Kadena members reminded of additional PCS tasks Published June 18, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Lauren Snyder 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- (Editor's note: This is the first article of a series of articles about peak moving season on Okinawa.) Service members and families leaving Okinawa have several additional concerns that may not be on a checklist. The summer months of May through August are the peak moving season for the military community, and Kadena is no exception. More than 1,000 service members are slated to leave Kadena during this year's permanent change of station season, according to Staff Sgt. Teresa Wallace, 18th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Flight outbound assignments section technician. That number does not include the number of accompanying family members, but could be estimated to be up to three times as many individuals who will depart the island. All service members have multiple checklists to go through for the base and their units which must be finished before they leave. However, there are a few special situations which may require additional consideration. For families with school-age children, a complete copy of their education records should accompany the youth to their next school. School lunch tabs must be paid through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service before departing the island. Sam Kinter, Kadena Middle School guidance counselor, also suggested parents and students proactively seek and keep up with summer reading lists for college or applicable grade levels. Families often times also include animals, which have their own requirements for travel. Kadena's Veterinary Clinic directs pet owners to have their animals fully vaccinated more than 30 days before the date of travel. Animals have to receive a health certificate no earlier than 10 days before travel begins. Also, pet-friendly billeting can fill up fast, so if kenneling is necessary, a current vaccination for kennel cough is mandatory. Lastly, most military families will not take their vehicles with them to their next duty station. The option to have someone sell it after the service member departs can be alluring, but needs planning. The Kadena Legal Office requires a "rotating special power of attorney" for the resale of a member's car after they PCS. Getting this type of POA is more difficult and time-consuming than a special or general POA, according to Staff Sgt. Michelle Prevot, 18th Wing Legal Office paralegal. Reasoning has to be approved; the sole purpose of this option is for emergency use or situations out of the owner's control. The Joint Services Vehicle Registration Office requires a detailed plan for what will happen with the vehicle, and the signature of the owner's commanding officer on the SPOA. If the vehicle's owner chooses this option, an SPOA is vital for the JSVRO to out-process the owner. Given these situations, families and individuals leaving the island of Okinawa might have extra items to process, but with planning and effort they will be able to PCS to their next home with less stress than if these issues are a surprise.