buy a house makes sense for your situation.

PCSIng

13. Empty your trash. If you don’t, the movers will pack it. Trust me, they will. And who wants to find 6-week old trash in their new home?

14. Have someone watch your kids. If you can, have someone watch your kids when the movers come. This will make life easier for you, especially if you have toddlers. You can watch the movers and just chill and not have to worry about kids getting in the way. If you do have to have your kids home, keep them in a separate cleared out room while the movers are doing their thing.

15. Book your hotel. Once you know when you will be getting into town, book your hotel. That way you won’t have to worry about having a place to stay.

16. Use good materials. If you are moving yourselves, use the good stuff. You don’t want your boxes falling apart on you.

17. Keep all bedding together. That way when it is time to get your new bed set up, everything you need is all right there. You don’t have to go searching for it.

18. Don’t go crazy at your new duty station, especially coming back from overseas. When we first got to Ft. Campbell from Germany we wanted to go to all the places we had missed. This adds up and you simply can’t afford to do this. Remember, you will be at your new duty station for a while, you don’t have to see and do everything that first week.

19. Ship your car. If you will be shipping your car, make sure you understand what they want you to do to get the car ready to ship. The car needs to be very clean with very little gas. I have heard of people having to drive around the shipping location to get the gas amount low enough to turn in.

20. Plan for your pets. If you are taking pets with you on a PCS, make sure you plan for them too. Think about how they will get to your new location and what you will need to do. If you are going overseas shipping them can be complicated but people do PCS overseas with their pets. You can too if your location allows for you to do so.

21. Enjoy the journey. It is way too easy to get stressed out about a PCS and you will probably break down in tears a few times. Think about where you are headed and what the experience has been like for you. Think about all the memories you have made at your current location and all the fun things you can do at your new duty station. As hard as a PCS is, as difficult as the process might be, you will get to your new duty station and be able to enjoy your new home.

You can learn more about the area you are moving or find a realtor by checking out PCSGrades. They are such a great resource for anyone that is PCSing and getting ready to move to their next duty station.

Are you getting ready for a PCS? What would you add to this list?

The Very Best Places You Could Get Stationed As a Military Family

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The Very Best Places You Could Get Stationed As a Military Family

The Very Best Places You Could Get Stationed As a Military Family

If you ask people what their favorite duty station has been you are going to get a lot of different responses. There are certain duty stations that people love and certain duty stations that people hate. Although it is true that you can bloom where you are stationed no matter where you are, some areas will be easier to have a good experience at than others.

So where are these locations? Should your spouse try to get stationed there too? Are there any cons of these coveted duty stations?

Where are the very best places you can get stationed as a military family?

Germany

What could be better than being stationed in Europe? Germany is one of the best! From the festivals to the mountains to the little villages, there is so much to love. If you want a duty station where you will grow you as a person and that will let you experience cultures and history you would never have otherwise, Germany can be your ideal duty station. We spent 4 years there and made so many memories during that time.

The hardest part of Germany is being away from your family and living so far from home. Visiting home on a regular basis is really not going to be an option for you and traveling everywhere when you have young children can be a challenge. That being said, if you get the opportunity to go to Germany, go. Being stationed there is an experience like no other and the military community is strong when you are stationed overseas.

Hawaii

Hawaii had to make this list. What could be better than living on an island? One that you would normally have to spend a lot of money for to come visit? One where you could go to the beach every day (maybe,) give your kids surfing lessons and take day trips to some of the most beautiful places in the US.  Hawaii can be a wonderful experience for your family. I have only been there as a tourist but I know there is a lot to do and a lot of great things to see.

I have heard that island fever is real and can hit quite hard. The schools are not rated very high and everything is very expensive. The good thing is that you do get COLA when you are stationed there and there is a great military community to be a part of.  I think Hawaii is probably what you make of it.

San Diego

Warm weather, lots to do, Disneyland an hour away? Oh, how I wish we could have been stationed in San Diego. Almost everyone I know who has been stationed there has loved it. You are right by the beach but still on the mainland. You can visit home a little easier than if you were in Hawaii and there really is a ton to do just a short car ride away.

San Diego is in California which can be a different experience for those who are not from the West Coast. Southern California has its own culture for sure but you never have to worry about the city shutting down for snow and they have In-and-Out.

Colorado

If you are a fan of the outdoors you are going to love Colorado. From hiking to skiing to exploring, Colorado has everything you might want in a duty station if you love being outdoors. And the mountains! I love seeing all the photos I see posted from friends who are stationed there. Their views are breathtaking. A lot of people want to be stationed in Colorado so if orders come up, take advantage of them and enjoy your time there. You might not be the biggest fan if you don’t like cold weather but I have heard that the snow there is beautiful, even if it starts in September.

 

Honorable Mentions

I also know these places can be great as well!

Okinawa, Japan
Virginia/DC area
South Korea
Ft. Lewis
Ft. Campbell
Monterey
Ft. Bragg
Ft. Hood

No matter where you might end up, you should be able to find a few positives and enjoy your time there. In some cases, that can be really hard and it might not even have to do with where you are. You could be very close to your family and even the beaches of Hawaii can’t take away your homesickness. You could have had the best experience at a post in Texas and after moving to Germany just can’t find your footing, at least not for a while. Your Grandma could be sick and you were really hoping for a post in Missouri, an hour from home but the Navy sent you to San Diego instead.

At the end of the day, finding that perfect duty station might not be possible but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of where you are. Get out and explore, get to know the local culture and remember, orders will come, you will move somewhere else and you will miss the time you spent during the years you were there. Wherever that might be.

If you are curious about a particular duty station, check out my list of posts I have covered on my blog!

Where would you love to be stationed next? What would you add to this list?

19 Memes that Explain What PCSing is Really Like

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19 Memes that Explain What PCSing is Really Like

19 Memes that Explain What PCSing is Really Like

Have you been through a PCS this year? PCS stands for “Permanent Change of Station” and happens when someone in the military has received orders for a new location. Pcsing is a process and one that can bring on a lot of stress.

There is always so much to do during a PCS. You have to prepare for the movers to come or start packing if you are going to do that part of the move yourself. You will have to get certain papers signed and filled out. Your service member will have to do certain things around your current duty station. You will have to find a new place to live, sometimes with getting to see what is there in person.

Then there is the emotional side to pcsing. Saying goodbye to your home, your friends and watching your children do the same. Pcsing can be difficult, for both you and your children. PCSing can also be a great thing, especially if you are excited about your new duty station.

Here are some memes that understand the experience…

pcsing

Sometimes it is hard to know what PCS really stands for. I think both of these could apply.

PCSING

You might not get a say with where you go next, but it can be fun to dream. If only the military could give us exactly what we wanted in a new duty station.

Pcsing

Military life means moving often. Although some military families buy houses, we did, not all feel like they should. They are waiting until after military life to find their forever home.

 

PCSing

Yes! You will have memories no matter where you go. You will treasure them. It doesn’t matter how many duty stations you end up at, you will always remember certain people and the fun you had at each location.

 

Pcsing

Yep! I have 3 kids and they were all born in different places. Life of a military family.

Hurry up and wait

PCSing means waiting on orders and other paperwork. Hurry up and wait. Get it all done and then have to wait longer than you think you should.

Military Children

Being in a military family means having to go to a lot of different schools. Sometimes that is a good thing, sometimes it isn’t.

pcsing

So many things on your PCS to-do list but saying goodbye to your friends is the hardest thing you will have to do.

 

Pcsing

If you are a military spouse for a longer period of time, you might have to pcsing with a toddler, or a teen. I am not sure what would be harder to do?

memes-92

I don’t like saying goodbye, I would rather say see you later…

PCSing

Seriously! Your PCS could be delayed because people went on vacation or had a sick day.

Pcsing

What have you been saving for a future home?

pcsing

Yes, we say we are not going to stress but then we do. Oh well!

Pcsing

The Army doesn’t have a lot of beach choices…sigh.

Military Life

I love that as a military spouse I have met so many people from all over the US and the World.

Pcsing

Yes, just remember that at the end of the PCS is a new home, new friends, and new memories to be made.

Military Life

The military will drive you nuts when you are waiting for something to happen. Whether it is a PCS or a deployment coming to an end.

Pcsing Overseas

Yep! You wait forever and then boom, things happen and they happen fast. The next thing you know you are on an airplane waving goodbye to your former home.

Pcsing

Home is where the military sends you. What does your list look like? This is ours 🙂

10 Places You Must Find When You First Get To Your New Military Duty Station

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Military Duty Station

10 Places You Must Find When You First Get To Your New Military Duty Station

The day after we flew into Germany my husband had to go to work. He left about 5am in the morning. I was so tired that day and the world seemed like a dream. Jet lag is no joke and I was going through it with my 18-month-old. I wanted to get out and explore but I was a bit nervous about doing so. Imagine my surprise when my husband got home that night and told me the Commissary was just a short walk from our apartment.

When you first move to a new duty station, everything is going to be new. Even if you have lived on a military base before, you don’t know your new one yet.

Here are 10 places you should find when you first get to your new military duty station.

1. The Commissary- You are going to want to know where you can buy groceries at your new duty station. If you are in the US, you will be able to get American food off-post as well. If you are stationed overseas, you probably won’t and you will want to know where to go to get it. Once you figure that out you should explore local groceries because you can find some fun regional foods there to add to your weekly shopping.

2. The PX- The PX/BX is like a Walmart but on a military post and tax-free. They have furniture, snacks, drinks, clothing, toys and more. Find out where the PX is and if there is more than one. Our first duty station had a small PX and a PXextra in a different location.

3. The Library- Finding the library is a good idea. You can get things set up so you can check out books and if you have kids you can find out about story time or any programs they might offer. Most duty stations have one and then you should also see what the local off-post community has to offer as well.

4. The Chapel- If you are religious you are going to want to find the chapel. They might offer other programs such as MOPS, PWOC, and Awanas. Some chapels also offer a VBS in the summer time. Chapels don’t just have Protestant Christian services but provide worship times for a variety of religious beliefs.

5. ACS- ACS stands for “Army Community Service.” ACS provides a lot for people getting ready for a deployment, during deployment and post-deployment. They can also offer you information on FRGs, education, financial advice, relocation information and volunteer opportunities. The ACS will also host a lot of events. ACS is a great resource for those who are brand new to the military as well as those who have been in a long time. Although this program is for the Army, there should be similar programs with different names for each branch. 

6. MWR- MWR stands for “Morale, Welfare, and Recreation.” They are a quality of life program for Soldiers and their families. They provide a lot of activities for kids, CYS which is the affordable childcare program, lodging, libraries, entertainment and other events. It would be a great idea to follow their page on Facebook if they have one so you can hear about the events that they have going on. The MWR is a great way to find things to do that can help you meet other people at your new duty station.

7. Your Spouse’s Unit- This is a must. Learn where your spouse goes to work. Learn the unit and a general idea of what they do. When you don’t know this information, it can confuse things. There are reasons you will have to go to the unit and it is best to know where that is. Your FRG meetings might be there too.

8. Parks- Parks are important. Most military installations have them. Find them and enjoy what they have to offer. This is especially true when you have kids. Find the local parks and save your sanity.

9. The Hospital or Clinic- You will need to know where to go in case of emergency as well as when you need to go to an appointment. Learn where to go, where to park and when you have to go there you will know what to do.

10. Restaurants- Some military posts have more restaurants that others. There should be some fast food near the PX. There might be a few stand-alone places. The best restaurants on post where when we lived in Germany. We had an amazing German bakery and a restaurant that served German food. These places are great to go and meet your spouse on their lunch break.

When you first pcs somewhere, there is going to be a learning curve. You will need to take the time to find out where things are. Have fun with it and enjoy your new location.

Where is the first place you like to find when you are at a new duty station?

The Perfect Duty Station Wish List

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The Perfect Duty Station Wish List

We got lucky. Maybe because he was going back into the Army at a time when they really needed more people to join, maybe it was just luck, but when my husband re-joined the military in 2005, he was given his choice of where he wanted to be stationed. The choices were Europe, Hawaii, Ft. Campbell and South Korea. I don’t think we could have gone with him on that last one. Before he left for MEPS we talked about our desire to be stationed in Europe. So while he didn’t get a chance to talk to me about his decision, he wanted Europe and he knew I did too.

When I picked him up from MEPS, I thought he would tell me about how he would have to re-do basic. Instead, he told me we were going to Europe and he would be leaving in 2 weeks!

The Perfect Duty Station Wish List

 

Fast forward a few years later and it was time to re-enlist. My husband was given another choice. We debated between Ft. Campbell and Ft. Irwin. Ft. Irwin would have been just 3 hours from home, yet the post was in the middle of nowhere. We had just come from Germany where we had lived about 30 minutes from post. We wanted to be in a place where we could have access to an American city with all the things we had been missing while we were overseas. We wanted our children to be able to go to off-post schools and to be able to have somewhat of a life beyond the military post. He put in for Ft. Campbell and that is where we ended up.

I know a lot of people don’t get a say in where they get to go. A lot of times the needs of the military take over. And the higher in rank, the fewer positions there are. Still, some people do get to choose and that choice is a big one. You have to decide where you want to live for the next 3-5 years. How do you even know where would be best? There are so many different factors to think about.

Here is what you should think about when creating your perfect duty station wish list:

  • Close to the family- How close to family do you want to be? Does your family live in a military town? Maybe you don’t get along and want to be as far away from them as possible. I always think about what life would have been like if we had been stationed just 3 hours from home. Our lives would have been very different.
  • Beach/Mountains- Some people want to be right by the beach. Others love the mountains and what they have to offer. You might think about which duty stations are by your ideal location and see if you can go there.
  • Duty station location- Maybe you have always wanted to live in the Pacific North West. Maybe you have dreamed about living in the south one day. The military is a great opportunity to experience living in different places in the US and even the world.
  • Adventure- In for an adventure? Try to go overseas or in a place you never ever thought you would be able to live. Some military duty stations are more exciting than others. Picking a place out of your comfort zone might be the best idea. A lot of people worry about being overseas. Being overseas is different from what you are used to but going overseas or even Alaska or Hawaii can be a great opportunity for you and your family. Fun Fact: According to the Military, Alaska and Hawaii are overseas locations 🙂
  • Spouse’s career goals- Sometimes you will have to go somewhere based on your spouse’s career. They need to be stationed at certain places or they need to go certain places to attend a certain school. This can be hard when where they need to go isn’t a place you would want to pick. Don’t lose hope, sometimes you can have the best experiences in a location you never thought you would like.
  • Weather- When my husband was 19 years old he joined the Army for the first time. He was sent to Ft. Drum, NY. A California boy, in upstate NY. Talk about a weather change. Weather can be a factor. If you love your four seasons, putting in for California might not be ideal. If you can’t stand the snow, stay away from the northern locations. I am not sure how I would have handled a place like NY or Alaska. I feel like Tennessee is too cold for me 🙂

At the end of the day, you will go where the military wants your spouse to go. Sometimes you get a say, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes they ask and ignore what you have said and other times they will honor that. If you are given a choice, think about what you want and the type of place you want to be. If you don’t get your first few choices, remember, you can still bloom where you are stationed and can make the best of any duty station you might end up at.

Did your spouse get to choose your current duty station? What went into that decision?

Living in Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport

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Happy to have this guest post by Erin on Living in Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Living in Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport

Living in Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport

Welcome to Jacksonville, the largest city in Florida and home to multiple military bases and facilities. With bases like Mayport Naval Station, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay right over the Florida Georgia border, Jacksonville is the third largest military presence in the country.

The first thing most people notice when moving to Jacksonville is how big the city is. As both the largest city in population and area, Jacksonville is the 12th most populous city in the United States. From the Beaches to Riverside to Orange Park to Southside, each side of town caters to a different lifestyle depending on your preferences. The cost of living in some parts of town are higher than others and if you’re planning to live off base, it’s best to research each part of town to decide which one best fits your style of living. Some military families choose to live close to base while others sacrifice a longer commute to live in a part of town that appeals to their lifestyle.

Jacksonville, FL

If you’re interested in being surrounded by nature or into outdoor sports, you’ll find plenty of options in Jacksonville. Fishing is a popular pastime in Jacksonville, seeing as though the city is surrounded by so much water. Local parks offer hiking and biking trails, camping, and geocaching. The beaches are popular for both lounging and watersports like surfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. And both Mayport and NAS Jax offer swimming pools and waterparks for military families.

Naval Station Mayport

Both Mayport and NAS Jax offer Navy exchanges and commissaries with Jax’s NEX being larger of the two, though Jacksonville is in no short supply of grocery stores and shopping malls throughout the city. The largest grocery chains in town are Publix and Winn Dixie. There are four main shopping malls, with the St. Johns Town Center or the Orange Park Mall being the most popular choices.

Naval Station Mayport

In my opinion, the best feature of Jacksonville is the dining options. Jacksonville is home to some really great independently owned restaurants as well as your typical dining chains. I would urge you to branch out and try some of the local places. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good the food and drink options are. I could create a whole post about my favorite restaurants but here are a few of my recommendations – Poe’s Tavern in Atlantic Beach for burgers and the best tuna tacos; V Pizza in San Marco or Jax Beach for pizza and chicken wings (yes, wings!); and Maple Street Biscuit Company with numerous locations around town for a melt-in-your-mouth chicken biscuit.

Naval Station Mayport

Jacksonville is also adjacent to historic cities like Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine which make great day-trip destinations. Amelia Island and Fernandina offer beautiful beaches and State Parks with various amenities like hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation. As the oldest city in America, St. Augustine is full of historical monuments and attractions, museums, shopping, and dining options.

As a Jacksonville native, I’ve come to really love and appreciate my hometown for it’s diverse population, rich history, and unique amenities. And I strongly feel that Jacksonville has something to offer everyone.

Naval Station Mayport Erin is the author of erinwiggle.com, a comprehensive guide to the First Coast and neighboring cities. She’s a Sailor’s wife, outdoor enthusiast, furbaby mama, and foodie. Follow her on Instagram at @erinwiggle or send her an email at lifeaswiggle@gmail.com.

Learning to LOVE Belgium

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Happy to have this guest post by Christina on Living in Belgium. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Living in Belgium

Learning to LOVE Belgium

Living in Belgium

It’s no secret that any PCS can be an adjustment. I mean you pick up your whole life every couple of years and head off to somewhere new. New friends, new job, new house…basically a whole new life. I was pretty prepared for military life since as a teenager I moved MANY times and then I joined the military before I even graduated high school. At least I thought I was prepared for this life.

I wasn’t prepared for our PCS to Belgium, no matter how much I tried to ensure that I was. I did not have a love at first sight relationship with our new home. I mean, how can I have a love at first sight feeling when the closest Starbucks is an hour away! It took me about a year to get to the point where I felt comfortable here and started to really enjoy our life here.  Once I got to the point that I accepted and adapted to the Belgian customs and lifestyle I started to love it here. It was no longer about “I can’t believe they don’t have rest areas with bathrooms” or “why do I have to insert a coin to use a shopping cart”. Instead, I allowed things that aren’t typically the “American way” to become my new normal. I accepted and started to enjoy the new way of life.

So a little more about the base. Where we are being a GSU base (geographically separated unit), it’s a small community of Air Force members and their dependents. There is no base housing which means we are given BHA (Basic Housing Allowance) and are able to select a house from the approved list. When we arrived, we were taken around by the Belgian Liaison Officer to see about 11 homes. Once we decided which house we wanted to live in, the Belgian Liaison Officer did the paperwork and we moved in a couple of weeks later. There are quite a few villages surrounding the base so we are integrated into them. This allows us to not only experience the true Belgian way of life but also make friends with locals as opposed to only being surrounded by Americans. One of my dearest friends is the Belgian daycare provider that my youngest daughter went to for a few months before starting school. While we are all spread throughout the different villages, the base does a great job in ensuring we don’t isolate ourselves too. There are monthly lady’s night dinners along with monthly reoccurring events on base. One of my favorites is wings day! The small community can be a great thing or a bad thing. It all depends on your mindset. I try to attend at least 1-2 events with people from base. Plus, we are only a few hours from bigger bases like Ramstein so we try to visit there once a quarter to ensure we get a little taste of “home”. I mean it is pretty much little America. Honestly, it’s great to be at a smaller base and having the community of support that we get.

Of course, one of the main benefits of living in Europe is the travel opportunities. I can be in multiple countries within an hour from my house. At one point, we were driving home from a trip and within 30 minutes we had been in 3 different countries. Shockingly, the Belgians do not like to drive places and often do not travel. When we talk about taking a day trip to a place that is a couple of hours away they give us this crazy look. While we often choose to drive (we have two kids under 5 years old), you can definitely catch a train to endless amounts of places.

Here are a few of the travel perks of living in Belgium:

Day Trips We Have Taken

Kinderdijk

This place is pretty amazing. You get to experience 19 windmills from the 18th Century. Since majority of Holland is under sea level, the windmills are vital at keeping the area from flooding. You are able to bike the area, walk or even catch the boat. It was a fun trip for the whole family.

Living in Belgium

Tongeren Antique Market

This is an outdoor (mostly) antique market where you can find anything and everything you could imagine. It’s open every Sunday from early morning until just after noon. They are there rain or shine and you can find some great pieces to add to your home. We of course went when it was cold and rainy but still enjoyed it!

Kuekenhauf Gardens

This place is beyond amazing. It’s a bucket list must and if you are living in Belgium then you will be the odd one out if you don’t check it out.  

 Living in Belgium

Amazing Christmas Markets

If you have never heard about the Christmas Markets in Europe, then you are missing out! Starting just after Thanksgiving, the markets run through the end of December. Each one has its own appeal and if you can brave the cold then visiting each one is a great way to celebrate the season. One of my favorite Christmas Markets is Valkenburg, Holland. Not only is the Christmas Market in a cave but they also have the Magic Sand display. This display is beyond words and is done out of sand. Each year they change the theme too so you get to see new and just as impressive sculptures each year. It’s unlike anything I have ever seen!

Castles

Europe is flood with castles! I can never put into words these massive and beautiful architecture. Of course the girls always have to be princesses if visiting one because you know they live in one (yeah right! LOL).

American History

Many people do not realize the American History that was made over here in Europe. Between the beaches of D-Day to the World War II American Cemetery in Margraten. Not many people get an opportunity to experience these things and the fact that you can do this all while LIVING here is pretty amazing.

Traveling Home to the U.S.

Living in Belgium

Since Ramstein isn’t a far drive, we can catch Space A flights back to the States. Depending on the season, it can be really busy. However, when my grandmother passed and we were not prepared (meaning we hadn’t saved for a trip home) we were able to save THOUSANDS of dollars by catching a Space A flight. It took us two days to get onto a flight and we had a drive once we landed in the States but it’s totally worth the money saved if you are able to have some flexibility in your travel dates.  I’m pretty sure my kids think that flying in the back of a military cargo plane is totally normal.

Traveling is great and all but the area where you live is what’s most important to me. Especially when you have children…you base all of your decisions on what school the kids attend, is there room for their toys, the bedrooms good enough, is there a park nearby, etc. Belgium does not disappoint in this area at all. There are weekly markets in each village where you can get fresh produce right from the farm, fresh flowers and even clothing. While the area we live speaks mostly Dutch & Flemish, as long as you approach the situation correctly then they have no problems speaking what English they do know to you. My rule of thumb is to initially apologize and tell them I do not speak Dutch. Once they see that I am apologetic they will speak English if they know it. Fuel is a little outrageous but we do get gas rations at a cheaper price. Our rations are low but the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) dictates that and won’t be changing any time soon. We take trips and have two vehicles yet we only pay the European fuel price a few times in two years. Another thing to consider is that as a spouse, you are not allowed to work under the SOFA. There are a few civilian jobs available on the base but with so many spouses and minimal positions, it’s unlikely you will have a job while here.

However, there are some great benefits to living in Belgium…

Daycare costs are much lower than in the United States. We put our youngest daughter into an at home daycare twice a week with a Dutch provider and she not only was amazing but the hourly rate was much lower than the States. It’s based off of pay but the provider is supplemented by the government for the remaining amount. No worries though, because you only pay daycare (if you use it) up until your kid starts school at age 2 ½! Let me just say, the Dutch school that my kids attend is AMAZING! Our kids speak fluent Dutch and have learned so much along with achieved great social skills.

You will see animals and farms EVERYWHERE! There is not a day that goes by that I am not stuck behind a tractor when taking my kids to school or just running to the store.

Which leads me to the best part….THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS! I have seriously gained ten pounds living here because I can’t refuse the bakery, seafood and THE FRIES! (By the way, Belgians are very proud about their fries and will inform you that fries are NOT French! LOL) They use mayo for their fries here which was already a thing for me so I was golden. Mussels are a Belgian must and of course the waffles with Nutella are heaven.

Living in Belgium

Ultimately, each duty station is what you make of it. That has always been my belief but I noticed that when we first got here I wasn’t trying to make the best of it. It’s important to understand that living OCONUS is an adventure. Your three or four-year tour will pass quicker than you think and the year that I spent adapting is a year of missing out on some great stuff. It will take time to adjust because you are in a different country where they speak a different language and do things differently. However, if you keep an open mind and understand this adjustment and are willing to adapt then you will be comfortable a lot quicker. Live in the moment and cherish the amazing memories you are making while you are here. You will be PCS’ing before you know it!

 

Heart & StripesChristina is currently living in Belgium with her husband and two children, ages 2 and 4. She has always loved writing and has found a home for it on her blog Heart & Stripes. She loves being a stay at home mom, volunteering on base, spending time with her family and upcycling furniture. She was raised in Florida so she heads to the beach and Disney as often as she can.

 

Living at Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida

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Happy to have this guest post by Dawn on Hurlburt Field AFB in Florida. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Living at Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida

Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida

The Florida Gulf Coast, or more lovely referred to as “Red Neck Hawaii” or “Red Neck Riviera” is home to Hurlburt Field and Eglin AFB. If you look at a map, the bases appeared to be joined but in reality, they function as two completely separate bases. Eglin AFB is the largest Air Force Base in the world and that doesn’t even include Hurlburt Field.

Hurlburt Field AFB, FloridaThe Base

You’ll find all the same services on both bases, which is nice. But of course, with the size of Eglin comes a few more conveniences, like longer operating hours.

If you are looking for service on Hurlburt, there is this amazing app the base has created to help you get around and find all the contact information you are looking for. It’s called 1 SOW- Hurlburt Field AFB from GLIP Inc. A must have if you are new and come to Hurlburt Field for the first time. I recommend this for both you and your spouse. I haven’t seen it at any other base and we love having everything right on our phone for easy access. Available for Android and IOS!

 

Places to Live

Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida

Where to live is another important question everyone wants to know about! If you’re going to be stationed at Hurlburt, there are a few areas you’ll want to stick around. Assuming a 30-minute commute, the east Side of Gulf Breeze is the furthest you’ll want to go east. If you want to go west, the northwest tip of Okaloosa Island is the furthest you’ll want to go. 98 really is the biggest limiter in commute because the traffic gets pretty rough. About once a week there’s an accident on that road and most routes to and from really depend on 98.

Mary Esther and Fort Walton Beach are both super close to base. But you will definitely pay a premium for those houses. The area is well established and there aren’t a lot of new houses going up. And there hasn’t been for probably 30 years. That has some perks, of course: The landscaping is mature, the community has plenty of build up and you’re never too far from anything you need. The down side there is that the schools aren’t the best. But they do have a few private schools if you fall in love with the area. Okaloosa Island is absolutely gorgeous! The houses there definitely reflect that in their price, though. And getting any kind of land is basically unheard of. If you want a nice condo, though, this is DEFINITELY where you want to start looking! Be aware that during tourist season, though, you’re going to hate everything.

Navarre and East Gulf Breeze are relatively new communities, which means you’ll get newer houses. And they’re cheaper than older houses, too! You’re going to enjoy the beauty of Navarre beach without as much tourist traffic. The schools are highly rated and the area is nice and relatively quiet. But it definitely has a “middle of nowhere” vibe. You’re not going to have all the luxuries, but hey, at least there’s a Wal-Mart! If you need more shopping choices, you can always drive East to Fort Walton where you’ll find the Santa Rosa mall and lots of other smaller shopping complexes. If you want to more choices, I recommend the Cordova Mall in Pensacola or the outdoor shopping at Destin’s Commons. If you are looking for big brand shopping at low prices,
there is always Silver Sand’s Premium Outlet Mall in Destin. It’s worth the drive every couple of months.

Great Places to Eat

Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida

While you’re here, you’re going to want to eat. So where do you go? I’m going to give you some of my favorites for you to try while you’re here. If you try nothing else on my list, you must go to: McGuires Irish Pub. With two great locations in Pensacola and Destin, there really is no excuse for you to miss this experience. Irish pub grub delivered with ales brewed in copper kettles, plus live music most nights. You won’t be disappointed. Be sure to try the Split pea soup, you’ll thank me later! Keep in mind that this is THE tourist spot, though, and plan to eat at off-peak times or plan for a wait. But there’s a reason everyone wants to eat here, I promise it’s worth it!

Some of my other favorites in the area:

TASTE | Tapas & Wine Bar – Fort Walton Beach Premiere Wine
bar serving fusion tapas and varieties of wine. They serve and
amazing brunch menu too.
Ali Baba Grill Cafe – Casual spot for familiar Turkish & Greek
recipes offered à la carte & at a buffet, plus beer & wine in Fort
Walton. If you’re coming from a European Base, this is the closest
you’ll get to Doner Kebabs anymore. And, really, they aren’t that
far off.
Helen Back Cafe – American sports bar with a patio, drink
specials, hand-tossed pizza & sandwiches, plus theme nights.
With 4 location in Fort Walton, Crestview, Navarre, and Niceville.
 Military night and dollar pizza night. The pizza is just wonderful
greasy, cheesy goodness. It doesn’t get any better folks.
Johnny Huston’s Grille and Bar –Local watering hole pairing
burgers & other pub grub with drinks in a casual, down-home
setting in Navarre. I haven’t had anything I don’t like here. Try
their Mac and Cheese Burger…omg yum.
Juana’s Pagodas –Waterfront bar & grill with lots of
entertainment, including live music, beach volleyball & pool write
on the Navarre Beach Sound.  Their breakfast is really amazing.
 Try the French Toast with homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread.
The Slippery Mermaid Sushi Bar – Creative, sushi-centric menu in
a quaint house with sake & a screened porch with a view of the
sound in Navarre.  This place is small but the Sushi is top-notch!
Flounder’s Chowder House – Chowder house with real
confessional booths & stained-glass windows plus views over the
sound on Pensacola beach.  Beautiful and delicious food.  I must
try!

 

 

Beach Life

Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida

I know what you are really interested in, though: THE BEACH! If you’ve never seen the beaches of the Florida panhandle, you are missing out. The white sand and crystal clear water make them some of the most beautiful beaches in the country! The best part is you have your choice on which beach you want to go to; and they are all free.

So if you want to head to the beaches with more amenities (Destin or Pensacola) you can go in the off-season. I live in Navarre and I am 2 miles away from the beach. Navarre Beach is my favorite both for the close proximity to my house and how peaceful it is; even during tourist season it’s still not too over crowded. You have to take a bridge over the sound to get to the beach area, but on the corner of 98 and the Navarre Bridge is a playground that you can take your kids to for a picnic or just to enjoy the playground and splash pad.

It’s also really nice to have both the sound and the beach to choose from. This way if you want calmer waters for taking a boat or kayak out, you don’t have to put it in the ocean. We also venture over to Pensacola beach area from time to time because they have a dog friendly beach there and we love to bring out Toy Poodle, Leo, whenever we get the chance.

If you are a beach lover and enjoy warm weather all year round, Hurlburt Field AFB in Florida is a great place to live. People come from all over the country just to be here for a week and well, you get to live here. How lucky are you? I’m so grateful to be stationed here. Small town charm with a vacation feel atmosphere. It doesn’t get any better.

 

Hurlburt Field AFB, FloridaDawn Zangerle is the Owner and Operator of The Divine Life Blog. She is a former singer and actress from NYC. She is now resides in Navarre, FL with her husband, Evan, who is a Capt. in the USAF. She’s been a military spouse for 9 years and is currently trying to start her family with the help of IVF.

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What To Expect At MCAS Iwakuni, Japan

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Happy to have this guest post by Kelly on MCAS Iwakuni in Japan. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Living at Iwakuni, Japan

Finding out your family has orders overseas can be intimidating but if you’re one of the lucky ones that has orders to MCAS Iwakuni, you’ll soon fall in love with this tiny but growing base. There is plenty on base to remind you of home but fun and adventure begins as soon as you exit the gates.

MCAS Iwakuni

While it is small, MCAS Iwakuni offers quite a bit. At Crossroads Mall there is Subway, Pizza Hut, KFC, Burger King, Taco Bell, Baskin Robbins, and Crossroads Café. Currently the Post Office, Commissary, and Sakura Theater are in the process of being moved to larger buildings to accommodate the base’s growing population. There is a bunch of construction going on to building new homes and renovating some of the older homes and towers. There are three types of housing for families: row homes (three story 3 or 4 bedrooms), town homes (two story 2 or 3 bedrooms), and tower apartments (2 or 3 bedrooms). One of the things I can’t seem to get over is how beautiful it is here. The Nishiki River runs past the Sea Wall and a great place to watch to sun set behind the mountains. The Sea Wall runs around most of the base. It is as wide as a small road and paved. A great place to go walking, running, or bike riding. It runs past the Ironworks Gym. The gym is decent sized and offers a variety of fun classes to keep you in shape. The indoor pool is located at Ironworks. There is an outdoor pool with a waterslide located across the street from Crossroads Mall and the Library. The Library just reopened in January after a renovation that included installing a 3D printer that is free to use.

MCAS Iwakuni

Off base there are many options for food, fun, and adventure. There are many restaurants within walking distance. You can try okonomiyaki (savory pancake), yakitori (food on a stick), shabu shabu (cook your food in flavored broths), yakuniku (cook your food on a grill in front of you), and a variety of ramen shops without having to go more than ten minutes from base. While you are and about, it’s highly recommended to go see Kintaikyo Bridge. It is a beautiful stone and wooden bridge built in the 1600’s. It is beautiful on it’s own but stunning when the Nishiki River is lined with cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Just past the Kintaikyo Bridge is Kikko Park where you can find many fountains and statues. You can ride a gondola from Kikko Park to Iwakuni Castle. Iwakuni Castle has been turned into a museum about Iwakuni City. The view from the top of the castle is breathtaking. If you wish to see more of Japan it’s easy to hop on a plane or train or even the bullet train to explore Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, Miyajima Island or even Tokyo. Recently MCAS Iwakuni made the news when President Obama visited the base on his way to see the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima.

Don’t let being in a foreign land intimidate you.  Don’t just stay on base. Actually go out and experience all that Japan has to offer. The memories you’ll make will last a lifetime. Don’t worry about the language barrier. The Google Translate app has helped us get around that. The Nationals are some of the nicest people I have met. Most of the time when we ask directions to a place they will actually walk us to the destination even if it’s a few blocks away. Either way be open to adventure and enjoy your time in Japan.

 

MCAS IwakuniKelly Stillwagon is originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She currently lives in Iwakuni, Japan with her handsome husband, Jeremy. She is the owner of Barking Fabulous Dog Treats, and a blogger for I Do and Adieu. Kelly is also a paranormal investigator with over 10 years of experience. In her free time she loves to read, penpal, bake, paint, and veg out with Netflix with her kittens, Katniss Everpurr and Bagheera.

Social Media Links: Facebook page for “I Do And Adieu”- https://www.facebook.com/idoandadieu Instagram page for Kelly Stillwagon and I Do And Adieu- https://www.instagram.com/stillkelz/