SCHWEINFURT, Germany -- First assignment or fifth assignment, married or single, first or last overseas tour … it didn't matter. The goal was the same for everyone sitting in the Conn Club briefing room Jan. 29: Leave a little bit smarter and a lot less apprehensive about a permanent change of duty station known as the PCS process.
Through the combined efforts of the garrison's Army Community Service office and the leaders of the 72nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, the PCS stand down brought together community experts, Soldiers and their spouses under the same roof for a six-hour repertoire of relocation tips.
The daylong stand down afforded spouses -- often the de facto leaders of the PCS charge -- the opportunity to ask and get clear answers on the issues typically under the radars of their signal Soldiers.
"We wanted to make sure that everybody had as much preparation as possible for the move and also make sure that they knew about the resources that you might not necessarily find out about in a levy brief, said Sarah McCauley, Schweinfurt's Family Advocacy Program manager, who is also a spouse in this unit and preparing to relocate.
Experts from the passport and visas office, veterinary clinic, vehicle shipping, employment assistance, health clinic and many others brought the latest resources available to military families and single Soldiers. Details regarding car seat expiration dates, how to minimize jetlag on infants, non-reimbursable moving costs, cancelling cell phone contracts, requesting advance pay, requesting a sponsor and much more were shared.
The 72nd ESB is slotted to inactivate -- along with its parent unit the 7th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade -- before the garrison?'s closure in September 2014.
Most units in the garrison recognize ACS as its indispensable partner in addressing the challenges that affect the quality of life of military families. And although the units are taking the lead in organizing these events, at any time, any Soldier or family member can schedule an appointment with ACS to find solutions to their unique situation.
For more on PCS, visit or call the ACS office at DSN 354-6933, CIV 09721-96-6933. More online resources are available to Soldiers and family members at the "Soldier, Civilian, Employee & Family Resources" page of the 2014 Closure section.
Related Links:
(VIDEO) ACS' Sara McCauley explains the concept of the PCS stand down
Social Sharing