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.

The Relocation Assistance Program

This program offers individual relocation assessment, counseling and referral. Call the Sheppard Military and Family Readiness Center for registration or more information.

Sponsors

When you receive your assignment, your gaining base will assign a sponsor to you. Your sponsor should personally contact you by phone and/or letter, help you in getting specific information about the base, acquiring temporary living quarters or a dorm room and getting information regarding off-base housing.

If you do not receive a sponsor within four weeks of completing a permanent change of station, contact the INTRO Office the Customer Service Office in the military personnel flight at Sheppard Air Force Base or contact your gaining squadron directly and speak to the squadron INTRO Office monitor so they can assist you in getting a sponsor. You have a responsibility to your sponsor to keep in touch and provide them with the information they need to help make your transition a smooth one.

Loan Locker

You may borrow essential household items from the Relocation Services Loan Locker located in Building 960 on 9th Street. The hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Items for loan include dish packs, irons and ironing boards, high chairs, port-a-cribs, futon mattresses, booster seats, toasters, mixers, and much more. Bed linens and towels are not available and should be packed pre-departure or purchased post-arrival.

Items may be checked out for 30-day increments. A copy of orders or Department of Defense military identification is required.

Kids Talking to Kids

Are you relocating to Sheppard AFB? Would you like to get to know someone your own age prior to your arrival? Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper and mail it to the address at the bottom.

We will pass on your request for a pen pal to someone your age who will begin corresponding with you.

• Your name
• Your age
• Your gender
• Your address
• Your phone number
• Your grade in school
• Your hobbies
• Your favorite sport
• Your favorite music

Mail your responses to Youth Center, 82 SVS/SVYY, 118 I Avenue, Sheppard AFB, TX 76311-3046.

Child Care for Permanent Change of Station

For those PCSing to or from Sheppard AFB, the Air Force Aid Society sponsors the Child Care for PCS Program. Air Force members can request 20 hours of child care up to 60 days after arriving at Sheppard AFB or 60 days before PCSing from Sheppard AFB. The child care is provided on space available at the child development center and the youth center. AFAS pays the bill. Those interested should bring a copy of their orders to the M&FRC to receive a certificate for the child care.

Relocation Assistance

Services provided by the M&FRC include monthly Newcomers Orientation, Loan Locker, budgeting classes, career focus and one-on-one counseling. For more information, contact the M&FRC at 940-676-4358 or DSN 312-736-4358.