European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 10, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Moving out from the cover commander of the military traffic management come Moravic s major possessions include a Bike and Cnoc raiment Center a things that done to take up a lot of room a she says. A when you re living in the Barracks you done to have to go through housing or anything like that and out processing is really easy a she said. Moravec is concerned that her belongings make it to the other Side of the world intact. A transportation Hasni to come to pick my things up yet a she said the other Day. A a in a a Little anxious about How they arc going to pack my Moravec made a list of things to do in order to streamline her out processing. Important details included closing her account at the Bank and making sure her personnel records were in order. A i tried to figure out How Many things i wanted to do a Day a two or three. I done to want to stress myself out a she said laughing. Preparing for a move to fort Carson colo., Hasni to been quite the cakewalk for chief warrant officer 3 Nick Kostelcky his wife three children and Sadie the family dog. The experience of moving seven times in 17 years has helped Kostelecky learn How to plan Quot and make lists a lots of lists of everything a he said. Quot we just Check things off As we go their planning started More than six months ago when he wrote those lists and conferred with friends for advice. Those friends told Kostelcky that there was a waiting list even for renting off Post apartments because of the Large number of troops returning to the states from Europe. He requested 10 Days to travel to Colorado at his own expense to House Hunt. Once there he purchased a Home although that Wasny to exactly in the family plan. A rental property is at its prime so landlords Are getting whatever they Are asking Quot he said. A i bought a four bedroom House cheaper than it would Cost me to pay a the children a 17-year-old Shana 15-year-old Tom and 8-Ycar-old Brandon a have also had to shift gears for the move. They entered accelerated programs at school in order to leave in mid May with credit for the full school year. A it has been pretty Tough on them a Kostelcky said. A the first Day they can finish and get credit for the whole school year is the 14th of May and we Fly on the 16th. They re actually doing a semesters Worth of work in about three on top of that Shana a High school Junior a is very upset Quot that she wont be Able to attend Mannheim High school her senior year. She faces her final year in unfamiliar territory. For the last two months the Kostelecky Home in Mannheim a Benjamin Franklin Village has been sparse. Bookshelves Are Bare and the House is furnished with a few scattered pieces of government furniture. His family s household goods and car left in March a so when we get there our stuff will be there too Quot he said. A Heads up Frorup Kostelecky As rough As a move to an overseas location May be going Back to the states can be even tougher. Quot you re not authorized la temporary lodging allowance when you move Back to the states they done to have a lending closet there is no government furniture Quot he said. A if we would have waited until the last minute to ship our stuff Well get Back there and wed be stuck with another stumbling Block is that Many on Post guest houses a such As the one at fort Carson a take reservations for people who Are travelling on Only temporary duty. Quot it s on a first conic first Send basis Quot when you Are a new arrival he said Quot so More than Likely a amps Crystal Louro no Nick Kostelcky also has Sadie to ship Home. John Howze Jacque Moravec when we get there we a have to go to a local also soldiers usually done to get sponsors before arriving at their stateside unit because assignments arc first to the posts replacement battalion from where you arc then sent to a specific unit. Kostelecky arranged through the car shipping Agency at the port in St. Louis to have his car delivered to the Airport where he can pick it up and continue on toward Colorado. Quot it Cost me $60 to do that but it s Worth he said. Making such arrangements often take time and a lot of Effort he cautioned. Quot in be called just about anybody i could think of to get answers Quot he said. A just to get the information on the car a its not available through the car shipping people through the government a i did this All on my the routine out processing though fairly Standard procedure prior to any move docs have its frustrations. A like at transportation you have to make an appointment to make an appointment to get your appointment Quot Kostelecky said a same Way with housing a you have to make an appointment to get the appointment to get your House soldiers should know this and plan on delays. Quot you can t just walk in and expect to take care of your stuff a Kostelecky said. A they arc overbooked a with so Many people going i made my appointment to have my stuff shipped in january. The earliest possible appointment to have it picked up was the first week in March a nearly 45 Days learning How to Divide your belongings into House hold goods a the Large shipment that travels via ship and unaccompanied baggage the lighter shipment that is sent by air is also something the Kostelecky have Learned through experience. Nearly All of their belongings except for clothes personal items Ami their to Ami stereo left in the sea shipment. I Hen there s Sadie. The affectionate 3-year-old hr11ish Cocker Spaniel will be leaving her native land for the first time a not to mention leaving it in a plastic and wire Cage. Getting used to the pet Carrier has been Sadie a Burden in the family a moving Sec Crio. Quot we just had to Start by putting her in there an hour or so a Day Quot Kostelecky said. Since the family and their Luggage will fill the car during the trip from St Louis to Colorado Sadie has been booked on a commercial flight directly to Colorado Quot it s a pretty big expense because we have to Board her in a Kennel once we go in the hotel in Germany and they will put her on the plane a Kostelecky explained. A limited number of pets can be put on military flights so had the Kostelecky waited for a flight for Sadie their departure would have been delayed. After More than six years in Germany the move to the states will be a culture Shock for the whole family. ,. Brandon the youngest in the family does no to even remember life in the states. Kostelecky recalled a vacation trip to the states several years ago when Brandon ran out of the bathroom declaring that there was no Way he could take a Shower because there was no Shower Hose. A the had never seen a Shower that was fixed in the Wall like the ones in the states Quot Kostelecky said with a laugh. His wife Diane though excited about the move stateside harbours reluctance to leave. A she actually considers Germany her Home even though she is an american because we be been Here 11 i years All totalled a he said. A one of the things that we like about Germany and this really bothers us is the Security of Germany the Low crime. Our kids Are going to be so naive when they get Back to the states after being Here so Kostelecky says the Best advice he can offer to families facing a move is to plan make lists and resist holding onto your belongings until the last minute. Quot its better to Inco Vience yourself Here where you Are accustomed to everything a he said. A your support facilities Are Here there is plenty of Public transportation a you wont be sure what to expect until you get where you re going and you need to be ready for although sgt John Howze Isnit scheduled to leave Mannheim until next year he is already planning for his move a a move that will be different from the one that brought him to Germany. Howze arrived three years ago a Carefree single Soldier whose belongings fit into two duffle bags. He now talks of sorting through the family belongings ant having a Yard Sale if necessary. Quot since in be married stuff is starting to accumulate Quot he says. Howze Hopes to be assigned to fort Lewis wash., but knows that wherever he goes stateside the effect of the european draw Down will probably mean limited temporary lodging and a Long wait for a permanent Home. With that in mind arrangements have already been made for his wife and son to stay with his Mother in Law in Florida for their first months Back in the states. A going from single to married is quite a Shock because you re not just responsible for yourself anymore Quot Howze said. A your actions affect your Fame _ j in looking ahead to that move he has set goals a pay off Bills. A set Money aside for the transition period during the move. A plan to pay for shipping the car he bought in Germany. Howzer a wife Carolyn is in the process of getting out of the army. That Means hell have to apply for command sponsorship so she can be added to his travel orders when he leaves. It s not going to be a problem. There is just a lot of paperwork. You just have to get a jump Start on it Don t Wail till the last minute a he said. Just thinking ahead and making plans Early should help make the move a smooth one Howze says. W Lien i came Over Here it was nobody but me a uni i could Lake care of myself Quot he said. A but now that i have a son and a wife in a going to have to take a lot of other things into a
