Getting Settled in the Military

As one soldier said, “Don’t live in your barracks.” See what your installation and the surrounding community have to offer. Start with MilitaryINSTALLATIONS. With this tool, you can easily locate your installation and find maps and directions on and off your post. You can also get contact information for programs and services and peruse location overviews and community points of interest.

You’ll probably work and live with the people in your unit until a PCS move or until you leave the service. Some of them are likely to become friends, and there will be plenty of opportunities to socialize.

Your installation’s MWR program gives you the chance to meet people and make the most of your free time. You can also visit this MWR benefit page to find what programs are available at your base. Explore your installation’s library and find out what it has to offer.

Some installations offer recreational facilities, all at low cost or for free. For off-base fun, Information, Tickets and Travel gives you the scoop on sporting events, museums, theme parks, aquariums, zoos, historical sites and other attractions. The America the Beautiful pass gives you free access to national parks and recreation areas where you can hike, climb, ski, surf, stargaze or just relax.

On your installation, you may see lists of places or services declared off-limits by the base commander. These are usually known trouble spots in the neighborhood – think bad landlords, shady nightclubs or lemon car lots. The lists are posted and are also on your base website — like this one from Fort Liberty — so read them and avoid anything on them. Be aware of predatory lenders, payday loan outfits and others looking to scam you outside the installation.

Installations offer you more than just barracks and mess halls. In fact, most military installations have a lot of affordable resources for service members and their families, such as deeply discounted grocery and department stores, called commissaries and exchanges. Check out this MilLife Guide to learn about the many resources the Defense Department offers for those who need help accessing healthy, affordable food.

You’ll also find golf courses, recreation areas and special events — many available on-base for free or at greatly reduced prices. Your military ID gets you discounts to events and destinations, even some that are off base. You can get discounted tickets to many local activities such as sporting events, concerts, movies, museums and vacation packages through your installation’s ITT office.

If your family, friends or significant other would like to visit you on base, they certainly can. Most installations welcome visitors for events such as deployment homecomings or holiday parties. You’ll find instructions for civilian visitors on your installation’s website.

Some installation recreation facilities – such as bowling alleys and movie theaters — are open to civilian guests if they are accompanied by a service member. You can also show your guests a good time off base — at concerts, amusement parks and sporting events — with discounted tickets from ITT.

Before you dismiss this resource because of its name, understand that installation-based Military and Family Support Centers are a resource hub for all service members, whether you’re single or married. They can help you connect the dots on your new installation and surroundings.

The people at these centers can help you with many things, such as getting a good deal when buying your first car, planning your first PCS, understanding housing options, finding places to socialize and connect to your new community, preparing for deployment, getting personal financial help and more. The centers may go by different names, but they all offer helpful resources for military life issues. Check out MilitaryINSTALLATIONS to locate the center nearest you.

You can also learn more about your new duty station or get answers to your military life questions by contacting Military OneSource by phone at 800-342-9647 or live chat.