PCS Orders in Hand …Now on a Quest for Essential Apps for the Military PCS

By: Williamsburg Military Insider

All of us Military members have become quite savvy when it comes to our PCS moves.  I recently discovered some great apps that are essential and very convenient to help with your upcoming PCS.   I really enjoyed around me; so awesome when driving across the country.

1. Moving Day – Free (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad)

Military movers know how overwhelming a home filled with boxes can be. It is likely that you have also had the experience of opening a box that is labeled “kitchen” only to find tools from the garage. Moving Day gives you the opportunity to easily catalog all of your things as you or the movers pack. Built-in bar code scanning and label-making will ease the struggle of locating particular items within a sea of cardboard. Helps to quickly identify what boxes/items are missing or what items may be damaged. Photos taken as the items are packed will provide documentation for insurance or damage claims. Print or email reports directly from the app.

2. Moving Van – $1.99 (iPhone, iPod Touch)

Similar to Moving Day, this app will allow you to inventory the contents of each box, include a photo of the items and assign each box with a unique name or number. Find that you are searching high and low for the box that contained your kitchen towels? Simply search for the specific item and the app will identify which box it is located in. It might be helpful to have friends and family with this app to help you during the packing process as it is tough to keep up with the packers sometimes.

3. Moving List – $2.99 (iPhone, iPod Touch)

Utilize the pre-populated to-do lists created from 95 common moving tasks. Create and add your own list of important items and organize them by category or due date. Great way to keep your lists organized and accessible to you at all times.

4. Moving Checklist Pro – $0.99 (iPhone, iPad) Another app with over 210 moving related items that can be used to create checklists and timelines. Create your own or use pre-loaded checklists, which can be emailed to friends and families so they know how they can help ease your stress.

5. My Move – Free (iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire) In addition to a complete moving checklist, the My Move app will calculate your household goods moving weight, which can be extremely useful for military families that are considering a full DITY or partial DITY move. Requesting a specific mover may not always be an option for military families, but you may be given the choice of a few approved providers. Reading the online reviews may give you a leg up when trying to make a decision of this nature.

6. Moving Guru – Free (Blackberry, iPhone) This app offers features similar to the other apps mentioned, such as chronological task lists, but one cool feature it offers is the “We’ve moved” notification that you can send to pre-selected phone contacts. Change of address cards are still nice to send out, but this is certainly a less expensive and quicker option.

7. iHandy Level – Free (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) You have finally made it to the stage where you are ready to hang your photos on the wall and having the iHandy Level will ensure that every item you hang is on the level. Portrait and landscape options housed in a classy wood grain interface may make you feel like a professional carpenter.

8. Yelp – Free (iPhone, iPad, Android) You are settled and ready to explore your new surroundings. Apple and Android users can utilize this app to find everything you need to make this new place your home. Gather information on local business with details such as address, hours, price, reviews, tips, and deals. Easy access to directions and the opportunity to book reservations for restaurants using Open Table. It just may be time to try out that Thai restaurant down the street!

9. Around Me – Free (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android) Similar to Yelp, this app is also available in both platforms. With GPS locating, this app will show you gas stations, banks, hospitals, hotels, supermarkets, theatres, and other essential amenities that are nearby. Find the location on a map and quickly get directions from your current location.

10. Military Traveler (Free iPhone) Military Traveler is a universal base directory application for iPhone and Android. It contains information like phone numbers, hours of operations, websites and more for establishments on military installations

Baggie Bonanza… and the PCS Military Move

By: Williamsburg Military Insider

With many Military Families PCS season is coming up. I have moved 14 times in the past twenty years, and can relate with everything in the article at Call Dibs  “How to MOVE IT without LOSING IT!: Helpful Tips for your PCS Move” I got the biggest chuckle out of the Baggie Bonanza paragraph. In my twenty years I thought I was the only one who did this, as I am the same and do not want movers all up in my space. 🙂 I recommend reading her tips on your next PCS move; they are some of the same I have done for the past twenty years. Take to heart the refrigerator stocked full with drinks, I can tell you from experience moving in this past July, and it was 110 F, my movers were the best! They were just so thankful for the endless supply of Gatorade. They even assembled everything without being asked. We all know sometimes that can be a challenge. Happy PCS season…wishing everyone very smooth moves!

Where are the Facts?….Defense Budget Faces Cuts To Personnel After Decade of War

By: Williamsburg Military Insider

I rarely ever put a opinion out there on articles I read.  But as I came across this story written by Mr. David Wood, Defense Budget Faces Cuts To Personnel After Decade of War…I had to say something.

What does Mr. Wood  honestly expect to add to the national discussion with a story that has more errors than facts? . As a military wife, I’m terrified that readers might actually think this story features facts. Mr. Wood has  a responsibility to inform the public, inherent in that responsibility is that your information be TRUE. Mr. Wood, Military Members are all – VOLUNTEERS. They chose to stand up, put the best interests and security of the country first, even at the risk of their own lives. They aren’t in it for glory, or fame, or getting their names in the papers. They do it because it’s the right thing to do. They do it to protect your right to malign and degrade them, to say they don’t deserve a good paycheck for the price of their lives. A paycheck, I might add, that is paid for by the government, and your taxes, which they also pay. In effect, they pay themselves to safeguard our way of life.

You should personally thank each and every one of these military members for their service and their courage to protect your rights and your freedoms.