Now, you have entered probably the roughest and most uncertain time in recruiting. Your military member has reported to the ARC at Fort Jackson, SC. For the next 6-8 weeks, s/he will learn the basic skills to become a successful Army recruiter. Your home life will resemble the worst time of the storm during Noah's journey. Sometime between 2-5 weeks, average is 4th week, your service member will be notified of his/her battalion assignment. S/he should also receive a TENTATIVE company and station assignment at this time. Below is a checklist of the more specific USAREC items you will need to do.
Remember that nothing beyond the battalion assignment is set in stone until your service member reports to his/her gaining battalion. You should research ALL areas covered by the battalion. If a company or station assignment was given at the ARC, concentrate in those areas. However, look into other station and company areas. THE COMPANY/STATION ASSIGNMENT COULD CHANGE BETWEEN GRADUATION AND BATTALION SIGN IN. If you visit Yahoo! or iWon and type in a search for the city and state the tentative station assignment is for, you will be able to research schools and rentals in that area. You could also receive contact information for the Chamber of Commerce for that city. You can request a welcome packet from them. Websites, such as Anywho and Who? Where?, are helpful in locating addresses and phone numbers for businesses in the new area.
Return to the USAREC homepage and visit the "Spouse Information" page. Under the "Family Assistance" link, you will find the toll free number for the Soldier and Family Assistance Program Manager (SFAPM). With this number, you can contract all battalion SFAPMs throughout USAREC. Telephone the SFAPM for the battalion your soldier has been assigned to. Introduce yourself and request a welcome packet. The SFAPM will also need to know if there are any EFMP members in your family.
You should also receive a welcome packet from USAREC HQ at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Included in this packet will be a USAREC Family Orientation Pamphlet. Read it cover to cover. Place the welcome packet with your other things to hand carry throughout the move.
Begin now to collect up the important papers for the move ... medical records, dental records, school records for any children. Place them in a "banker's box" and clearly mark the box. Also, include any information you received/found on your gaining battalion. Tie up loose ends at your current location.
Have your spouse contact his/her battalion prior to beginning the PCS to check on the status of his/her company/station assignment.
Prior to moving day, place your banker's box of information in a place where the movers CANNOT get to it ... your vehicle (if you'll be driving through the PCS) is a good place. Also, set aside "basic household items" ... bed linens, towels, a few pots and pans, small TV (if there is room), clothing, a few toys, etc ... in the event you find a home prior to your household goods shipment arriving at your destination. Ask the packing team for a couple of boxes to put your supplies in. Place these with your banker's box.
If you have small children, buy a FEW, SMALL trinkets for them to open during the PCS. Items such as coloring books with crayons, puzzles, travel games. When they start to get bored, given them a new gift to open.
Plan ahead for recruiting incentive awards. Your family could be stationed a distance from a military installation or one large enough to carry incentive upgrades. Therefore, while your soldier is at the ARC have him/her purchase a gold badge for both dress uniforms and BDUs.
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Visitors since 23 April 2002
Last updated 21 May 2002
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