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 and download this fact sheet 7 Steps to Make Your Household Goods Move a Smart Move. 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 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.

Please visit the Military & Family Readiness as part of your in-process (Bldg 72), DSN 314-236-8158 or 011-44-1280-70-8158, for a wide range of relocation services and programs. Contact the Military and Family Readiness or reach out to your sponsor ahead of your arrival to receive a ‘Welcome Packet’ Guide, an overview of available resources will be provided to you at your Newcomer Orientation brief. These briefings are held twice a month, once at RAF Croughton and once at RAF Fairford, and are a requirement for all newly arrived active duty members to attend. Additionally, every other Wednesday at 0830 the ‘Local Conditions Course' is briefed. This is a required briefing for everyone that intends to drive in the UK and is held in the Education Classroom in building 202. Following this brief you will be required to complete a test, if you would like to prepare for this test ahead of your arrival please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving and for more information please contact safety office on 314- 236-8580 or 011-44-1280-70-8580. For those families with children while attending the brief, please enquire at the M&FRC about PCS child care (AF military members are entitled to 20 hours of free childcare per child for the first 60 days after arrival), or plan to attend these briefings alternately with your spouse.

Basic household items are available to loan while waiting for your personal property pre-departure or upon arrival. The typical items in stock include: pots, pans, dishes, silverware, small appliances and vacuums. Additional furniture items and appliances may be borrowed from the Furniture Management Office 314-236-8772 or 011-44-1280-70-8772.

Passports

For the most up to date guidance on passports please check link DOD Foreign Clearance Guide (pentagon.mil)

UK Vignette for eligible Military Dependents:

• UK Vignette is optional not Mandatory, but highly recommended for military dependents Contact the 422 ABS Commander Support Staff Office DSN: 236-8324/ 01280708324 422abs.css@us.af.mil to obtain the UK Vignette checklist and to make an appointment
• As of 28 November 2015, dependent spouses (any age), and dependent children UNDER 21 of active duty military members assigned to the UK, DO NOT need visas (Exempt Dependents). Please review the Foreign Clearance Guide for further guidance.
• Exempt Dependent rules apply to newly acquired dependents, e.g. new spouse or new baby/adopted child.
• Dependent child aged 21 or older must obtain UK visa prior to arrival.
• UK Vignette can now be obtained in the US prior to arriving to UK. Please contact your local Military Personnel Flight Passport Section for further info.

Ensure member and/or dependents have the required passports and/or visa prior to final out-processing. Member and/or dependents are not allowed to final out-process without the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents. Members electing the accompanied tour will not be permitted to out-process without having the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.