Visit your local Relocation Assistance Program for more detailed information regarding the following topics.
BEFORE YOU MOVE:
-Understand your orders, read them completely. Your orders will tell you most of what you need to know. Check the 800 toll free number provided on your orders in case you need emergency assistance while you are in transit from your installation to Fort Sill.
-Relocation counseling: Ensure you receive information on getting mentally, financially, and logistically prepared. Your relocation should be fun, not frustrating and stressful. Preparation is the key.
-Sponsorship: By using your local Relocation Readiness program in your installation, you can request a sponsor to assist you with your PCS move. This is a one-on-one personal assistance. This person may be awaiting for you at the airport or other designated place upon your arrival to continue the support. Is your responsibility to request a sponsor, take advantage of this wonderful program.
-Finances: Is all about this evil thing called money...
If you are worried about your finances, get assistance immediately from your ACS, Financial Readiness Program. One of our financial counselors can help you plan your relocation budget. Make your financial entitlements work for you to cover all of your relocation expenses.
Prepare a check list to ensure you anticipate changes and take action for:
--Car insurance cost (check with you insurance company)
--Service vehicles in preparation for the move
--Change of address notification
--Spouse employment - resignation, Leave without pay, find new job...
--Contact Family Housing at the new installation to check the housing situation and what you will need from them to arrange temporary and permanent housing arragement
-- Moving with pets - if you travel by air, must contact the airline company to find out their procedures and rules. If you travel by car research the lodging companies that accept pets, most don't and when they do, they require a large deposit.
-- Moving with children - be aware that relocating may be stressfull to children, get them involved so they feel you are making them part of the team, and an active participant in the move.
-- Temporary lodging upon arrival at Fort Sill - It is recommended that you make lodging reservation at least 30 days prior to your arrival. If you have pets or children, ensure to let Lodging know so they can arrange accomodations. Also, ensure you can financially afford the cost of temporary lodging to pay as you go. You will be reimbursed, but not immediately upon arrival. You must process in and complete your travel voucher before you receive your travel reimbursement.
--Travel planning - The military has guidelines concerning the amount of miles from one installation to the next in the United States. If you drive, every 350 miles is considered a one-day travel, so if your travelling consist of 700 miles, it means you wll have 2-days allowed for travel.
-Household Goods: Unaccompanied baggage shipments are part of the personal property shipment entitlements. The baggage shipment is a small shipment that is normally shipped prior to the household goods shipment when orders are received for outside continental United States (OCONUS) permanent change of station (PCS) moves. This shipment is shipped by air and surface, depending on the destination, and normally does not take as long to arrive at the new PCS duty station as the household goods shipment. The weight of the unaccompanied baggage shipment is deducted from the household goods entitlement. Items to include in the shipment are items that will be needed while waiting for household goods to arrive, such as dishes, linens, uniforms, small TV, ETC. DO NOT INCLUDE ANY FURNITURE
The Do-It-Yourself (DITY) Method of Moving Personal Property is a program that is offered to military members as an alternate method of moving their household goods. Some members may find it advantageous since they can use their property until ready to move and also have it available for immediate use upon arrival at the new duty station. In addition, they may earn an incentive payment upon completion of the move.
Participation in the DITY program is voluntary, however, anyone electing to do a self move is required to process an application, DD Form 2278, and obtain written approval from the Installation Transportation Officer. Normally, application should be processed prior to the move, however, current rules do allow, if weight tickets are obtained, for a member to process the paper work at the destination Transportation Office. It is highly recommended it be done at origin so you can be counseled prior to the move about the do's and don't involved with your move. Also, if advance is needed, it has to be processed at origin.
Under the DITY program, the member is paid a monetary incentive equal to 95% of what it would have cost the Government to move the authorized or actual household goods weight (which ever is less) commercially. All expenses for gas, rental trucks, tolls, weight tickets, etc. are to be paid by the member. Amounts should be recorded by the member as they will be required at time of settlement of your move. This amount is not subject to the 28% Federal Tax that is withheld from your final incentive pay.
Members with orders for PCS, TDY, discharge under honorable conditions, retiring, assignment to or termination for convenience of the Government, moving into or out of Government housing, are all eligible to participate in the DITY move program.
Any member contemplating a DITY move needs to check with the Transportation Office, Personal Property counselor prior to the time they plan to move. Only certain types of vehicles are authorized for the DITY program. You are not authorized any incentive payment for property moved by a commercial household goods mover.
--Disconnecting utilities - depends on your living arrangements, such as renting, or if you live in government quarters. If you are renting it is recommended that you read your rental agreement. Some landlords specify that you turn the utilities off 5-days after you turn in the rental.
If you live in government quarters, you will process out from Housing and will receive instructions accordingly.
Do not leave your installation without paying your utility bills in full. It may harm your ability to have utilities connected if you rent/lease off post - utilities include, water, gas, and electricity - you may want to add the phone.
Plan living on or off post? If you are married and bringing your family with you, in both cases you must contact Family Housing before you rent/lease/buy off post, and if you want to apply for housing on post.
Check with housing to find out if there is a waiting period to obtain housing on post, and possibly obtain a house referral listing if housing is not available. Keep in mind that if you must leave off post, you will need to pay rental and utility deposits.
-- Permissive TDY- accompanied married personnel only (Army gives you the time but not the money you will need during your permissive TDY)You must request permissive TDY by completing a DA 31 request. Amount of days granted is usually 10 days.
Carry important documents with you - do not send with your unaccompanied baggage! Marriage certificates, birth certificates, ID cards, immunization records, school records, resumes, 201 files, and copy of your orders must accompany you when you are in-processing. Ensure you always have at least 10 copies of your orders available.
PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED TO FORT SILL: Report to the Personnel Processing Branch or Welcome Center, Building 3164, Monday - Friday, from 0730-1600
After duty hours and weekends all Soldiers report to the Officer in Charge (OIC) at the Installation Operations Center (IOC) in Mc Nair Hall, Building 455, to sign in. Find parking and entrance to the building at the southeast side of the building. If you are unaccompanied SGT (E5) or below a temporary room will be provided for you. Soldiers accompanied by dependent family members, or SSG (E6) or above must check with lodging building 5676 (Ferguson Street). If Lodging is not available you will receive a 'non availability statement' allowing you to use one of the many hotels/motels in the Lawton/Fort Sill.
BASIC TRAINING: Report to 95th AG Battalion, (Reception Station) building 2843 (Craig Road).
Advanced Individual Training (AIT): Report to Building 6007 or 6018, 2nd BN, 80th Field Artillery
BNCOC and ANCOC students report to Building 3662, (580) 442-6328/6382
Officer Basic Course (OBC) students and Officer Advance Course (OAC) students should report to Building 730, Snow Hall, (580) 442-2301 or DSN 639-2301.
Contact your Relocation Readiness Program office for assistance in any of the topics mentioned here, or any other issue you may encounter when planning your relocation.
Upon arrival at Fort Sill:
--Contact the Transportation Office, Inbound Section even though, you may not have your delivery address for your household goods.
-- Provide your phone number and address where you can be reached on short notice.
-- As soon as you have a delivery address for your household goods, call the Transportation Office again and set up delivery of your household goods
Be prepared to accept delivery of your property as soon as it arrives. This will prevent additional handling and thus reduce the opportunity for possible loss or damage.
-- Check your belongings as they are delivered, and mark any damaged or lost items on DD Form 1840, Statement of Loss or Damage.
-- Claims must be filed with the post claims office, building 2595 Currie Road, within 70 days of delivery.
-- Attend the Newcomers' Orientation to learn about activities, and services available. All newly arrived military personnel and family members receive a newcomers' orientation during in-processing. The Relocation Readiness Program hosts the weekly Newcomers' Orientation including several agencies and programs from on and off post. The orientation consists of a briefings session, and a bus tour in the afternoon.
* FIREARMS REGISTRATION: All privately owned firearms must be registered at the Police Administration Branch, building 1670. USAFACFS Reg 190-1, Annex B, outlines proper procedures for storage and transport of firearms at Fort Sill.
* ACCIDENTS: Report all traffic accidents to the MP station, building 1649, phone 442-2102/2103.
* MOTORCYCLES: Operators must wear a Department of Transportation (DOT) helmet and carry a Defensive Driver's Course (DDC) card. The DDC is available at the Post Safety Office, building 2587, phone 442-4466.
* CHILDREN SAFETY / SEAT BELTS: Protect the child, McGruff Safe house, and Project Beware programs are available by contacting Physical Security Branch, phone 442-4967. Use of seat belts is the law in the state of Oklahoma and Fort Sill. Children must be secured in a child restraint seat, which my be borrowed from the ACS Relocation Readiness Program, Lending Closet, building 4705, phone 442-5018.
* USE OF CELULLAR PHONES WHILE DRIVING in the installation is prohibited. You must park your vehicle in a safe, authorized area when using your cellular phone. For additional information, contact the Military Police Desk, 580-442-2103
* OFF-LIMIT AREAS: All wooded areas, fire ranges, impact areas, and bodies of water are off-limits, except for units or personnel with proper authorization.