Deferred Travel Orders

Sigh. We've run into an issue this week. I was so happy that I had become command sponsored and was put on Nick's orders but turns out I'm on his orders for concurrent travel, which means I need to fly with him or within 60 days of his report date. I'm flying 35 days after he reports which would normally be fine but I need to stay in housing on base while I wait because I have no where else to live while I wait AND I need to stay behind to fly with my dog. Plus, I don't have my no-fee passport yet (similar to a VISA). Since I am staying behind on base and I need the BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing), I need to be on deferred travel orders. Nobody told me this until earlier this week when a woman who works at the housing office in Germany told me I need to be on deferred travel. I was so confused. Long story short, we talked to family travel here at our current base and we have now applied for deferred travel. The part that gets me so scared is now the orders that say I am allowed to travel, have been cancelled. I just set up a moving date to have my furniture picked up and I'm worried that it might be cancelled too because we are waiting on a new set of orders. AND my flight that is booked might be cancelled because I booked the flight with the orders, which are now cancelled. Complicated, right? The whole process is just so confusing. Why can't the Army make it easy?

I can't help but feel so anxious and worried. I have anxiety so this situation makes my anxiety so much worse. I know I need to think positively but I'm so afraid I won't have anywhere to live if these new orders aren't approved in the next few days. Housing won't let me stay on-post unless I'm on deferred travel orders and Nick leaves next week for Germany. I'm so unsure of how everything will go once he leaves the country. 

Send good thoughts and prayers my way. I need it!

-Kelly

I'm approved! And other worries...

We got notification last week that I'm officially command sponsored! I'm really surprised that it happened so quickly, especially since so many people are moving overseas this summer. I assume it's because it's just me coming and we have no children, so that probably sped up the process. All I know is I'm so relieved that it's over with.

I had my passport appointment yesterday and that went pretty good. The lady who I had the appointment with wasn't the friendliest but most government workers aren't super friendly, ya know? I already have a tourist passport but we have to apply for a "no fee passport" which is basically like a visa. It allows me to stay in Germany for three years instead of 90 days like the tourist passport. It should be here within 6 weeks which gives me enough time before my flight in July.

Speaking of flights, I officially booked my flight from Seattle to Germany. I've got two layovers before I land in Germany. I'm so nervous! And it's not because I'm flying by myself. I've done that plenty of times. It's because my dog has to fly cargo. Ugh. My dog is my fur child. Literally. He is my world. I love that little guy more than anything in this universe. The travel office booked me on a United Airlines flight because they have the PetSafe program, which claims to keep your pet safe from hot and cold temperatures by placing them in air conditioned cargo areas and vans when transporting your pet to and from the plane. Sounds like a good program. And it might be. But when I googled the program, there were a few stories that popped up about people's dog's dying on their United flight. I'm sure there are many animals that land safe and alive but I can't help but worry that my dog might end up like the others. The two layovers make me super nervous too because my dog has never flown on a plane and I don't want to stress him out even more. I know worrying won't make it any better so I'm trying to not overthink it. Just send good vibes and prayers my way, ok?!

Before I go, I'll leave you with a picture of my little family with our fur child, Kratos.

Posing for a picture on our hike at Wahkeena Falls, OR

See ya next time!

P.S.: Has anyone flown their pet through the United Airlines PetSafe program? What were your experiences? Any advice?

-Kelly

Quick Update!

I just wanted to post a quick update about the command sponsorship process today. Last Thursday I was able to turn in my physical notes from my physical and turns out EFMP had time that day to interview me. I was really surprised because I've heard that it can take a few weeks to get that done so, needless to say, I was pretty happy. The woman at EFMP screened my paperwork and then asked me a few questions about my health. She told me that she didn't see any reason why I would be denied command sponsorship and that there was no reason for me to be enrolled in the EFMP program since I'm pretty healthy. So now my paperwork has been sent off to the command in Germany and they essentially have the final say on whether I am allowed to come or not. The woman at EFMP told me that the command in Germany could approve me in a week or a few weeks; it all depends on the command. Basically all I do now is wait. I hope it gets approved soon. Once command sponsorship is approved we will be able to set up appointments for the movers to come, get on a housing list in Germany, etc. Fingers crossed this goes smoothly!

P.S. : I have an appointment next week to get my no-fee passport. I'll write a blog post about that soon!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and feel free to leave any comments or suggestions below! See ya next time!

-Kelly