Returning Home After Deployment, Demobilization/Deactivation
After returning home you may decide that you need to relocate to another area. You can
locate the nearest military installation that has a Relocation Assistance Office at
http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/ismart/MHF-MI/.
The relocation staff is there to make sure you are fully prepared for any
relocation. Since most Guard and Reserve personnel do not have ready access to a major
military installation and RAP services, assistance is available online and through toll-free
numbers.
RAP services include:
1.
Job potential: Which community is most likely to offer job opportunities that
match your skills, experience, and career goals?
2.
Affordability: Consider the not so obvious expenses in addition to the cost of
living. Compare local, state income, property, and sales taxes. Does the state tax your
military retirement pay? Does the location have income and career potential?
3.
Community: Do you have family or friends there? Can you count on them to help
make your transition easier? Do you need to be close to your aging parents for economic or
medical reasons? Are you seeking upward mobility with the potential to move, or are you looking for
a community to settle for the long term?
4.
Environment: Would you be happiest living in a city, the suburbs, a small town, or
a rural area? Does the climate suit you?
Guard and Reserve members living near a military installation that has a RAP Office can also
access the additional services listed below:
- Needs assessment and planning for individuals and families tailored to their personal
circumstances and requirements.
- Extensive automated information on military and civilian communities worldwide can be obtained
through the Military Installations and Plan My Move features of MilitaryHOMEFRONT (http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/). These
features provide research and information, housing directories and services, employment, education,
health and wellness, and family issues available near military installations.
- Help in developing a relocation plan – providing information specifically related to your
unique situation, linking you with special programs, and referring you to other offices that can
provide assistance.
- Workshops and individual sessions on managing relocation stress for all family members,
planning a moving budget, how to buy, sell, and rent smart, settling into a new community, and a
variety of other programs tailored to adults and children.
- Special re-entry services and programs if transitioning from an overseas installation.
You must have a valid identification to access the military installation. Be sure to call
and make an appointment so the staff is prepared to assist you.
Date Last Reviewed: July 2, 2009
