WT Sampson Schools Homepage WT Sampson Faculty and Staff Page
PSC & Transfer Tips w/ Other Helpful Links
The latest DoDEA enrollment reports by area, district and schools: http://www.dodea.edu/datacenter/enrollment.cfm
Maps of DoDDS Europe Schools/Locations
http://www.eu.dodea.edu/maps.htm -or- http://www.dodea.edu/profiles/europe.htmlMaps of DoDDS Pacific Schools/Locations
http://www.dodea.edu/profiles/pacific.htmlMaps of DoDDS-Cuba and DDESS-Americas Schools/Locations
http://www.dodea.edu/profiles/americas.htmlMilitary Installations Worldwide,
http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/ismart/MHF-MI/Military OneSource.com - broad & deep resource,
https://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspxRoad Maps Online, for almost all countries (zoom-in, print, email),
http://www.multimap.com/Importing pets into Japan,
http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/import.aspxImporting pets into England,
http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/info/customs/england.shtmlTip #1: Union Payroll Deductions: If using payroll deductions for your Union dues, file form 1188 at your school office before the end of this school year to stop the automatic resumption of dues deductions next school year (automatic resumption is the norm). This is especially important for those members moving from an FEA Union area to an OFT Union area or the reverse; OFT represents teachers in Azores, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Bahrain.
Tip #2: Good Driver Insurance Discount: Before leaving your current location, obtain a print-out/report of your "good driving" record to use for potential significant discounts on your auto insurance at your new location. These reports may be available at one or more of these places, e.g. your present insurance company, your base's Law Enforcement unit, your base's Vehicle Registration office, you base's Pass & ID office, etc.
Tip #3: International Driver's Permit: Some countries recognize these; some countries actually require one even if simply 'passing through' or renting a car while visiting (in Europe, these places require an IDP: Austria, Greece, Spain, Turkey, and nearby countries such as Israel, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon). If you determine that an International Driver's Permit is for you, the AAA has the lowest cost ($15), most widely accepted one. See: http://www.aaa.com/PPInternational/Int_IDP.html. For "Frequently Asked Questions" about the IDP, visit: http://www.aaa.com/ppinternational/Int_IDP_apply.html. For the AAA's IDP application, visit: http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpapplc.html?association=undefined&clb_id=undefined&secure=N. (You can also obtain an IDP for ~13 to ~33 Euros (~$20 to ~$45) after arrival in Germany; forms needed are here: http://rmv.hqusareur.army.mil/ssintdrlic.htm)
Tip #4: Flammables/fuels can't be shipped: So, plan to sell/give away/recycle all your flammable paints, cans of spray-paint, lawnmower gas, motor oils, grease, propane tanks, emergency fuels/fire starters like lighter fluids, lantern fuels, camping fuels, matches, fire-starting aides, etc.
Tip #5: Email photocopies of all your important travel documents to yourself: Most schools have an email-capable photocopy machine. You can use it to make photocopies of your Passport, IDs, Driver's Licenses, credit cards, Check/Savings accounts Routing & Account numbers, anything else too, that you then email to yourself using your secure Outlook account. (Consider forwarding a copy to your private email account too just in case your departing school closes your Outlook account or Outlook is 'down' for any reason.) Should disaster strike and you lose the originals, having these photocopies sitting conveniently in your InBox will help you recover from the loss.
Tip #6: Don't carry a USB/Memory-stick/Thumb-drive w/ your private information stored in it, like account numbers, passwords, etc. If you lose it, or it's stolen, your hassle-factor has instantly become infinite. A more secure method is Tip #5 above: make photocopies that you email to your own email account.
Tip #7: Visit your current Housing Office to file a Housing Application in advance of your departure: so that you can arrive at your new destination base with as much as 30 days, or more, waiting-list time credited to you. This is especially important for bases where living in military family housing is desired/required, but is also useful even if you will live off base as the new housing office will know what you are generally looking for before you arrive.
Tip #8: Ask your gaining Principal for a Sponsor at your new school: DoDDS Sponsors aren't automatically assigned. Be sure to ask for a sponsor who: (1) has a family composition similar to your own and (2) will be willing and able to stay in email contact with you throughout the summer. Then, ask your sponsor all your questions, and especially ask them to volunteer all information they wish they'd been told.
Tip #9: Italy, Turkey, Korea, and Bahrain all require you obtain a Visa in advance: i.e. you can't PCS/move to these four countries without the required Visa (and you're not allowed to simply obtain it at the border or airport). This Visa requirement is for you and every family member. ASAP see your school office and HQ Personnel to start this potentially lengthy process.
Tip #10: Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) requires medical approval for you and every family member prior to granting permissions/reservations to travel there. Start this lengthy process as soon as possible if you're PCSing to GTMO Bay, the Pearl of the Antilles.
Tip #11: Check expiration dates for all your Official Passports, CAC cards, IDs, Driver's Licenses, Credit Cards, etc: give yourself plenty of time to renew before departing so you won't run into delays/stop-travel should any of these expire while traveling.
Tip #12: Driving at your new European assignment? Here's the US Armed Forces Europe Driver's License online pamphlet with all the lessons, requirements, instructions, international road signs, and even an online practice test: http://rmv.hqusareur.army.mil/drivrman/190-34.htm
Tip #13: Learn to say Thank You!: Muito obrigada, Vielen Dank, Takk fyrir, Dank u wel, Çok teşekkür ederim, Molte grazie, Shukran Djezilan, Efharisto´ poli´, Muchas gracias, Merci beaucoup, Si yu'os ma'ase', Te-dan-hi Kam-sa-ham-ni-da, and Arigatou gozaimasu
Tip #14: Make Advance Lodging Reservations: whether PCSing in for the first time, or PCSing out, or while in transit, or even later for your vacation/leisure travel needs, use this handy site to locate the exact lodging resource you need: http://dodlodging.net/
Tip #15: A VISA credit card is accepted in many more places outside the U.S. than any other type of credit card, by far.
Tip #16: For in-transit assistance overseas, find the USO locations in major airports, on bases, and even in several popular tourist destinations in Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Guam: http://www.uso.org/whoweare/findyourlocaluso/usooverseaslocations/
Tip #17: Where is my POV? Find the status, whereabouts, and estimated arrival time of your vehicle, plus get specific directions to all the POV drop-off and pick-points and the requirements for shipping any vehicle. Hint: you can enter 'any' random name if just seeking general information or directions, but specific information about your specific vehicle's status etc. will require you to enter your specific shipping numbers and information once inside this site. http://www.whereismypov.com/aal1.asp
Tip #18: Going to Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) Germany? The KMC includes Kaiserslautern/Vogelweh schools, Ramstein schools, and Landstuhl and Sembach schools. The weekly base newspaper, The Kaiserslautern American ('KA' for short) is a super valuable aide to finding housing information and lots of other helpful info at this very large American community.
Tip #19: Europe bound? Here's an excellent site that describes Army and Air Force installations across the continent: http://www.gettingaround.net/
Tip #20: Official Passports are required for all DoDDS employees and each family member prior to PCS travel. ASAP contact your school office and the Personnel Dept. to begin this potentially lengthy process.
WT Sampson Home
This page was last verified/updated
02/06/09