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 Buyers Tool Box
For Spouses
Are you the spouse of a military member, tasked with coordinating your upcoming relocation? Our Relocation Sponsor Gina, is available to help you with your search for a safe and comfortable home, in a safe and comfortable community. Read more about Gina below for details on how she can help you.
If you don't find what you are looking for here, contact Gina...she'll go the distance to get you the general or specific information that you need.
The following relocation resources are provided for your unlimited use. When the time comes that you need someone on the ground who can answer your specific questions about the area, commutes, schools and employment Feel free to contact Phil at 360-970-9977, or Gina McKune, our relocation sponsor, at 360-455-1366. For information about specific listings, you can contact Stephanie Wagner at 360-455-1366.
Phil - Agent
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360-970-9977
Stephanie - Listings Specialist
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360-455-1366
Gina - Relocation Sponsor
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360-970-6913
We take pride in providing personalized, knowledgeable service. Please contact us when the time comes to get serious about your move.
The documents below are in pdf format. If you need the Adobe Reader, click here to download for free. You can right click on the link and select "Open in New Tab" to view/download in a new window. The information is also presented further down the page if you prefer to not open the document.
Docs:
Commuting Around Lewis-McChord Area
McChord Directory & Map
Fort Lewis Gate Map
Smooth Transitions School Support Services
Helpful Links for Spouses
Soldier & Family Housing Information
Fort Lewis Links
Fort Lewis Newcomers Guide
Fort Lewis Child, Youth and School Services
School Liaison Office
Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC)
Fort Lewis Army Community Service
Job Links – NAF, CPOL, application information
Fort Lewis Resource Guide
Stone Army Education Center
Ft. Lewis ID Card Facility
Vehicle/Weapon Registration Fort Lewis
Ft. Lewis Sponsorship Program
McChord Links –
Education Center
62nd Force Support Squadron Phone Number and Map
Child Development Program
McChord “My Base Guide” Welcome Information
McChord Officer Spouses Club (OSC)
Military Spouse Resources
National Military Family Association
Army FRG
Military OneSource.com
Military and Veteran Info. From USA.gov
Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) Civilian Personnel On-Line (CPOL)
Married to the Army – Third Party Informational Website
Moving Information:
Military Homefront – Plan My Move Tools
Military Homefront Moving and Relocation Home
Medical Information:
TRICARE
TRICARE Benefit information
Express Scripts – Online Prescriptions
Madigan Medical Facility
About Gina - Relocation Sponsor
Gina is the information hub at Phil Sharp Homes. As our relocation sponsor, Gina's mission is to make herself available to you in any way she can regarding your relocation.
Gina is a long term resident of the Lewis-McChord area, with extensive knowledge of local activities and recreation, schools, commuting and other general information. Gina can usually answer all of your questions from her own base of knowledge…if not she will do the legwork, especially when it comes to issues specific to you and your family.
Gina came to Phil Sharp Homes with a 14 year background in customer service with ATA Airlines. She is a mother of 3 children, ages 4-8, and enjoys hobbies such as camping, boating, hiking and skiing in the great northwest. Gina's enthusiasm, knowledge, and untiring drive to provide the best possible customer service make her an invaluable asset to our business…and allow us to provide personalized, knowledgeable and timely assistance to our customers relocating to western Washington.
Gina and her husband Ron are also experienced homeowners and investors. They of course own their own home, and several years ago started investing in rental properties. Her experience as an investor is just another feather in Gina's cap, one that allows her to share her homeownership and investing experience with our clients.
Some of Gina's everyday activities:
Commuting knowledge: Gina has actually gone out for a drive to confirm drive times to specific properties….this is helpful for families where spouses go in different directions to work.
Community information: Obtain title reports, Home Owners association covenants, she sometimes even goes out to take pictures of homes and communities.
Schools/Education: Gina has access to schools demographic information. She is also able to provide registration forms and information prior to your arrival…useful if your move puts you in a time crunch for school enrollment.
House Hunting Coordination: Gina will help coordinate your house hunting trip, to include lodging, transportation, maps and any other special considerations.
Gina can be reached directly at 360-970-6913, or by email to:
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Document Information
Commuting in and Around Ft. Lewis-McChord Area in WA
When PCS'ing to a new installation, my first concern was always the commute. Arriving at work before first light, multiple trips back and forth to post, and being close to the unit for recalls and trips to the barracks is a big consideration and has a huge impact on quality time versus travel time.
Fort Lewis straddles Interstate 5 just south of Tacoma and North of Olympia Washington. The portion of the installation that is south and east of the freeway is considered as main post, to the north and west of the freeway is north fort. The installation headquarters, main PX, Madigan AMC and numerous other troop units occupy main post. North fort is well known by ROTC Cadets; the barracks used for ROTC until recently were wooden "WW II" barracks located on north Fort Lewis. In the past five years, many new barracks and unit area construction projects have been completed, and others are underway.
When I moved to Fort Lewis, friends and associates who had been stationed here before recommended that I look for housing to the south, in the Lacey or Olympia area. The biggest quantifiable reason I was given was the commute. Traffic from Thurston County is significantly less than that from Pierce county and Tacoma. Additionally, many people feel that crime is less of an issue in Thurston County, which is much more rural that Pierce.
Another area that has become very popular, especially for those who will be working on main post, is Yelm and Roy. Located several miles from the back or "East" gate, Roy (in Pierce County) and Yelm (just south of the Thurston County line) are very convenient commutes. Although both are small agricultural communities, Yelm is the fastest growing small town in the state; primarily because prices are somewhat lower than those in the larger towns on the freeway. If you think you will be working on north fort, Yelm and Roy may not be very good choices; the only route is across main post, and under the freeway at one of two points...always a traffic jam.
To the north are the Pierce County communities. Lakewood is almost right outside of the gate, just a short distance north on the freeway. Not a bad commute, with traffic concerns only during rush hour. Further north is Tacoma, Graham, Puyallup and other small communities and neighborhoods. If you are into being in or near a large city you will most likely want to go north.
For more information about the Fort Lewis area and outlying communities, please visit my website; Fort Lewis Agent.com.
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