An Air Force wife is inspiring others to nurture their homes no matter where the military sends them.
From photography and recipes, to gardening tips, DIY projects and home inspiration ideas, Air Force spouse Tandra Hull shares a wealth of information on her blog and Instagram account. Her tips and strategies for military spouses organizing their moves has quickly earned her the reputation of a PCS expert.
With four kids ages 2, 4, 6, and 7, Hull and her husband, a cardiologist currently completing training in New York City, are no strangers to PCSing with kids. This summer they’ll be headed back to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, which will also be their fourth move in nine years.
Although Hull appreciates the unique experiences they’ve had as a military family, she said one of the biggest downsides is saying goodbye to the community they form and starting all over again. Fortunately, she has the process down to a science now.
“I think, as with anything in life, the more you do it, the better you get,” Hull said. “I have the type of personality that I need things organized, and I like to have a list to keep me focused, which has helped immensely with our moves.”
Hull stumbled upon the idea of sharing resources with other military spouses online during her last PCS. Her husband was deployed, and she found herself doing all the legwork to prepare for their move.
“I made documents, files, and organization systems for everything, trying to make sure I wasn’t missing anything,” she explained. “I kept looking for resources online, but I mainly found paid products. I know a lot of work goes into these projects, and people should be paid for that work, but I also know that military families are already very budget-conscious.”
Hull says there needed to be another option for free knowledge to help other military families.
“When I started making my documents and systems again for this PCS, I figured if I already had put the work into making them — and they work for me — they’re not doing any good just sitting on my hard drive,” Hull said. “So that’s where I’m at now. As I test my documents and make them work well, I post them on my blog to share with others who need them.”
Hull also keeps track of everything her family needs with a 3-ring “PCS Binder” that she puts together to hold all essential documents. She has it divided up into sections: Legal, housing, medical, education, pets, and vehicles. Each section contains pertinent information and documents related to that topic, and Hull keeps the binder with her throughout the move so everything is safe and easily accessible if needed.
Along with her PCS Binder, here are Hull’s top tips for a successful PCS move:
- Declutter BEFORE you PCS. Doing this on the front end will make the move-in process much smoother.
- Keep track of everything. It may seem too much, but if you’re doing a full DITY (short for “Do It Yourself,” or a personally procured move), you’ll want to ensure you have a zip folder or something to keep track of all your receipts so they won’t fall out and get lost.
- Ask for help. A PCS is a big event — do not be afraid to ask for help and lean on any community you have. If you need help with the kids, packing, lifting heavy objects, or maybe even meals, reach out to your community during this process.
- Be flexible. This one is so important to keep in mind. More times than not, something will go wrong, and things won’t go as planned. Expect the unexpected and try to roll with it.
Follow Tandra Hull on Instagram and visit her website for information on building your own PCS binder.
