Relocating comes with many stresses, but military families have an impressive way of adapting. Family spoke with Angela Litteral, who is married to Captain Andy Litteral, an active-duty Navy Seabee. They have PCS’d 10 times and are preparing for their 11th.

What are some of the biggest stressors during a PCS?

Some of the biggest stressors have been finding a new place to live, navigating the transition for our kids with new friends and schools, figuring out how I will work toward personal and professional goals, and working out the timeline of our move.

Have the stressors changed with each PCS?

People always ask if it gets easier. No, because every duty station is different, but you do learn how to better navigate each move.

Some stressors stay the same:

• Saying goodbye to friends who have become like family.
• The ever-changing timeline of the move.
• Finding new doctors, hair stylists, etc.
• Finding that new place to call home.

The most difficult thing that has changed over the years is that it has become much harder for our kids to leave good friends, great schools, and communities they loved.

One thing that has made our moves easier was choosing to do a PPM, or DITY move. We found it lowered our stress because we could control the timeline and how things were packed. It has been a positive bonding experience, as the whole family works together.

What are some ways your family deals with the stress?

We start talking about the move as a family as soon as we have orders and have the kids be a part of the planning. For example:

• We talk about cleaning out things they don't want anymore and let them decide whether to give items to friends or sell them.
• We include the kids in the research of the new duty station.
• We plan fun stops along the way. During our last coast-to-coast PCS, the kids helped us plan stops at the St. Louis Arch, Grand Canyon, and many little spots along Route 66.
• We plan a Farewell Party with friends before we leave.
• We create a bucket list of fun things we want to experience before leaving a duty station to help maximize fun memories.

If you’re on your first PCS, know that MilitaryOneSource is a wonderful place to start. Remember to stop, breathe, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are not alone on this journey.