The Challenges of Moving in the Military and How Civilians Can Help

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Military Town Advisor.  All opinions are 100% mine.


Some of our dearest friends in the world are going through a move right now.  They're in the US Air Force and are in the middle of moving back to the US from Europe.  As in today.  Right now, movers are at their house, packing up Liz's scrapbooking stuff, and she has officially threatened them that they not lose or destroy any of it. I'd take that seriously if I were you, Mr. Mover Guys.  

Here's something you probably didn't know.  At least, I didn't.  

Source

Most families do have school aged children and the vast majority of those children do go to public schools, as the graphic from Military Town Advisor shows. This website has a great section on finding a home when you're in the military.  If you're in the military and you want more information about base housing vs. off-base housing, check out this post from Kathryn at Singing Through the Rain on the Pros and Cons of Living on a Military Base.  

Moving is stressful for anyone, but when combined with making it through a deployment and the headache of military life in general, this makes for one stressful move and one stressed out mama.

What's the biggest challenge with being a military brat?

I talked with my friend Liz about the realities of military life.  Liz has the unique perspective of being both a military brat and a military wife.  Her daddy served in the Air Force and now her husband is serving too.  She said by far, the most difficult thing about being in the military for children is the move.

Moving and making new friends is scary for a child.  It's a huge unknown.  What will her new school be like?  Will she make new friends?  I've watched Liz help with this by making everything an adventure for her daughter, Autumn.  I remember Autumn declaring that she would have tea with the Queen of England when she moved there!  When Liz was a child, she decided that military moves meant she could reinvent herself with every move if she wanted to.  It was a fresh start.

A military family also has a lot to consider regarding schools for their children.  In an ideal world, all military bases would be located in the zone with the best schools in the area, but of course that's not reality.  So the parents may have to move to a different zone with better schools, or in some states, the military kids can attend any school as long as the parents are willing to make the drive.   Military Town Adivsor does have a page where military families can do their research on schools near military bases so that they can make the best decisions for the kids.

How Can Civilians Help Military Families with a Move? 

I also asked Liz what we can do to help. She said a civilian can help by telling military wives what they are going to do to help instead of offering.  Military wives feel that they should be able to do it all on their own and not ask for help.  But the truth is, they need help.  

Instead of saying "When can I watch your daughter?" a friend can declare "I am going to watch your daughter on Wednesday so that you can do ___."  This takes the pressure of the military spouse and gives you what you want:  The opportunity to help a military spouse.

For those of us living far from our military friends, the other thing we can do to support them is to simply pray.  God can do so much more than we can.  I've prayed for God to provide good friends for those in the military, for Him to provide a home and a good school, and for a good adjustment and a calm heart for the military mama, among other prayers.

If you want to know more about how you, a civilian, can help support military families, here's a great article on What Every Military Wife Wants You to Know.

What are some ways you try to help your military friends?  Military families, can you think of some practical ways that civilians can help?
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