Tag Archives: military

Tips for Tricare

Posted on August 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

I have hurt my wrist, I don’t know how and I’m not entirely sure I know what is wrong with it.  I don’t even think my PCM knows what is wrong with it.  But, she has sent me to a Physical Therapist anyway.  Maybe that person will know what is wrong with it but wait….. that means a referral… UGH!!! I’m not a huge fan of being sourced out for every little thing.  I don’t do well with new places and people.  But, I need to go and so the referral from Tricare is in.  So, I get this call from Texas (yes you are reading that correctly) to make an appointment for PT. At first, I was thinking it was strange but then was like, whatever, and made the appointment.  Well, in the interest of my sanity and my children’s well being, I canceled the appointment and decided to look into the place Tricare was sending me.  Turns out it is downtown and not in the greatest of locations. I would have to pay a toll and parking to go there.  WHAT?! So not going to do that when there is a PT place a mile from the base!  Got on the phone called Tricare and had my referral changed to the place a mile away.  It was so simple and within a couple of hours the new place had called me to make an appointment.  The appointment was for a time where I wouldn’t have to worry about what the hell I was going to do with the kids.  Sometimes it is just that simple with Tricare and sometimes it’s not.  So here are some helpful…. well, I hope they are helpful, tips for dealing with our health care system so you get the care you want and most importantly NEED.

1.  You must manage them.  Tricare is your health insurance. You pay for it (ok, taxes pay for it) so you manage it.  It is all yours!  So when you want a referral to go the way you want, then it is up to you to make that happen. This will require you to educate yourself on the limits of your plan whether it is Prime, Remote, Standard or Extended.  Know what you are entitled to and make sure you get it.   Just like me knowing I could be seen at practice that was closer and was a good one because I knew several people who had been seen there.  A friend needed surgery and knew who she wanted to do it and so she made that happen.  She made it happen, not the Tricare Rep!  Just like owning a business, you must manage your health care.

2.  Educate yourself on your plan.  This was just mentioned in tip #1 but it is a tip in itself.  You must know what you are entitled to.  For example, if you are on Prime your prescriptions are covered BUT you must get them from the base pharmacy.  So, when you visit the ER with a sick kid who needs antibiotics, don’t let them “call it in”, ask for it to be written down and take to the base.  Standard and Extended have their benefits BUT you have to pay extra for them and you will most likely have a co-pay.

3.  Make sure you transfer your region when you PCS.  I feel confident most spouses know that there are different regions and then overseas for Tricare.  Each region has its own contractor and policies can vary.  It is important to know which region you are in and the policies of that region. With every PCS the member needs to contact Tricare and inform them of your move to ensure you are under the right region.

4.  Don’t schedule  specialized appointments without referrals!  Seems like a no brainer, right?  Well, there are people who have done this and then had to fight with Tricare to have their appointments paid for.  Just because the doctor tells you are going to be referred out doesn’t mean you get to go ahead, find the doctor you want and make the appointment.  If, you get the referral and it isn’t with your doctor of choice, that’s fine.  You can change it like I did but wait for the authorization letter first, then make the switch.  Things have improved and referrals are coming through faster as time goes on.  Better to wait an extra few days then have a battle on your hands.

5.  Know where the Tricare Representatives office is located and know their contact information.   This is important because sometimes no matter how careful you are or how much you think you have it down something will happen and you will need their help.  For example, I ran a half marathon got super dehydrated and needed EMT care.  Well, the EMTs said not worry that they deal with Tricare all the time and being seen wouldn’t be an issue and I didn’t need anything to take back to my PCM.  Yeah, till I got the bill in the mail!  Refer back to tip #3!  But, we headed over to the Tricare Rep and it was fixed with no issues.

In my final thoughts on this topic, I want to share with you how lucky I feel to have the health care we have.  Yes, it can be frustrating at times.  We often have to fight the good fight for the care we deserve BUT at least we are insured and for the most part everything is covered.  I feel grateful to have had two c-sections for FREE and the peace of mind that if my kids get sick I can take them to the doctor.  It is those things that make all the bullshit of Tricare worth it.  The trick is knowing the system and managing it yourself and not expecting others to do it for you.

There is a link to the Tricare website on my Resource page.

A big THANK YOU to my dear friend and fellow milspouse, Sarah, for helping me with this blog!

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Five Reason to NOT Live This Life

Posted on August 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

A couple of months ago I wrote why I love living a military life, and it’s true.  I’ve said it many times in this blog so far BUT there are things that make it hard….. really, really hard.  Most will say that with all endeavors we love, there are the dark sides.  Sides that make us pause and question our decisions in life.  Right now I’m having one of those moments where the dark side of military life is speaking loud and clear and I am questioning why I like it.  Here are the reasons, the dark ones, to not live this life.

1.  The constant good-byes.  Well, they aren’t true “good-byes”, more like “see ya, laters” but it is the moment where you must turn your back and continue on with life without someone you love.  The most difficult are our spouses, parents and our military families we treat like family.  Those moments never get easier…. NEVER!

2.  Having to take our children from a life they love.  Military children form fast friendships and partake in sports they love and go to schools with teachers that inspire them.  It is a sad moment when you have to tell your children that you will be moving them from those people or that those people are moving away from them.  There is nothing you can do to comfort them as they take a leap of faith and hope that they will make another friend, have a teacher they love or a join a winning sports team.

3.  Looking for new doctors and dentists.   For the first time in my Navy life I’m being seen at a civilian dental practice and I LOVE THEM!  They have been great with our boys and just all around great people work in this practice.  So, looking forward to our upcoming PCS next year I’m feeling pains of having to leave a practice I’m thrilled with and hope to find a new one that meets the standard I expect.

4.  Making new friends.  For some people this isn’t a big deal.  They are outgoing and likable but me… not so much.  I tend to be reserved and hold back on warming up to new people.  It seems that after I finally find one or two people that will have my back, they become my sisters, then they leave or I leave.  It is sad and hard and I’m dreading having to leave friends here and make new ones.

5.  The packing and unpacking.  It is true that I enjoy cleaning out our home and getting ready for our move but it is a lot of work and each time I pray the Navy gives me the time to do it.  I also stress about where our kids will be.  Will they be in school or with a sitter or home with us? Which one is better?  Then there is the moment you take a look at your new home and wonder if all your stuff will fit.  And of course, there are the boxes and paper….. Some people like when the packers take all the stuff away but after having to organize a house with piles of stuff everywhere because the packers just put stuff anywhere, I’ll take this one on no matter how much I don’t like it.

So, there we have it.  Five reasons that make me question why I continue to follow the man I love and live this life.  They are small sacrifices that I don’t mind dealing with but when I have to face them I can’t help but resent my military life.  But, then I remind myself of all the great things especially the most important, my husband.  It might be a military life I live but it wouldn’t be much of a life at all without him.  So, when I am feeling resentful and angry because I have to say “good-bye” to my family, I will pour a glass of wine, sit on my porch and chat with a friend and hope to feel better the next day.

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School Uniforms for Rags? WHAT?!

Posted on July 27, 2012 | 1 Comment

Yes, I realize that I set up a format for this blog but it’s mine and I can write what I want and I feel the need to vent via my blog today.

For those who don’t know, here in Louisiana the schools have uniform policies.  This means that Military children moving into this area they must wear a uniform if they are attending school be it public, private or charter.  It can be a costly expense and the base used to have a Navy Marine Corpse Relief Society Thrift Shop that sold local uniforms at a discounted price.  I mean, like dirt cheap and for the most part they were in great condition. Well, due to reasons I don’t know, the Thrift Store closed.  So, I went over to the NMCRS office to find out what the story on the school uniforms was and I was told that they had been DESTROYED!!! Given to our local MWR to be made into rags. WHAT??!!  I felt sick to my stomach!  Who would think something like that was a good idea? I just don’t get it!  Why didn’t the people making this decision search other options? I can think of several and  NMCRS staff,  here are my suggestions if you had only asked:

1.  Contact local Ombudsmen, Key Spouse, FROs and FRAOs and ask if they have needy families who would benefit from free uniforms.

2.  Contact the  local school PTOs and ask if they would like them for resale to military families. 

3.  Save them and give them away to families who come to you for counseling.

4.  Work with  MWR and sell them at their garage sales.

5.  Have a “Close Out Sale”, advertise like crazy and try to sell off as much as possible before doing suggestions 1, 2, 3, or 4! 

There are five….. I am sure I can come with more if I spend more time thinking and brainstorming.  Shame on you for doing a disservices to our community.  A community in which your main job is to assist families in need.  I know that this is most likely an isolated incident and the vast majority of NMCRS offices are helpful and necessary for the our military community.  So even with this thoughtless act, I will still send families in dire straights to them for help.

In the future you can be sure that if I hear of anything like a much need Thrift Store closing, I am going to act immediately!  I will not ever keep to myself and “wait to see what happens”.  No, next time I am going to march my happy “you know what” into the office and make sure nothing of this nature happens again.

Now, I will return to regular formatting where I share tips and resources while wearing my suit of armor and drinking a glass of wine.

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Ten Facts About Me

Posted on July 9, 2012 | 5 Comments

It has occurred to me that my readers do not know a whole lot about me except from the little sprinkles here and there that I place in my post.  So, since I am on somewhat of a break… well, actually vacation… I thought I would write some facts about who I am.

1.  I was an Active Duty Sailor.  After high school I enlisted in the Navy as a musician.  This is where I met my husband and spent the first nine years of my adult life.  I gave birth to our oldest son while I was still on AD.  Why did I leave, you ask?  Well, I wanted to be home with my little man and it was a very hard and stressful life working the kind of job we worked with a baby. So, I left and now I am full time mom.

2.  I love running! Yes, it is true, I love to run.  I have run 3 half marathons and the Navy 10 Nautical Miler. In October I will run another half with Stroller Warriors New Orleans. It helps me feel less stressed and as my oldest son once said, “It helps keep us all less stressed.” He was three when he said that.

3.  I make great soups.  In my house we love soup and no matter how hot it is I make soup. I don’t use recipes…. well, I will read some for ideas and then make up my own. This is my go to dinner for new parents or pot luck dinners.  They are little pots full of love because nothing is better than homemade chicken soup.

4.  Everyone in my family was born in different places.  My husband and I met while both serving in the Navy so it is pretty obvious that we were born in different places; him West Virginia and me Pennsylvania. But, our boys were also born in different places. My oldest was born in Virginia and our youngest in Yokosuka, Japan.  A quote from my older son, “How can me and Rory be brothers if we were born in different countries?  Rory has to be Japanese because that is where he was born.”  Ahh… kids say the darnedest things.

5.  I love cats!  When I first met and started dating my husband I had two black cats.  I told him, “love me, love my cats” and ever since that moment we only went one stretch without a cat.  While in Japan our beloved Cheddar, who we was abandoned in base housing, turned out to be a very, very old cat and died the year before we moved.  But, within a week of settling into our new home we got another one and five months later another one.  What can I say?  I love cats!

6.  I am serving as a Command Ombudsman.  Two years ago a friend told me I would be great at this job and had heard the position was available.  Well, that wasn’t entirely true but it worked out!  I love this job!  There is no better way to give back to the military in my opinion.  This position is what lead me to blogging.  I wanted an outlet to share my life and all the knowledge I have through a public forum.  Knowledge is power and I firmly believe military spouses need a lot of it!

7.  I have a twin sister.  I’m putting this out there now because I often don’t even really think about it until we are together and she is meeting friends for the first time.  Being a twin is sorta second nature and not something I think to tell people when I meet them.  But, on more than one occasion, okay on lots and lots of occasions my poor sister was mistaken for me because I didn’t tell anyone I had a twin.

8.  I love the heat but it doesn’t love me.  Currently we are stationed in New Orleans and I love it when it gets hot BUT I have asthma and so that heat doesn’t love me.  I love to run when it is warm and get all sweaty and sit in the sun and read but alas this asthma of mine keeps in the cool AC.  It is a fact that we won’t be retiring in the South in the land of the drive through daiquiri stands.  (and…. sighing…..)

9.  Abigail Adams and Martha Stewart are my heroes!  Abigail Adams is just an amazing woman.  Learning about her made me want to be an Ombudsman.  Yes, I know her husband was never in the military but the life she had to lead is much like our lives.  She had to be strong and lead and well…. she is just an awesome person!  Martha? I just want to be able to cook, clean and be organized like she does and have the time and money to do it.

10.  I truly love my life.  There are a lot of spouses who “put up with” military life because it is what their life is.  They hate moving, they don’t like the lifestyle and so and so on the reasons go.  I, however, really enjoy it.  I like the moving, it gives me a chance to clean out the old and plan for the new.  I like living in different places and meeting new people.  When I was a kid, I used to day dream about how other kids lived in different parts of the country.  I also love the culture of the military with its rules and boundaries.  It isn’t for everyone but it works for me.

There you have it! Ten things you may not have known about me.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Do we have something in common?  Is there something we are complete opposites on? Do think I am nuts for liking Martha Stewart, cats and soup in hot weather? Oh and please leave a comment with something about yourself that people may not know.

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5 Ways to Take Care of Self

Posted on June 22, 2012 | 1 Comment

As military spouses we like to wear suits of armor and lead a life where we can take it all on and nothing can stop us.  But, is that really true?  When we are left behind to play all roles, can we really do it without thought to our own self?  I don’t think so…. Maybe there are some spouses who can do it all and never take time to see a movie with friends or get a massage. However, I don’t find that healthy; do you?  It is important to the health of our family that we care for ourselves.  I know exactly what I need to do for myself so that I can be 100% for my children and husband.  And…. I know when I am not giving back to myself.  What do I do for myself?  Here are the tools I use….

1. Exercise!  I remember the day I decided that exercise was about me and no one else.  We had just returned to Japan from visiting family in the states.  In my tired jet lagged mind I thought to myself, “I do so much for my kids, they can do this one thing for me for just 30 mins.” And from that moment forward it has been a priority.  It burns off my extra pent up energy and helps me stay less stressed.  I used a jogging strollers, base Fitness facilities, daycare and now Stroller Warriors.  There is always time, you just have to decide it is about you and no one else and make it a priority.

2.  Daycare!  This is a controversial one for sure but, I firmly believe we milspouses need it.  Not just so that we can go to doctor/dentist appointments but for time to ourselves. In past blogs I talk about using hourly CDC care when my boys were babies.  Now, I use babysitters.  No guilt here!  Sometimes it is just so nice to sit in a coffee shop and read a book or meet friends for lunch, ALONE.  One mom told me a long time ago that daycare was “mommy crack” and she was right!

3.  Support Groups. Support groups can range from Navy Compass to FRGs to Wives.. oops…. Spouses Clubs (men don’t really join them, do they?) to Athletic Clubs.  I am sure if you ask around you will find one.  Most military installations have them.  For me right now I have my Stroller Warriors.  Sure, we meet up with our kids and run but we also go our for happy hour.  They are my life line, a group of women that keep me laughing and inspire me.  We are there for each other through it all and because we are all milspouses, we can relate to each others’ problems and support one another through them.

4.   Girls/guys nights and dates with your spouse.  Seems like such simple advice but there are way too many milspouses out there who dedicate all their time and energy into their children, jobs and volunteer efforts.  Take time to cultivate those friendships from Facebook and date your spouse so that you don’t lose touch with the person you married.  Someday those little people who vie for attention won’t be around on a daily basis and you don’t want to wake up and realize you don’t know your husband/wife anymore or that you don’t really have friends.

5.  Have a hobby that is all your own.  Find something (social media doesn’t count) that is just for you and you alone.  This includes hobbies like knitting, reading, gardening and scrapbooking.  I like knitting (although, I don’t do it often) and reading.  I also run half marathons which I did because my entire life’s accomplishments where about my children and I wanted something that was solely mine.  Knitting a sweater for a very dear friend’s new baby also made me feel that way.   You will need something when your kids go off to school.  Those first few days are wonderfully peaceful and then they become a little boring.  It is also important that your children understand that not everything is about them.  There are some things in life that are just about Mommy or Daddy and trust me, they will champion you onto those accomplishments!

So, take off your suits of armor and let your guard down, grab a friend or spouse and a glass of wine and enjoy yourself.  You deserve the time!  You deserve that pedicure and massage with your best friend. You deserve a date with your spouse and enjoy dinner without interruptions from children. You deserve to take  care of YOU!!!

What do you do to relax and take care of yourself?

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Happy Father’s Day to Military Dads

Posted on June 15, 2012 | 1 Comment

With Father’s Day being on Sunday I am going to deter from my usually format and write about how great our Military dads are.  It isn’t easy being a dad on Active Duty and I know this because I witness how much my husband misses with our boys.  He has missed birthdays, Scouting promotions, sports events and much more.  Yet, somehow he is always there, too.  My husband manages to be heavily involved in all aspects of our children’s lives. It all started when our oldest son went to pre-school. He was on the Executive Board because partaking in the regular mandatory volunteer hours wasn’t enough!  Being the snack parent for soccer wasn’t good enough either, he had to coach even though he didn’t know how.  Think he could  just  be a parent that sees to it that our Cub Scout went door to door selling popcorn?  No, not my husband!  He served as the Ass. Cub Scout Master and now the Committee Chair.  He can’t always be in the boys classrooms at school for all their various events but he sure knows what is going!  He serves on a board there, too.

Sure, my husband does a lot but you know what?  So do most Mildads!  It amazes me the amount of fathers who will work long days and then come home scoop up their children and head out the door to coach their sports teams, be leaders for their Boy Scout Packs, hold positions on the PTO and so much more.  These guys might miss out on so much of their children’s lives but they also give up so much of their own free time if means doing something with their children.  I am completely in awe of these men who coach soccer teams in uniform or sacrifice their lunch break for a school event.

Our military children are so lucky to have men like these to look up to; with such honor and dedication to not just country but also family.  In our home the sun rises sets on my husband.  He is a hero to our children and I believe it is because he does so much for them to ensure they are well rounded.  My husband will work a long ten hour day and come home tired and yet, he will play video games, throw footballs, teach them to ride their bikes and read bedtime stories.  It’s no wonder our boys admire him so much. But, this is how our mildads role!  No day is too long and tiring to not spend an hour playing with their children and escape the troubles of their jobs.

Happy Father’s Day Mildads!!! Especially my husband; today is in honor of you!

What amazing things do your husband’s do for your children despite their hectic military careers?

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5 Tips for Living in Base Housing

Posted on June 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

A little more than six years ago I drove away from the first and only house we owned.  It was our first major purchase the year we were married, where we started our married life and brought our first son home to. But, sadly it wasn’t our forever home because we were ordered overseas and so our journey into government housing began.  There are pros and cons to this type of living and I try really, really hard to focus on the pros because it is where I’m at for now and it isn’t changing anytime soon.  Some maybe reading this thinking, “Pros? There are NO pros to housing! It was an awful experience I never want to visit again!”  Trust me, I have those feelings, too.  However, I am not the sort of person to choose to focus on the cons because I have these two little people who need to see good in the world.  Here is how I do it:

1.  Make “nice” with the neighbors.  For the past six years while living in housing we haven’t had one issue with our neighbors.  If a problem arises we simple talk to them about it, like loud music or kids fighting.  We have to live next to these people and the last thing anyone wants is to be in constant turmoil with your neighbors.  So, even if the family next to you isn’t your “cup of tea” just be nice, say “hi” when coming and going.  This makes it so easy to just live day to day without the worry that security will be called for something simple and mundane.

2.  Follow the rules and regulations.  Following the rules and “regs” may seem so simple but you wouldn’t believe (or maybe you do) the amount of people who will go out of their way just break those rules because they don’t like them.  But… when you do, it makes life a little easy to just live.  There are no annoying notes on the door or calls from housing or stress about what will happen if maintenance workers are in the house or what will happen if the neighbors report you and so on.  Do yourself a huge favor and just follow the policies you agreed to when you signed your lease.  If is too much to ask, then don’t live in base housing (PPV).

3.  Know where your kids are and stay outside while 5 and younger play.  Small children need parental supervision and most bases require it (see tip #2).  If you children are old enough to play outside alone know where they will be and who they are with.  Housing can be a safe haven for kids to freely run and play and for us, milspouses, to catch a break BUT the base has rules and the kids need to follow them, too.  You, the parent, are responsible for them if they get into hot water.  Keeping track of their whereabouts on base and/or in housing will help keep them out of trouble.  I always make surprise visits to my son when he is outside just to make sure he isn’t doing something he isn’t suppose to.

4.  Follow posted speed limits.  This is strictly about safety!  Also, stay off your cell phones! Kids will dart into the street without looking.  Following the speed limit will also help keep the neighbors happy (see tip #1).  Enough said on that one…..

5.  Follow  Management Company on social media.  Social media has become the way to disseminate information the quickest and it is the best way PPV companies can communicate with residents.  It is real time and there is no need to wait for flyers to go out.  Another advantage is that you can post questions here if you are moving into the area or questions for the management company.  Just keep in mind that it is social media and everyone can read what you are posting. Be polite and remember OPSEC always!

While we are ready to move on from housing and own a home again, living in base housing has been a good experience for us.  It has given me an instant community, safe place for our children to play and worry free home care on our limited budget. Base housing can have it’s cons for sure, like when our water heater died when family was visiting or coming home to a broken AC unit after spending all day at an air show.  There is also the loud neighbors and random children playing late at night BUT we are all in it together and if you use one more of these tips it can be manageable and even pleasant. I have met some of my best friends living in housing.  So, with the bad comes the good.

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5 Reasons to Own a Pet While in the Military

Posted on June 1, 2012 | 2 Comments

This past week I read a blog on SpouseBUZZ about reasons to NOT own a pet while in the military and it got me thinking about why we SHOULD own pets.  The comments in response to that blog both on the SpouseBuzz website and their FB page were very strong and to my surprise, most responses were in favor of owning pets and how much those pets mean to their families.  I have written two blogs about our military pets; one about tips to owning a pet and one about PCSing with pets. In those posts I did talk about how much our pets mean to my family but didn’t really give solid reasons why it is important to own them.  These are my reason but let me say first that this is strictly my opinion and not based on facts!

1. Companion during deployments.  In those comments on SpouseBUZZ I read over and over again about how people’s “fur babies” kept them company during the night while their spouse was deployed.  It is no different for me!  My dog doesn’t routinely sleep with us but when my hubby is away I call her to fill that empty space (the cats are always there).

2.  Consistency for children.  I firmly believe that pets give our military children a sense of stability and consistency in life.  Milkids will grow up in many different homes, in different cities all over the world and go to different schools with different kids but when they come home those wagging tail(s) will always be the same.  My husband and I have had life without our dog but our kids haven’t and I don’t know that they understand that someday there will be and for now that is okay.  They need to live with idea that for now she will always be there when they walk through the door no matter what house we live in.

3.  Dogs make great protectors.  For those who love dogs, this tip is just for you….. I agreed on a dog (I am not a dog person by nature) because my husband was gone a lot and I wanted the feeling of safety.  I realize that Macy is more likely to make friends with the people who come through the door and now in her old age she doesn’t bark when husband comes in late but initially she was my first alarm that something was up in the still of the night time.  This was so crucial to me once our first son was born because now it wasn’t just me anymore.  So, in my opinion, dogs make a great first alarm and provide a sense of security on lonely nights.

4.  They get you moving.  When our husband/wife is gone on lengthy TDY’s or deployment it can be depressing but when you don’t have children to get you out of bed your pet will.  They have needs that need to be met like being fed and walked and played with. Even though I have children, they are in school and it is so easy to just plant myself on the couch for the day but then those sad doggy eyes look up at me with a wagging tail just asking for a walk and I get up.  She keeps me moving…..

5.  When life isn’t fair there is Dogs on Deployment!  In my other two pet blogs I also mention this organization as well as it being listed on my Resource page.  Our military life isn’t always fair and even the best owners are faced with hard decisions, like having a pitbull they love but are forced to live in government housing with breed restrictions.  This amazing organization helps service members and their families find temporary homes through a fostering till they can be reunited again.

I realize that we all have our own individual feelings about animals and the author of that blog on SpouseBUZZ has her own.  For me and my family our pets are worth any hassle that comes with owning pets while serving in the military.  Our life just wouldn’t feel complete without them.  How about you? Are your pets worth it?

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PCS With Pets

Posted on May 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

The orders have come in and immediately the planning to move begins.  There are the schools and the house hunting and the packing and traveling, but what about those furry (or maybe not) friends we share our lives with?  PETS! We have to plan for them, too.  I can say first hand that this can be a lengthy process especially if you are moving overseas. Our dog has always moved with us and she has been around the world and I truthfully cannot imagine our lives without her.  For this to be true we have to take her best interest in to account when we make our travel arrangements.  I recall moving back to the states from Japan and I was so worried about her getting on each airplane we flew on.  Desperately looking out the window for her kennel and watching that she was gently placed in cargo for the flight.  Then we arrive and had to leave her in the care of others because we didn’t have a home yet.  But, how did we come to make the decision to take her to Japan and back and what did we do ensure she remained healthy and safe?  With these tips!

Lazy Jack Russel

1.  Visit the vet first!  When you receive your orders make a call to the vet and get all vaccines up to date and if you are heading overseas start the overseas screening process.  I highly recommend going through the Army Vet for overseas screening.  They know all the regulations for every country.

2.  Make a checklist of all the supplies your pet will need during your transfer.  On this list you should include items like vaccine records, health certificate (if overseas), bowls, food, leashes, treats, toys and so on.  Things you think your pet will need while displaced from home.  One thing we always bring with us for Macy is her blanket.  I believe like kids, special items helps them feel at ease.  A security item can be anything and for Macy it is the blanket she sleeps on every night.

3.  Ask future landlords (housing or private) if pets are allowed and what the regulations are!  I have mentioned this in a different blog about pets and I will say it again…. Ignorance is NOT bliss!  Ask!!!  Some privatized housing offices (PPV) will be more relaxed than others but I wouldn’t take that chance.  Where I currently live, breed restriction is no joke and they don’t care if you knew or not!

4.  Place your pet in a kennel while traveling.  A seatbelt would work to if you have a very large dog or not enough space (like us). But…. kennels are best.  Also, make sure your pet wears their rabies and ID (contact information) tags.  This is for their ultimate safety in the event something terrible happens like a car accident.

5. Plan financially for their travel.  Sure, DoD pays us for almost all of our travel expenses when we PCS but not our pets and those cost add up.  If you plan on flying your pet it will cost several hundred dollars.  There have been some changes to assistance military families with those cost but there are still costs, even if you take a military charted plane.  Call airlines and hotels ahead of time and ask for fee quotes and start saving!

6.  Have cats? Put them in a carrier while the packers are there!  I knew a family who had their cat packed in a box and when their shipment arrived they found their poor beloved cat not alive.  This is a true story, don’t let it be yours.  When the packers come, put your kitty in a carrier and place it in your secure place with your other belongings you don’t want packed.  Oh and take your dogs to a neighbors during this time.  Pets can get really scared during pack outs, so taking steps like these can ease that stress just a little.

7.  When you can’t take your pet there is Dogs On Deployment (DOD)! I believe that in a perfect world pets owners would never have to leave their pets behind but sometimes the universe has other plans.  It could be because the tour will be short and the cost too high or the only home you could find doesn’t allow pets; what ever the reason there is an option and lucky for us DOD was born! For more information there is a link under the Resource page.

Even Lazier Cats

Our pet family has grown during this tour to include two cats and even though we are a year from moving I am already planning for their needs.  This means keeping up with vaccines and starting to collect items like carriers and collars and tags (for the cats). One kitty still needs a microchip and that will need to be done before we pull out for our next adventure.  It is never to soon to start!  Our pets are very much family member to us and will never be left behind and it is possible with these tips.

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Owning the Military Pet

Posted on April 6, 2012 | 1 Comment

Since I was a child I always had pets, mostly cats, birds and a the best German Shepard a young girl could ask for. When I left home nearly fourteen years ago for boot camp I knew it was only a matter of time before I had pets of my own and in 1998 when I moved into my first apartment it was two big black cats that graced my home.  Since then we have had a few different cats and our one and only dog, the laziest Jack Russel EVER, Macy.  Even with our many moves from one end of the world and back we have had our pets.  Macy has been with me and my husband since the before we were married and there was no way we would ever leave her behind for any reason.  Our furry and feathered and sometimes slimy friends are so very important to us.  How do we ensure they live the most full and rich lives when we move so often to so many different places?  Since Macy is 10 and one of those first black cats will be 12 I am going to give you tips on how we have done it.

1.  Immunizations are a must!  All government housing has rules and regulations about what pet immunizations are required.  Your best bet is to go the nearest Army vet and have your pets immunized with them.  Like our medical records that never change from one duty to the next, the Army vet is the same for our pets.  This will come in very handy when you have to move overseas.  We learned the hard way on that one.

2.  Always call ahead and ask the Navy Housing or Management office if there are pet policies.  Knowing these will help you decide where you will live.  Not all breeds of dogs, fish tank sizes or exotic pets are permitted in government housing.  Ignorance isn’t bliss when it comes to these sorts of issues.  Knowledge is power!

3.  Never take “NO” for an answer when moving overseas.  Weeks before we were to fly to Japan the person taking care of our PCS told us we couldn’t take our pets with us and we knew better because for almost a year we had been going through the overseas process with the vet.  To my knowledge (and I could be wrong) you can take your vet to any overseas duty station where you can take your family.  You just need to ask about the procedures involved  brining your pet. The Army vet will mostly likely be able to answer all your questions.

4.  Keep cats inside.  Many people love cats but don’t want them in their homes.  This causes problems with the neighborhood.  One of my beloved black cats had to go and live with another family where he could roam without problems because my neighbors didn’t like that he was killing the birds at the bird feeders.  If you live in the south with alligators….enough said on that, you get where I am going.  So, if having to share your home with a cat isn’t appealing to you then maybe this isn’t the best pet for you.

5.  Have an emergency plan.  In the Navy we almost always live where there are hurricanes and evacuations are always a possibility.  We always think about ourselves and our home when evacuating but don’t forget about your pets.  Look into where you will be staying if you have to leave your home.  Can you have your pet with you? Or will you have to board them elsewhere?  Don’t leave them behind!  Keep rabies certificates, prescription and any other important medical information with all your other important documents.  This will come in handy if you are displaced for a long period of time.  Even the pets in Japan were evacuated with their owners after the tsunami.

6.  Microchip your cats and dogs.  A couple of years ago I was able to reunite an owner with their dog because it had been microchipped.  Microchipping could save your pet from going to what I like to call “Puppy Jail” because animal control officers are able to contact you via the information on the chip.  Note that you may want to use a family member who isn’t moving anytime soon.  Then you don’t have to worry about having to change the information every time you move.

7.  When you and/or family are in at a point where you are unable to take your pet contact Dogs On Deployment (this is for all pets not just dogs)!  This is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help military families place their pets with boards during deployments, moves or any other time they are unable to bring their pets with them.  Most often than not, pets end up at shelters because owners feel like they have no option.  Now we do!  Look them up and keep your pet.

Pets are so important to our quality of life.  I do realize that many families opt to not have pets and that is okay, too.  But for those of who do, they really help make our many homes feel more like home. My life wouldn’t feel quite complete without a purring cat on my lap or my little dog filling the empty space in my bed at night.  They always know when we feel down in dumps and help us feel better.  Whether it means taking the dog for a long walk to clear your head or laughing while watching cats have the midnight crazies.  Let us not forget how these creatures big and small help our children by giving them something of a constancy in life.  My boys have lived all their lives with our dog, just one thing that has never changed (because so many other things do) in their young lives.  If you have been holding back on owning a pet, I hope these tips help to bring your family one step closer to that goal.

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