Life for Service families in the British Armed Forces can often feel like it has it’s own rhythm. Overseas postings come one after the other creating financial burden, emotional stress and logistical headaches for families.
The MoD’s Tri-Service Families Continuous Attitude Survey reports that 22% of Service families relocated for Service purposes in the last year. The proportion was higher still amongst Officer families. When facing a second or third posting in a short timeframe the stresses start to multiply.
Learn about the biggest challenges associated with consecutive PCS moves and how military self-storage can lighten the load.
What This Article Covers
- The frequency and scale of British Armed Forces postings
- The direct and hidden costs of each move
- The differences between on-base and off-base accommodation
- Career, schooling, and healthcare disruptions across postings
- Practical strategies for reducing relocation stress
1. Compressed Timelines Create Constant Planning Pressure
Military postings aren’t as convenient as civilian moves. Posting Orders may be issued on very short notice with strict reporting dates. The MOD use a contracted removals company that undertake thousands of household moves every year.
This creates constant planning pressure. Families must coordinate:
- School transfers for children;
- Spouse employment transitions;
- Registering with a new GP and dentist;
- Housing searches at the new location; and
- Coordination with the MOD removals contractor.
Two postings occurring within an 18-24 month timeframe mean families barely have time to unpack before they have to pack up again. Items unpacked six months ago now have to be boxed up once more. Storage units near base can come in handy during transition time lapses like these when the next Service Family Accommodation doesn’t align conveniently on the calendar. Short-term self storage for military personnel can provide the extra time needed to bridge the gap between moving out and moving in without rushing to decide what to sell or toss.
2. The Real Cost of Back-to-Back Postings
Each posting has both obvious and hidden costs. Despite the Disturbance Expense and other allowances detailed in JSP 752 there are still costs that hit families pockets.
RAND Europe conducted research into UK military families and discovered that relocation and separation present financial risk through short-term out-of-pocket expenses which also negatively impact long-term financial planning. When multiple consecutive moves happen for families, that stress compounds rapidly.
Common out-of-pocket costs during a posting can include:
- Non-reimbursed household items and replacement kit;
- Temporary lodging or hotel stays beyond covered days;
- Pet transportation, kennelling, or quarantine fees;
- School uniforms and equipment for new schools; and
- Storage costs during transitional periods.
Self-storage is an option military members should consider when they will not have housing available at their new duty station. Families can rent temporary storage while they make long-term living arrangements.
3. On-Base vs Off-Base Accommodation
Family location during a posting heavily influences how each move unfolds. Families typically have two choices when selecting a place to live during their assignment, each with its pros and cons.
“On-base accommodation” generally means Service Family Accommodation (SFA) provided through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. Advantages include:
- Proximity to the workplace and reduced commute time;
- Built-in Service community and welfare support;
- Predictable rental costs deducted at source; and
- Easier access to base facilities and events.
Although SFA is available, it may not be. It depends on rank, family size, and availability in the area. Also, the quality may differ from area to area.
Off-base accommodation includes private rentals, Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) and houses bought through the Forces Help to Buy scheme. There is greater choice with regards to location, size of property and type of property. Families will have more privacy and may benefit from long term equity but are responsible for sourcing, funding and maintaining the property in between postings.
Either situation can leave movers chained together feeling unstable. Off-Base leases may expire before the next Assignment Order is received. Or SFA at the new base may not be ready when required. Most likely temporary storage will cover the gap either way.
4. Spouse Employment Suffers Repeatedly
Military spouses experience some of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Every relocation brings uncertainty. Moving twice in a row compounds that problem.
Common spouse employment challenges include:
- Professional licence and registration issues across regions;
- Gaps on résumés from repeated job searches;
- Loss of seniority and pension contributions;
- Interrupted education or certification programmes; and
- Limited local job market options near some bases.
The end result is an alarmingly high underemployment rate for military spouses in the Service sector that has persisted for decades. Careers are put on hold, retirement plans are compromised, and transitioning families face unstable family incomes.
5. Children Face Repeated School and Social Disruption
School-age children of Service families frequently move from one school to another before graduating. Back-to-back postings allow even less time to settle into each new situation.
The effects can include:
- Interrupted friendships and social routines;
- Curriculum gaps between different UK nations or overseas systems;
- Delayed evaluations for Special Educational Needs support;
- Reduced participation in sports or activities; and
- Emotional fatigue from constant transition.
Frequent moves can also make it hard for adolescents in particular to keep up their grades. Many people apply for the Continuity of Education Allowance to retain their children in boarding school, however it may not work for every family.
6. Healthcare Transitions Add Another Layer
Medical issues don’t stop while on a posting. Families who have chronic diseases, continuous care needs or other requirements experience considerable logistical challenges.
Common healthcare challenges include:
- Registering with a new GP surgery;
- Transferring specialist referrals;
- Updating pharmacy prescriptions;
- Coordinating any additional needs support; and
- Managing dental and optical arrangements.
Serial postings can disrupt care plans numerous times causing families to repeat evaluations at each new station assignment.
7. Emotional Strain Accumulates Over Time
The emotional toll multiple moves can take is often underestimated. Every posting brings loss, new routines, and a new community to integrate with.
Families with consecutive postings have very little time between transitions. They don’t get a chance to establish their support networks before uprooting.
Strain like this does not always manifest immediately. It can come later in the form of burnout, relationship stress, or general avoidance of fully committing.
Wrapping It Up
Moving frequently is part of the fabric of Service life. However, consecutive moves place stress on a family that is much greater than boxes and moving trucks. Financial stress, housing choices, career interruptions and emotional turmoil are just a few issues that are amplified with each move.
Mobility resources are valuable. Whether it’s self-storage for troops, flex leases or dependable transition assistance, all help ease the transition from one assignment to another. Military families policies are always changing, but one thing is certain. Life in many military homes is anything but stationary.
Planning ahead and building flexibility into every stage of a posting can really help Service families who have consecutive moves.
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