Relocation Assistance

Your Military and Family Support Center provides relocation assistance to help make PCS moves as smooth as possible. Resources include:

• PCS planning: Most relocation assistance programs offer consultations to help you with the moving process. If this your first military move, your first time moving overseas or you have challenging or complex circumstances contact your installation Relocation Assistance Program as soon as possible for support.
• Plan My Move: An online Defense Department relocation tool that provides you with customizable checklists and links to helpful resources for the tasks ahead.
• Military OneSource: A website and call center that offer 24/7 support for moving information and resources. Learn more about PCS basics. For comprehensive moving resources and information, including Defense Personal Property log in details, visit Moving Your Personal Property.
• Workshops and briefings: Workshops vary by location. You may find classes on housing options, moving with children, moving with pets and more.
• Predeparture briefings: These sessions provide essential information about your move and may be required for some populations.
• Special needs: If you have a child or family member enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, contact your installation EFMP-Family Support office to assist you.
• Settling-in services: Look for welcome programs or local area tours that may be offered. Overseas services may include introductory language classes and cultural awareness activities.
• Foreign-born spouse support: Assistance includes information and referral to resources such as immigration and naturalization.
• Emergency assistance: Sometime emergencies occur while moving. The Military and Family Support Center has the resources to provide emergency financial assistance, as well as information and referrals.
• Authorized housing flexibility options: Eligible service members with PCS orders may be entitled to flexibilities such as extended stays in government housing and early housing eligibility. Contact your military personnel office for more information.
• Spouse licensure reimbursement: Your service branch may reimburse spouses up to $1,000 for relicensure and certification costs resulting from relocations or PCS moves. See this Military OneSource article Transferring Your Professional License for more information and specific service branch policies.

If you have PCS orders to or from Joint Base Charleston, visit your local Military Family Readiness Center/Fleet & Family Support Center's Relocation Assistance Office for information and planning assistance. You can receive entitlement information from the experts and answers to your questions. Your local Personal Property Office can also be a great source of information!

Services at Joint Base Charleston's two centers (one on the Air Base and another on the Weapons Station) include:

• Individual Consultations
• Spouse Orientations (Military Spouse 101 and Heart Link)
• Employment Assistance for Spouses and members transitioning out of the military (separatees and/or retirees as well as their family members)
• Multi-media resource room with Internet, email access
• Local area information (Maps, brochures, e-Sponsor Package, etc.)
• Child Care for PCS funded by the Air Force Aid Society (20 hours of free child care) **Air Force only**

No matter how many moves you have made, always ask for a sponsor. It is always good to have a contact at the gaining base, if not for you, for your spouse. The relocation team offers a full-service, customer-friendly environment in which to make this your best move yet. No matter how well you have planned, emergencies do happen. Stay in touch with your sponsor and keep them informed of your travel plans.

Before the movers arrive, complete a thorough inventory of your household goods (consider making a video showing all your items and their condition) - once the movers are on site, it can be very busy with too much going on to make an inventory. Make sure all your important papers/items are separated from your household goods so they do NOT get packed!

Relocation Assistance

Air Force

There are a multitude of resources and services offered by the Military & Family Readiness Center-Air Base (M&FRC-AB) and other base agencies that will help you to make a smooth transition. At the M&FRC-AB, newcomers can receive vouchers for up to 20 hours of free child care funded by the Air Force Aid Society. Spouse employment and education assistance is available for spouses seeking employment or continuing their education. The Discovery Center has computers with Internet access as well as a copier, fax, and scanner. Budgeting assistance and resources are available for unexpected expenses due to PCS. For more detailed information, call the M&FRC-AB at (843) 963-4406 (DSN 312-673-4406).

All spouses new to the area are encouraged to visit the M&FRC-AB in Bldg 500 to get a personal orientation. Air Force Spouses are welcome to attend Newcomers Orientation along with their servicemember. Servicemembers are scheduled for Newcomers Orientation shortly after arriving at Joint Base Charleston and orientations are typically once per month on the third Tuesday.

Navy

Many of the same services are available at the Military & Family Readiness Center (M&FRC-WS). Staff can help with information, phone numbers, and points-of-contact for civilian and military resources. Spouse employment and education assistance is available for spouses seeking employment or continuing their education. The Discovery Center has computers with Internet access as well as a copier, fax, and scanner. Budgeting assistance and resources are available for unexpected expenses due to PCS. The M&FRC-WS is your connection to information on the Charleston area and communities. We invite you to visit us in Bldg. 755 to discover all we have to offer. You can reach us at (843) 794-7480 (DSN 312-794-7480).

M&FRC-WS has loan locker items available to assist with your relocation. Kits include kitchen basics (4 table settings, pots and pans, bowls, etc.) and individual small appliances like toasters, microwaves, and coffee makers are available. A copy of your PCS orders and valid military ID enables you to borrow items up to 30 days. Extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis.