On episode 24, Rachel from Countdowns and Cupcakes gives us all the best tips and tricks for making a great care package. She makes awesome care package designs that you can buy. I ask about inexpensive ideas for things to send, unique ideas, homemade, staples to send every time etc. She sends a large flat rate USPS box about once a month full of goodies when her husband is deployed. We talk care package themes, her favorite one to put together, his favorite one he has received. She also gives the best tip: wrap all the contents inside the care package for a little extra fun and surprise. You don’t need to do this every time but it’s a fun surprise.Rachel also mentions how during Christmas time she will spend a box full of stuff that her husband can give to the other guys because some guys don’t receive mail during their deployments. I get the run down on just how to ship care packages to deployed soldiers: hint use the USPS (they are the cheapest and will have all the forms you need.) One of the things I love most about Rachel’s shop is when you buy a care package design she includes a list of things that could go with the theme of the care package you bought. How cool, right? Rachel’s instagram Rachel’s shop: Countdowns and CupcakesHurry Up and Wait Instagram 

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Care Package Tips & Tricks w/ Rachel McQuiston

On episode 23, I talk about the importance of having a duty station bucket list. Get your free printable checklist here. Start making a duty station bucket list 2 months before you PCS to your new duty station. First make a bucket list of the things you want to do at your current base with only 2 months left. Is there a restaurant you have been meaning to try or an activity that you loved doing and you want to do it again before you PCS? Setting up a duty station bucket list also helps you get out of PCS mode. PCSes are stressful and usually I keep my head down and power through but that means lost time that I could be enjoying the area I am in. So this is a good reminder to do that. I would start my bucket list for the base I am PCSing to about a month before. This gets you excited about going to a new military installation even though you are in the mist of a stressful time. First category to think about when making your list is food/ restaurants. What is your favorite food or a food that is unique to that area? Maybe you are going to Washington State and you need to try the coffee at the original Starbucks. Maybe you are going to the south and need to try the pulled pork. Then think about outdoor or nature activities that you could do. Are there state parks near by? What about museum or education things to do? Don’t forget about free activities. And things to do at home like painting a wall or making a really delicious dessert you don’t make often. Also, a great way to find cool things is searching the events of the towns near you and seeing what they are putting on. Hurry Up and Wait on Instagram Hurry Up and Wait Blog 

Duty Station Bucket List

On Episode 22 of Hurry Up and Wait, I talk with Lizann Lightfoot, the Seasoned Spouse, about the new book she wrote called Ultimate Deployment Guide which is available on Amazon. Her and her husband have been together for 19 years and through 7 deployments so she knows a thing or two. She is a writer and blogger and creates awesome resources for other military spouses which can all be found through the links on her blog. She is passionate about answering questions, sharing knowledge with other spouses and pointing them in the direction of the resources they have available to them. We then drive into her recently published book Ultimate Deployment Guide. She created this guide as a way for spouses to feel more confident and at peace when facing a deployment. The book is non branch specific so it should work no matter what branch of the military your service member is in. This book includes checklists and worksheets which means it is personal and you make it your own. The worksheets include getting emergency contact info, writing down all the joint account passwords/ usernames, household budget, car maintenance, etc. The book also includes information on care packages, self-care, and creating a bucket list for yourself during the deployment. Then, we chat about communication during a deployment. Lizann gives some great advice about keeping expectations manageable. You don’t really know what communication options are going to be available for a certain deployment until your service member is gone. They might have an idea but remember every deployment is different. Also, Lizann says she gets a ton of questions about the homecoming part of deployment and this again comes down to expectations and communication. Also, I ask about sharing stressful news with your service member that is deployed and how to go about that if they can’t really help with the situation. Will it just make them more stressed? I end the interview by asking Lizann some logistical questions about writing and publishing a book as well as other resources. Go find Lizann at Seasoned Spouse and you can get her book on Amazon. Also, remember to contact her if you are buying in bulk because she can give you a discount! Instagram: The Seasoned Spouse Most popular post on the Seasoned Spouse: 17 unusual things military families get for free. 

Ultimate Deployment Guide w/Lizann Lightfoot

Hurry Up and WaitOn Episode 21, I talk all things PCS Binder. The PCS Binder is a school binder you make and fill with all your important documents, in transits papers, and other useful information to stay organized and help you be a little less stressed during your PCS. There is a lot of paperwork that goes into a PCS and having it all in one place is necessary to stay sane. Keep this binder on your person throughout your PCS. You want to know where it is and you never know who is going to need a copy of your orders.How to make the PCS binder? First you need a binder, minimum of 2 inches. I have and love the one that fully zips around, you know like the ones we had in elementary school. Then you’ll need dividers to divid your sections, plastic page protectors, and a pencil pouch. Then I walk you through my PCS binder. First is the pencil pouch which has our passports, extra car keys, check book, and other random things. The first page after the pencil pouch is all the copies of our orders. I have about 10 copies all within one plastic sleeve. Orders are really one of the most important pieces of information in your binder so I keep them at the front. Next I have is an emergency contact list. On this list are numbers of friends, hotels, airlines, etc, this is just in case your phone dies or you lose it at some point. Get the Master List of all things to possibly include in your PCS Binder. Next the dividers. Go check out the awesome company List and File they create beautiful PCS binder dividers. They make military life more beautifully organized while giving you greater confidence and peace of mind.First divider, Personal Info, this divider should include things like birth certificates, social security cards, marriage certificates, copies of passports/ IDs. Listen to the full episode to get the list of all the things I actually put in my binder behind each divider. Second divider is housing which includes lease agreements, security deposit receipts, HHG shipment paperwork, inventory, etc. Next, is auto/ vehicle under this tab you should include car titles, registrations, any shipment info. Next, is the pet divider this should include rabies vaccinations, health certificates, microchip numbers etc. Other dividers to include medical (health), legal, finance, and any other ones that apply to you and your family like if you have kids you might have an education tab for their school records. The PCS Binder is a must have for any military family. Remember there is no right way to do it, just make it work for you. PCS Binder paperwork list. Again, check out List and File to order beautiful PCS binder dividers and find them on Instagram. These look like great PCS Binder Printable’s if you are looking for some.

All About the PCS Binder

Today I talk with Samantha about the program her husband is currently doing called Green to Gold. It’s a program in the military that allows enlisted soldiers to transition to officers. The option in this program that Samantha’s husband chose is for 2 years where he finishes his Bachelor’s degree and does ROTC at the college as well. I ask Samantha about pay, benefits, and BAH. What does healthcare look like since they aren’t close to a base? How did their family go about choosing a college? Does the GI Bill pay for his school? What was the application process like? She said that the process is super competitive and takes about a year to complete all the requirements. The basic requirements are you have to be 30 or under and have enough time in service to complete the program. Samantha talks about going back to work full time. I ask Samantha about any role changes in the home since they do have young kids and since she is working full time. She says that her husband has taken on lots of those responsibility now and they are all joyful to be getting to spend more time together since Samantha’s husband was previously in a drill sergeants position. Now he is in college and making his own schedule. This program is a great option for those that are looking to be career service members. Your soldier gets payed while going to college, you get more family time, you have more stability (no unexpected deployments) and when the soldier is finished they will be an officer. Instagram: @raisealittlewonderBlog: Raise A Little WonderArticles by Samantha on Military Family Magazine. Hurry Up and Wait on Instagram 

Green to Gold Program w/Samantha Peterson

On this episode I give you the most important acronyms that any military significant other or spouse should know. I say there are 25 but in reality there are closer to 35 acronyms in this episode because some that I placed under one number are actually multiple acronyms depending on the branch or where you are located. Anyway, here I am just going to give you the top 10 acronyms you should know and you will have to listen to the episode to get all 35! DOD - Department of Defense. The executive branch department of the federal government in charge of the military and national security. So all service members are employees of the DOD. MOS - Military Occupational Specialty. The job that the solider has. In the Navy they call them ratings.  PCS - Permanent Change of Station.CONUS - Continental United States (the 48 states) OCONUS - Outside the Continental United States so everything overseas and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam. BAH- Basic Housing Allowance. The money you are allotted to pay for housing if you live off base. DEERS - Defense Enrollment Eligibly Reporting System. You need to be enrolled in this system to get any benefits, have TriCare insurance, etc. OPSEC - Operational Security FRG- Family Readiness Group. A group to help support the family members of the soldiers. TLA/TLE - Temporary Lodging Allowance or Expense. The allowance you get or expenses you accumulate when you are PCSing. Listen to the full episode to get all 25 acronyms. Which is closer to 35 since some acronyms had multiple variations. The cool thing I am sharing with you this week is the children’s book My Letter to Daddy by Renee Walker. Follow my podcast on Instagram. 

25 Military Acronyms You Should Know

On episode 18, I talk with Shawna about the pressures and stereotypes of being an officer’s wife. She mentions the expectations of being an FRG leader and also the pressure to know the language of the army since her husband is a Major and in a command position. We chat about why higher ranking officer wives and enlisted wives are usually the ones in the FRG or Spouse club leadership positions. This shows that there is community and supportiveness not just for the soldiers but also for their families. I ask about dress and behavior since the family might be seen as an extension of the spouse in command. Shawna mentions it is not too much of a concern for her but she is aware of what is appropriate to wear and how to behave. Shawna answers the question “Is being an officer really ‘political’?” Then, I ask Shawna about all the officer wive stereotypes. Can enlisted wives and officer wives be friends? Shawna says yes absolutely. The only time it might get iffy is when the enlisted personnel is under the command of the officer. Do officer wives really request to be saluted at the gate? Do they think they are better than enlisted wives? Shawna gives us the run down on all the stereotypes and busts the myths that are out there. We then end on a positive note and Shawna gives us a wonderful example of the community coming together to help each other out. Shawna's Instagram: @fieldslikehomePodcast InfoInstagram @hurryupandwait

Addressing the Pressures & Stereotypes of an Officer's Wife w/ Shawna Fields

On episode 17, I give you the run down on the Loaner Closet or Lending Locker (it has various names) resource that the military provides during your relocation or PCS move. Almost all bases have one and it is a service that provides household items during your PCS either in or out of the duty station while you are waiting for your goods to arrive. There is definitely going to be a time when you are without your things and this resource is helpful to reduce costs and makes it so you don’t have to buy duplicate items. The resource will be located at your base's family/community center. In order to use the resource you need to show your military ID and your PCS orders. When you go into the loan closet you will most likely fill out a form with contact info and mark down on an inventory sheet what you are taking. The average check out window for items is 30 days for CONUS stations. A few bases policy was 2 weeks for check out time. OCONUS the check out time is usually 90 days. Usually you can get an extension if you still need the items. Makes sure to clean the stuff before you return it. And this service doesn’t take personal donations. So what’s available? Kitchen stuff is going to be the most important items for day to day use. Things like plates, bowls, cups, silverware, pots, pans, bakewear, knives, mugs, can openers, etc. Some bases also have small appliances like coffee pots, blenders, tvs, and irons. It’s all first some first serve but you might luck out and find air mattresses, sleeping cots, or futons available. Most bases listed some baby items like high chairs, pack and plays, strollers. One big thing to note: no one is going to provide linens. So when you are packing for your upcoming PCS pack linens with you for when you're in limbo and sleeping on an air mattress. Today’s shout out is to the subscription box for military spouses, Brave Crate. It is a box full of products, calendars, challenges, and inspiration to help you get through and count down the months until your soldier returns from deployment. Check it out on instagram. Podcast InfoInstagram @hurryupandwait_

Relocation Resource: Loan Closet / Lending Locker

On this episode I talk with Michelle about the opportunity and her family’s decision to stay at one duty station for another 5 years. So Michelle will be at the same duty station for 8 years (10 years for her husband) which isn’t really normal by military standards.They decided to stay because, for one no one likes moving. But more importantly because Michelle has established a career, they have purchased their home, and they have great friends. Pros of staying at one base: really making it your home, knowing the area better, keeping the same doctor, being at the same church, getting to know people better, and having stability while there are unknowns like trainings and deployments. Cons: not getting to experience other places.I ask about having friends come in and out of her life while she stays at the same base. She gives some great advice that any military spouse should take: continue to expand your friend group, even when you think you have a good one. Then we talk Michelle’s job and how lucky she has been to have a great career but staying in the lower 48 states was needed.I ask her about routines and Michelle says they aren’t routine people and hey, that’s okay. They don’t like routines but they love the stability and knowing they have a home to come back to especially since Michelle travels for work and her husband has trainings and deployments.I ask her what she likes about Fort Bragg because being in one duty station would not be fun if you didn’t like that duty station! She says it has everything a person could want. It’s driving distance to the beach, major cities and airports and just 4 hours to the mountains. She also mentions how Fayetteville is an awesome town and the people have great respect for their military community.Michelle’s Instagram Michelle’s PodcastPodcast InfoInstagram @hurryupandwait_

Stability & Staying at the Same Duty Station w/ Michelle McGann

This episode is all about preparing for the day the movers come to pack out your household goods. I know it might seem like since the military is moving you, you shouldn’t have to do any prepping but if you want a smooth move for yourself then there are a few things you should do. Most of these things will make it easier for your future self when you go to unpack your goods, some of these things are to help with making the moving day as easy as possible, and some things are to help with everyone’s sanity. First, clean! Vacuum out your couches, dust of places that haven’t been seen in a while (like the tops of printers), and wash your towels and linens. Declutter and then declutter some more. 1st episode of this podcast on declutter before a PCS. Don’t forget to remove all the garbage from your house. Have you heard that horror story of people’s trash getting backed with their stuff or what about someones plunger getting packed with their clothes! ewww. That leads me to my second point, organize. You need to separate shipments. What are you packing and taking with you on your flight or in the car? Do you have an unaccompanied baggage shipment? If so, separate those and remove them from the area where the movers will be. Locking things in your car or in a bathroom is a good idea. This is especially crucial for important documents and necessary items, like medication. You need to remove the photos and shelves from the walls. Put similar items in gallon size ziplocks things like pens and pencils, silverware, hair ties and bobby pins etc. This just makes it easier for your to find things later. The movers won’t care if this is done or not they will pack everything the way it is when they come into your home. Every company is different but this is a pretty good list of items the movers won’t pack. Next, be prepared to label your boxes on the day of the move. I print out categories on the Avery 3x4 labels but a big sharpie pen will do and just walk around and label the boxes as the packers are packing. You probably should provide water for your packers and also getting a light lunch or box of donuts is nice although not necessary. Last, if you have kids or pets it is a good idea to arrange day care for them on the day the packers come. It is a long stressful day(s) even for adults! Podcast instagram: @hurryupandwait_

Preparing for PCS Pack Out Day

On this episode I chat with Emily to learn some awesome tips and tricks to stay safe while your spouse is away. Lots of these tips can apply for anytime but as military spouses at some point we are going to be without our spouse so these are some extra precautions to take. First, I ask Emily to walk us through what we need to do to keep our homes safe. Emily mentions things like securing your garage door, security system and making sure you have well groomed bushes and trees. And she answers the question if dogs really prevent home intruders and gives us some cool data on the topic. We then chat about personal safety and Emily advices to never jog with headphones and to make sure to always be aware of your surroundings. She also gives some good advice if you are sitting in your car: keep it in either reserve or drive so if something happens you can go right away. If you can go shopping during the day time and park near lights and security cameras. Other things to know, get the phone numbers list from your spouse for who to call in their unit if you have an emergency. If you are an Air Force spouse find out who the key spouse is and for Army & Navy get the FRG contact info. Remember OPSEC: you don’t want to put your husband or his unit in danger. Also be aware of what you say out loud around strangers or post on social media, you don’t want someone knowing you are going to be home alone for 6 months. We talk owning a firearm. The rules to know about carrying, your specific state, military base, and car regulations surrounding firearms. Emily gives great advice on proper firearm safety and skills because this is a very serious weapon. Emily’s InstagramEmily’s blog: Blush and Blue JeansPodcast Info:Instagram @hurryupandwait_

Safety While Your Spouse is Away w/ Emily

On this episode, I talk through the logistics, options, and how to make the most of traveling while living OCONUS. I have taken about one trip a month for the last three years since living OCONUS in Naples, Italy and I have visited about 28 different countries. I tell you my favorite way to look for airfare which is with Google Flights, I know some people really like Skyscanner too. You are going to find the cheapest flights on airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet where you pay for just a seat and if you want anything extra like drinks on the flight or checked luggage you will be paying extra! Next, I talk you through lodging and the three main options are hotels, hostels, or airbnbs (or your preferred apartment rental site.) I do most of my reservations of hotels and hostels through booking.com . No matter what accommodation you choose, I believe the main factor should be LOCATION. Remember the bed in Europe will be smaller and not all hotels have a 24/7 front desk. You can rent a car almost anywhere. Some countries require an international driving permit, like Greece. You can get it through AAA and it’s like $20. Read the terms and condition on the rental car sites cause that will give you info about the deposit amount and if you can drive into other countries. Now if you aren’t going to rent a car I recommend tours and booking through the companies actual website. I touch on the taxi system and Ubers. And the amazing bike sharing systems that a lot of big cities have. I try to ease your mind about the possible language barrier and give you three key phrases to know! I recommend the best places to get the local currency and remind you to tell your bank if you are traveling. Then, I give you tips for buying tickets at the big attractions. Cause no one wants to spend their trip waiting in line after line. Even if you do buy tickets ahead of time (which I recommend) book the early tick slots so you can beat the crowdedness of the place. Remember I am taking on this topic from the perspective of living OCONUS in Europe. I think some of the advice is universal but it is probably not the same in Korea, Japan, Guam or Alaska etc. Instagram @hurryupandwait_

Traveling while living OCONUS

On this episode of the Hurry Up and Wait podcast I talk to Shania about the army base Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I plan on spotlighting military instillations throughout this podcast so hopefully this is the first of many. Shania has been living at Fort Campbell for a little over a year and has so much insight. We dive into what housing is like on base and she lets us know what communities on base to stay away from! Then we talk about schools and childcare. People will choose to live on base just to send their kids to the base schools, that’s how good they are. Shania talks about the recreation options on base like pools, gyms, movie theater, bowling alley etc. And then she mentions some awesome actives that the USO and MWR puts on. I ask about safety and Shania mentions “gate runners” which is a term I had never heard of. I guess they are people that just don’t stop at the gate and the whole base has to be shut down until they are found… talk about annoying. Shania get’s honest about how gossipy the people on the base are and what it’s like to try and meet other spouses at Fort Campbell. Shania even started a group to help spouses meet each other. She creates a whole calendar with events for each month. If you are stationed in Fort Campbell check out the group, it looks awesome.Then, I direction the conversation to the surrounding areas and towns: cause let's be real, we aren’t just gonna stay on the base when being stationed at one. There are two towns near Fort Campbell: Clarksville, TN and Hopkinsville KY. There are many parks and recreational activities like Land Between the Lakes and Tiebreaker. Restaurants to try: Strawberry Alley Ale Works, Blackhorse Brewery, the Grilled Cheeserie Food Truck, NYPD, and Golly G's ice cream.We chat about cost of living in the area. Hint: it’s cheaper than the majority of states in America. Shania than compares Fort Campbell to where she grew up (New Jersey.) Turns out people are friendlier in Kentucky then they are in the New Jersey. However, the trade off is there are more bugs and bigger ones too in Kentucky. And remember: a must when being stationed at Fort Campbell is venturing to Nashville. It is about an hour and fifteen minutes away. It is perfect for singles, couples, and even kids. Shania’s instagram: home.sweet.military.home

Fort Campbell, KY Base Spotlight w/ Shania Shovlowsky

On today’s episode I talk about logistics and what to pack in your unaccompanied baggage, also known as express shipment. (Downloadable PDF). First, you get this shipment if you are PCSing to or from an OCONUS location as well as your regular household goods shipment. People do this shipment one of three ways, I believe. The majority of people send some things a head of time in hopes they will be there or be close to being there once they arrive at the OCNOUS location. Another option is to keep the stuff that will go in this shipment out of your HHG and send it right before you leave. (This makes more sense if you are going from an OCONUS location back to CONUS and I explain more about this in the episode.) And the last option is to not to an express shipment at all and keep everything in your household goods shipment. Logistical things to know: -The express shipment doesn’t always arrive faster than your HHG especially during summer peak PCS season. This is because your express shipment travels space available on a military flight so if they have more important things to ship your stuff will get bumped. -When PCSing to an OCONUS location remember they almost always have a lending closet available and loaner furniture. So you might not need as much stuff as you think you need. You can probably borrow stuff. -Your going to be able to find places to buy things at your OCONUS location when you are in need of something. Categories of things you should take, I go into specific examples of things in the category in the episode: Electronics, Clothes, Linens, Kitchen Stuff, Entertainment, Kid items, Pet Items, Military Gear, Bathroom, Medical, Living Room, Cleaning, Misc.Podcast Info:Instagram @hurryupandwait_Blog: Hurry Up and Wait Podcast

What to Pack in Your Unaccompanied Baggage

On episode 10, I chat with K'Dee Kolle about her life as a flight surgeon’s wife! Her and her husband have known each other since high school and being a doctor is something he always wanted to do. Their family has had a very exciting and unique journey since he joined the Navy. There has been schools, trainings, they have had two babies, and PCSed three times in three years, so lots going on. Her advice is to celebrate all the minor victories and little things along the way.She gives insight and tips for someone who’s spouse might have an irregular and unpredictable work schedule. Kdee says give yourself, your spouse, and your kids a lot of grace when going through a difficult season of life. Have things planned but also have low expectations for how that plan is going to go cause things always change. Speaking of change- their family have PCSed three times in the last three years! Her biggest advice is to make sure you know the schedule of how things are happening with your PCS and don’t stress too much cause somehow it all works out! Kdee’s outlook on their journey is so wonderfully optimistic and their family seems to be thriving in this military life!  K'Dee's instagram and blogPodcast Info:Instagram @hurryupandwait_Blog: Hurry Up and Wait Podcast

Life of a Flight Surgeon's Wife w/ K'Dee Kolle

Army wife and podcast host Carlee Wengel shares tips, tricks, advice, and personal stories to help guide you on your military spouse adventure.

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