Editor's Note: This week's Alaska Post concludes the newcomer series designed to highlight Soldier and family member newcomer experiences as they settle into life here, as well as resources available to help them. We have enjoyed hearing from readers as far away as Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Knox, Ky., who are moving to Fort Wainwright or work with newcomers who are coming here. We hope this series has been helpful and look forward to bringing more in-depth series to Alaska Post readers in the future.
FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - Moving to a new installation usually means more than just packing up belongings and starting fresh in a new area. For many Soldiers and families, a permanent change of station move might be their first time away from home. And even for those who have numerous notches in their PCS belts, moving to Alaska represents a whole new challenge. But there is help and hope for newcomers navigating the way through their new Alaskan adventure. While many agencies work with those just arriving here, Fort Wainwright's Army Community Service takes the lead when it comes to newcomer services.
"When Soldiers first arrive, they receive a day one briefing and during the briefing they receive an overview of ACS services," said Andrea Forrest, ACS community outreach program coordinator. "In that briefing we touch on financial aspects of living in the Fort Wainwright, Fairbanks area. We talk about the Exceptional Family Member Program. We also talk a little bit about family advocacy. And then we talk about relocation."
Touching on the big four topics new Soldiers need when they first arrive - financial issues, EFMP, family advocacy program and relocation readiness - Forrest said the initial briefing Soldiers receive is just the tip of the ice berg.
The newcomer orientation puts all the pieces together and provides one-stop-shopping for new Soldiers and their spouses. "Childcare is available during the newcomer orientation at no cost to families and spouses are strongly encouraged to attend," she said. "Often times the service member gets the information and it doesn't make it all the way home to the spouse. So we strongly encourage spouses to come in and hear it for themselves, meet the people and put a name to a face and learn about programs and services."
Another popular feature of the relocation readiness program is the lending closet. "When those families have moved here and they're waiting for their belongings, we have the lending closet to help them get by," said Denise Mitchell, ACS director. "It's important for families to know that the relocation program is here to help them. We can supply them everything they need for their transition. If they need a high chair, we're going to have that available for them. If they want to bake a cake for their son's birthday, we have pots and pans for them to borrow to make that cake. If they're pregnant, we have air mattresses they can borrow so they are not sleeping on the floor."
Mitchell said ACS continuously evaluates their programs to match their services with customer needs.
"We decided to revamp the lending closet based on what families really need; so they can be successful when they're setting up and even when they're leaving," she said. "One of the things we're also getting ready to roll out is for those families who are PCSing here or PCSing out of here, they will get 20 hours of childcare at no cost to them to assist them."
Helping newcomers is one of her top priorities, Mitchell said. "We're just trying to find ways to help families not be so stressed when they're getting here and when they're leaving," she said.
But there are more resources available than just those through the relocation readiness program, Forrest said.
"All of our programs are so important, I can't really pick one," she said. "It's a fairly expensive area so we have the Army Emergency Relief program that helps when you first move here if you are having trouble coming up with the deposit and the first month's rent. We can help you with that. Also, the spouse employment program is great. When you first arrive and you have a spouse who is interested in a job, that's a good program to get involved with."
She also recommended the ACS volunteer program for those who want to get involved in the community but do not want or have not found a full-time job.
Since it is not uncommon for spouses to arrive here pregnant, Forrest recommended the new parent support program through family advocacy. The program provides in-home help and the types of tips and information that new parents need to be successful especially when they are so far from home.
ACS has something for everyone, Forrest said. "ACS is a great place for spouses to come; especially new spouses," she said. "Just come to the front desk and say, 'I'm new to Fort Wainwright. What can you tell me about ACS' About Fort Wainwright' About Alaska' About anything''"
Other agencies provide valuable help and resources for newcomers, too. The garrison Safety office partnered with ACS to present a Welcome to Winter orientation monthly from September through January, providing invaluable information for Soldiers and families, Forrest said.
Formerly known as Chiller Thriller, the winter orientation offers practical tips and answers to common questions about how to dress children, pets and adults in winter conditions, what should be in an automobile winter kit and even winter driving techniques. "It's more than just learning about how to survive your first winter here," she said. "You also get little tokens that you can take with you."
Relocating requires much more than adjusting to new surroundings. Soldiers and family member also face new laws and legal guidelines as they move from state to state.
Soldiers and family members must learn about the unique legal requirements in each state they live to avoid violating local statues and to ensure they take advantage of special provisions that apply to them, said Jim Wherry, chief of legal assistance at the Fort Wainwright Law Center.
A fairly recent federal law, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, changed the way military spouses can claim state residency for taxation and voting purposes and is just one example of specific guidelines for military families.
"The biggest thing it does is potentially eliminate (a military spouse's) requirement to pay the state income tax of the state that they work in if you PCS with their spouse," Wherry explained. "Here in Alaska we have no state income tax and so we don't derive a direct benefit here immediately. But if the spouse moves from this state PCSing with their Soldier and takes a job in another state, it potentially means that they would not have to pay state income taxes there."
Laws like this one are often complicated and Wherry recommended Soldiers and family members seek counsel from the Fort Wainwright Law Center for more information about the MSRRA and other federal and state legal requirements unique to Alaska.
While there are always numerous tasks to take care of and new things to learn at a new installation, Mitchell encouraged newcomers to embrace their experience and make it a good one.
"The thing that families need to understand is that when relocating from one location to the next, it's all what you make it," she said. "If you prepare yourself, it's going to be a smooth transition. It really is what you make it."
Forrest also said if some newcomers have tried to make it a good experience and have been discouraged, she hopes they will try again and start with a stop at ACS. "We really try to look out for each other. We're really far away from home, so we have to take care of each other out here," she said.
"So, give it another shot."
ACS will host a Transition and Safety Fair Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Last Frontier Community Activity Center to provide further resources and assistance for newcomers. Additionally, newcomer and Welcome to Winter orientations are offered monthly at the Last Frontier Community Activity Center.
Call James Askew, relocation readiness program manager, at 353-7908 for more information.
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