What To Expect:

Don't freak out! You should be assigned a sponsor by your company. A sponsor will show you around the base, help you sign up for a bank account (if you need it), put you on the housing waiting list (rather it's on or off post), help you sign up for a phone (if you need it), introduce you to your new company, introduce you to the commander, show you or explain the bus routine (not sure if every base has it or if everyone has access, but it's free!), show you the commissary (grocery store), sign you up for an APO (mail box) and etc. They help you for about two weeks to get you familiar with the base(s) and show you the basics. When you move into your new home, rather its on or off base, you'll be given temporary furniture for about 90 days until your stuff arrives. You can extend for more days if there is an issue with your shipments. You should be kept updated by email. The furniture isn't the best, but remember that it's temporary. I remember the bed was awful. A lot of people buy an air mattress or pack one. You can also stop by the ACS (Army Community Service) building and they'll give you temporary kitchen supplies/ appliances. I believe they're also for 90 days. They do expect you to return everything perfectly. If you mess up a pot or something else, you don't pay for it, you have to replace it. Sounds easy, but it's not. They have certain requirements. I hated it because everything felt so cheap and easy to break. Finding a job will be tough, especially overseas. If you live outside of the US it will be tough due to not knowing the language your country speaks and due to most jobs being taken on base from all the other spouses. It's also harder to get a job due to the long process and not knowing anyone. So how can you fix that? Keep trying and volunteer a lot so you become familiar to people. So what is on base? Usually there is just one base or a couple spread out. On base there is usually a PX (expensive target, but not as cute), a gas station, barber shop, food court, hotel, housing, ACS (Army Community Service), arts and crafts, thrift store, commissary (grocery store), mail room, post office, bank, shoppette (like a 7/11), dentistry, a learning center for college, DFAC (Dining Facility) building, clinic (like the doctors), vet, car service, car wash, usually there is a high school, middle school, day care, and etc. So out of the US bases usually allow family members (spouses and their children) to make appointments at the dentist, clinic (doctors), etc. It's not always, but it is allowed with the exception that they might have to cancel your appointment and let another soldier in since they have check ups and requirements. This is because its outside of the US where you might have complications with the language and etc. Bases in the US usually do not allow this since it's the states and it's easy to find someone off base. You don't have as much complications as someone does living outside of the US.

Summery:

- Assigned sponsor

- Temporary furniture

- Temporary kitchen supplies/ appliances

- Finding a job & voluteering

- What's on base

- Access