Saturday, July 28, 2007

PCSing - 3 months prior.

First of all, you need to decide whether you want to make a DITY move, or have the government handle everything for you.

Second, Marine's need to make an appointment for a counseling session at your base transportation office, spouses are more then welcome to attend, but not required.

Start saving for non-reimbursable moving expenses.

Notify your landlord you will be moving, but you do not need give him or her an exact date yet.

Begin making shipping arrangements for your vehicle(s) if necessary. If you are using TMO, schedule a counseling session.

Start to keep track of tax deductible moving expenses.

Make an inventory of possessions and valuable items (take pictures or video tape). Get appraisals for antiques or collections.

Start organizing personal records like birth certificates, insurance papers or warranties.

Make a list of whom to notify concerning your move and forwarding address.

Let clubs/gyms/organizations that you belong to know you are leaving. Transfer your membership if possible.

Take care of necessary medical, optical or dental appointments. Obtain your records or find out how to forward them later.

Have Power of Attorney or Letter of Authorization drawn up for unforeseen circumstances.

Go through closets and drawers to sort through clothes and other items to give away or sell.

Make sure all stickers from previous moves have been removed from furniture.

Do not place any more mail order purchases.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

It's a small Corps after all...

It's a small Corps after all...

Make friends wherever you go. Try to make as little enamy's as possible.

It doesn't matter if you are there for 2 months or 2 years, make friends. Inevitably, you will see them again. You will go to where they are. They will go to where you will be. And at the end of the day friends are the only ones covering the front of your position.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Washing cammies

Washing cammies are so not a big deal these days. Now that everyone's been issued MARPAT ones... We don't have to iron or starch them... However there are a few rules to washing them.

As the lable says:
"Machine wash using permanent press cycle or hand wash using mild detergent that does NOT contain optical brighteners.
Drying: Tumble dry and remove immediately from dryer.
To drip dry: Remove from water and place on hanger
Ironing: Light iron if needed.
DO NOT STARCH OR COMMERCIALLY HOT PRESS."

You've got to understand the whole not using "Optical Brighteners" thing is kinda important. The whole reason the Marine Corps switched to the digital MARPAT cammies is cuz they make night vision virtually impossible. When you use detergents with "Optical Brighteners" or liquid fabric softeners it makes the cammies more detectable by night vision equipment and more visible in a low-light environment of any kind.

I've found that the best commercial brands to use are the
"All® Free and Clear Military" (Yes they actually made a detergeant with our men in mind) and "Arm & Hammer Essentials". Another decent brand is "Surf" they seem to be the cheapest commercial who are OB/FS free, but I just don't feel that they really clean the cammies as well as the other brands.

Anywayz, here's a list of ALL the laundry detergents that do not contain optical brighteners or fabric softners:
All® Free and Clear Liquid - Military
Allens Naturally Laundry Detergent
Arm & Hammer Essentials
Bi-O-Kleen (Powder & Liquid)
Caldrea Laundry Detergent
Charlie's Soap (Powder and Liquid)
Cheer (Original, Free & Gentle)
Country Save (Liquid & Powder)
Eco-Max Standard and HE compatible
ECOS Free & Clear Laundry Detergent
Ecover (liquid and powder)
Equator Mountain Green (Free & Clear, Original Citrus, Ultra Baby)
Mrs. Meyer's Laundry Detergent
Nature Clean Natural Value
Nellie's
OXY-PRIME
Planet Planet (liquid and powder)
SensiClean
Seventh Generation (liquid and powder)
Sportwash
Sun and Earth
Surf