Commentary- The key to making a PCS easier

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Shuntesia Dupree
  • 5th Air Force
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Many people believe the best way to make a permanent change of station easier is to be proactive. Although that is one way of alleviating delays, the optimal way is to have a proactive sponsor. No matter how far in advance you begin the process, having someone at your next duty station to assist with the transition decreases the amount of frustration and stress during this time period.

I was informed about my assignment to Yokota about six months ago. A week following the notification, my sponsor, Master Sgt. Sean Rouillier, sent me a welcoming email. My future supervisor, Maj. David Kegerreis, also introduced himself in another email. Since this was my first assignment to Pacific Air Force, I had a ton of questions. They both thoroughly answered them and also provided great advice on various topics. Rouillier provided me a housing application and post office box number. He also sent driver's license applications and training slides so we could become familiar with the Japanese driving laws before our arrival. Another way to help get service members situated at their future work center is to establish an email account for them. This action can be done before they even leave their losing unit.

As with many of my moves, I was greeted at the airport by my supervisor and sponsor. However, what made my situation a little different was that my sponsor had already picked up the keys to our lodging room and had placed a beautiful welcoming basket. Rouillier also coordinated with the pet boarding agency for our late arrival since pets weren't allowed in lodging. Usually sponsors slowly disappear once the newcomer arrives at the base; however, Rouillier was different. He dedicated a great deal of his personal time to making sure we had everything we needed. If I had to count, I would say he spent more than 10 hours in waiting areas while I talked to various base agencies.

He provided numerous transportation trips to various base agencies like the finance, Base Exchange, commissary, linen exchange and Airmen & Family Readiness for well over a week. Just being able to ride to places and not have to walk with two kids made life a whole lot easier. Rouillier also taught us how to drive and took us car shopping as well. His persistence in ensuring we were settled as smoothly and as quickly as possible has relieved me of the normal frustrations of a PCS.

I hope that others take the responsibility of being a sponsor as seriously as Rouillier and are as patient, proactive and helpful to their incoming Airmen and their families. Words cannot express how helpful it is to newcomers and their families in easing the transition to a new and unfamiliar place. A great sponsor makes all the difference in the world.