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.

Newcomer orientation, called Checkertail, is held at the Tyndall Horizons Club each month, beginning at 07:50 a.m. It is mandatory for incoming, permanent-party Air Force members. Sister services and spouses are encouraged to attend, contact your assigned unit to be registered for the next orientation.

Installation-Specific Information

The Tyndall Airman and Family Readiness Center provides assistance for every step of your move. The center offers comprehensive information and resources on Tyndall and the local community including base and local maps, school, employment, real estate information, and local attractions and events, to name a few. The relocation staff can provide answers to tough questions that arise when moving to a new area.

Upon arrival at Tyndall AFB, all newly arriving military members must attend a Checkertail Welcome Festival. Spouses are encouraged to attend the Checkertail Welcome Festival. There, you will receive an orientation to our base. The Air Force Aid Society provides childcare for those completing a permanent change of station move. Twenty hours of free childcare is available to families within 60 days of arrival or departure to/from the installation. Childcare for PCS certificates are available at the Military Family Readiness Center. The childcare is provided by FCC providers and reservations for childcare are made directly with the FCC provider.

The relocation process presents challenges and stressors for the entire family. Whether you are new to Tyndall or preparing for your next assignment, the MFR provides Information and Referral as well as counseling and educational services to relocating and deploying personnel and their families. A computer resource center is available with a multitude of information available on military bases around the world, a video library, travel maps and information on cost of living for different areas.

The Transition Assistance Program is designed to assist separating or retiring military members and their family prepare for civilian life. Information on military benefits and civilian employment along with many other topics is available.

I&R links people in need with the appropriate on/off-base agencies and services that will alleviate that need. Information and resources are available on a wide variety of topics including everything from how to get a passport, support for a special-needs family member, and to clubs and organizations in the community. If you have a particular question or need, we are here to assist you in finding the answer!