We are moving to Germany, it will be my first PCS we have a 8 yr old and a dog. Any tips on getting our dog there ??

That’s not completely true. The SERVICE MEMBER doesn’t need a passport to be stationed overseas, but family members do.
There should be a command sponsored passport you applied for with your orders. That gets you into the country. You do need a personal passport to travel around.
You can pay to expedite one, or drive to a major passport processing center to get it within a week.

I’m new to all this and the main question I just have is, my husband says I won’t need a passport to go overseas to Germany but I did apply for one just in case a month before. The thing is, it may not get here before the actual date I’m leaving on, and I’m just wondering if military orders IS enough along with my military ID to travel internationally? He is stationed there already so I would just be alone doing this..

The danger with rechargeable batteries is the risk of a spark causing a fire. So, make sure they are in a cardboard box and not packed with anything else metal. Wrap each battery in packing paper, and layer paper or cardboard in the same box to reduce this risk. Ultimately, the decision will be up to your movers based on their company policies. But it is generally approved to ship batteries this way.

There are a few options, and it depends how quickly you will want those things, and what your housing options are. Household goods shipments will take months to arrive, but you know you will be in a house when they arrive. Express shipments will arrive quickly–around the same time you do–but you may be in a hotel or temporary quarters when they are delivered.
Anything essential like medication should be hand-carried. Paper products could probably be sent with HHG.
Another option is to ask the Sponsor for the unit address, and mail small packages of essentials or dry goods there, to the Company office. They would be held at the base Post Office and available for pickup when you arrive. Just remember that this postage will be paid out of pocket, so only reserve it for essentials you will need quickly but don’t want to hand-carry on the plane.

Hi Maddie, I’m so glad you’re here! Yes, it definitely depends on personal preference, your housing location, and what items you already have. It also depends what funds you have available to purchase replacement furniture. The military will cover the cost of moving some items and belongings overseas within the service member weight allowance. But bringing bulky or delicate items won’t be practical if they don’t fit in housing or get damaged during the move. So take the time to think about what makes the best sense for you financially. I wish you both luck with the big move! Just take one step at a time!

Hmmm, shipments to an FPO or APO address are treated like domestic mail, and should only be charged domestic rates. Does his overseas address say FPO or APO? If so, don’t use the name of the country anywhere on the box. Write the address exactly as he sent it, and it should be delivered to the base by the USPS and military mail.

If he is living off base and did not provide a military address, that could be the problem. Instead of using the actual local address, have him send the address for his unit office or a friend who lives on base. That should make it much more affordable.