Military families, depending on their time in the service, will go through many permanent changes of station, a PCS. While this is no doubt stressful and some record-keeping may fall by the wayside as a result, history has shown that it may be very beneficial for military families to keep good track of their moves.
This doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking, but it should become part of every PCS. Record the address, the date of service, the installations, where you will be working, and any renovations that may be done.
Housing and Environmental Concerns Can Show Up Later
One environmental concern military families may encounter in housing is mold. Mold exposure can cause respiratory irritation, aggravating asthma and other existing respiratory conditions. If someone develops persistent breathing problems years later, knowing where they lived could give a healthcare provider much-needed additional context. However, it doesn’t stop at just mold, nor does it stop at the housing itself.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has even helped process these concerns with the VA’s Military Environmental Exposure Assessments (MEEA), which document all of your concerns and potential exposure histories, including work stations. According to the VA, this exposure spans a wide range: chemicals, air pollutants, contaminated water, radiation, burn pits, chemical warfare agents, and other toxic substances. Knowing where you were stationed and for what period with 100% certainty is a massive help.
Lesser-Known Hazards in Your Home
Over the past few decades, military bases have been renovated, closed, or demolished due to health concerns associated with them. According to the Mesothelioma Veteran Center, asbestos in army barracks has been found as recently as 2022! Asbestos exposure can result in asbestosis as long as 50 years after contact. While you may change station to somewhere that is safe as far as we know now, it could, in a decade or more, be recognized as a potential risk.
Unfortunately, these concerns can extend to the family as well. A hazard like asbestos can lead to secondary exposure, as seen in cases like the now-defunct Fort McLellan. Asbestos would find its way onto the service member who would bring it home, potentially exposing their family to it as well.
It is crucial to note that not every military base that has a hazard will have affected everyone who was stationed there. This is part of the reason good record keeping is so crucial. What may be considered a benign condition may come under a lot more scrutiny if your PCS history shows a 5 year stay at an installation that is later suspected to have potentially exposed service members (or their families) to asbestos, lead, mold, or toxic chemicals.
PCS Record Keeping Does Not Have to Be Complicated
Just because bases have had exposure risks in the past doesn’t mean it will definitely happen again. Your average PCS will likely not expose you to such a harmful hazard, but because it has a possibility, keeping track of where you moved and for how long can be instrumental in supporting your family’s health long-term.
Military spouses often become the unofficial historian of their family’s life, keeping copies of orders, addresses, and school records. Keeping a good record of a problematic PCS doesn’t have to be much different. The goal isn’t to worry about every house or every base, it is simply to keep the history. Keep notes about significant housing or environmental problems alongside the address and date/duration of the PCS. If an unexplained health issue eventually arises, a healthcare provider could make use of that history.
While a PCS may only last a year or two, the record you keep could remain useful for a lifetime.
Your PCS Record-Keeping Checklist
After each military move, save a simple record of where your family lived and anything significant that happened while you were there.
- Address and duty station: Keep the complete address and installation name.
- Dates: Record when you moved in and when you moved out.
- Orders: Save copies of PCS orders and other relevant military documents.
- Housing problems: Keep records of mold, leaks, renovations, maintenance requests, or other major concerns.
- Photos and paperwork: Save photographs, emails, inspection reports, and repair documentation when something significant occurs.
- Work locations: Service members may also want to document units, work sites, deployments, and known occupational or environmental concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keeping PCS Records
What records should military families keep after a PCS?
Military families may want to keep PCS orders, addresses, move-in and move-out dates, installation information, housing inspection documents, maintenance requests, photographs, and notes about significant housing or environmental concerns.
Why should military families keep old addresses?
Keeping old addresses can help families reconstruct where they lived and when. That information may later be useful for school, employment, benefits, housing, or health-related questions.
What is the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record?
The Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, or ILER, is a military system that brings together documented occupational and environmental exposure information from a service member’s military career.
What should I save if military housing has mold or another serious problem?
Consider saving photographs, maintenance requests, emails, inspection reports, repair records, dates, and information about where the problem occurred. If you have health concerns, discuss them with an appropriate health care provider.