What can you tell me about Tuscany, Italy?

What can you tell me about being stationed in Italy (Army)?

• My husband is reenlisting and we're considering Italy. I know we can't know everything, but I want to know everything I possibly can before we make a decision to move to another country. What is housing like? Would an E-6 most likely live on or off post? If we live off post, how do we go about finding a place over there? (We do have one child.) Is there a way for me to continue taking classes toward my degree? Would it have to be online? Do they have on post daycare like Fort Bragg does? When my daughter get to be the age for kindergarten, she'll go to school on post right? Even if we live off? We own a Dodge Ram 1500. Is it even worth bringing it overseas? Is Italy the kind of place you really NEED to have a car (like Bragg) or can you get by without one (like in NYC (public transportation))? What is the cost of living like? Would we notice a major change in the way we'd be able to grocery shop, if we'd be able to see a movie on occasion, etc. Basically, would moving there make us broke? (That's what my husband worries about most.) What is the moving process like? Does my husband need a passport? Do I? Does my 2 1/2 year old daughter? Do we have to get shots, medical clearance...anything I might nothing be thinking of? My husband is currently in Iraq and reenlisting from there. He mentioned that because his command is all separated, me and my daughter may have a hard time getting sponsored. If we weren't sponsored, for whatever reason, then what happens? ---That's all I can think to ask at the moment, but if I think of anymore, I'll post additional details. Thanks!

• Answer:

  Wow, that's a lot of questions? let's see what I can do to help. It will not be a certain thing that he will get Italy. If he does it will work like a command sponsorship anywhere O'CONUS (Out of CONtinental US). He reports to his new unit without you and applies for command sponsorship. The command sponsorship is alowance for him to get his family to accompany him. He will stay in the barracks till he finds you a place or till there is an opening in quarters. Command sponsorship also is needed to get houshold goods shipped as well as a vehicle. The military will absorb most of the costs but not until the sponsorship. There is a high probability that they they will not allow all of you furniture but they will have furniture that you can use. Your husband will sign for it just as he signs for his equipment. The furniture they had when I was in Germany as an adult was the same style as when I was there as a kid but with more modern fabric. As an E-6 he will be fairly high on the list for quarters. He may also be able to get Italy as a condition of his re-up contract. They may even be able to get his command sponsorship started before he gets there to help lessen the time you have to spend apart. There may be a restriction on what kind of vehicle he can have. There will be adequate pulic transit. On every post that I've been stationed at there was an education office that offered classes through Central Texas College (CTC); Uof Maryland and Uof Phoenix. Uof M. even has campus in Munich and Cairo and they can get credits transfered. Your husband will not need a passport but you will. I am not sure if child will. You can check on the internet on the State Department's website. There will be DODDS schools available. They are the best schools anywhere. There should be day care available and there will be a theater on post. A post in Europe is not like a Post in the US. Don't be discouraged though it will be an amazing thing. I was not stationed in Italy but my brother was stationed there before he deployed to Bosnia. Basically, Camp Darby is near Pisa and It is a very beautiful area. There will constantly be something to do and there is always something historic to see. I just did a quick search and came up with this http://www.usag.livorno.army.mil/ looks like they can answer most of your question in great detail. Thanks to you and your husband for your service to our country. I hope you can get the dream assignment. If you do make it there please take some time to go see this place http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/fl.php