Members of the military who undergo a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) tend to face a lot of the same challenges that a relocating professional or expat would come up against. Will you be able to make new friends? Will you need to learn a new language? Are there any activities that you can take part in away from the base?
Making new friends after a move is one of the most crucial things that you will have to do in order to be happy following a Permanent Change of Station. If a spouse is also coming with you on the relocation then they too will need to develop a satisfying social life in order to avoid feeling homesick or deciding to turn around and head back home to other friends and family members.
Although the base may have resources in order to help with this, there is an entire world outside that you may wish to explore; however, this will require you to step outside your familiar comfort zone. It is, however, very important take this step in order to avoid the feelings of isolation that may otherwise emerge.
There are a few tips that can help with this process. One is to learn about the culture and the people you will encounter in the new environment, and if a foreign language is involved then it can be a very good idea to learn it. If you make friends on base then try to encourage them to explore the outside world with you.
Rick Wozniak
