Wow, where to start? Camp Shelby is a thing in itself. There is nothing normal or easy about being parked here. However, not everything is terrible, as many want to think. It just takes a little understanding.
The first thing to understand is that this is an MS National Guard post. The government federalized it for the training of troops going to war. This means that there is Active Service, Reserve (TPU, Mobilized and AGR) and National Guard (Mobilized). Money pots don’t mix and learning how it all works can be confusing. Here’s what you need to know, as a spouse, before you leave.
Accommodation
There is no housing. You will live off the job. However, there is a housing office with a housing program. Community members can list their homes at Camp Shelby. They rent from the government and Camp Shelby puts soldiers and their families in these houses. They are NICE houses and you can usually choose from several that are available.
Here’s the rub, it’s only available to certain ranks and the rules around it changed 5 times in the 2 years we were there. Therefore, you will need to ask your soldier to call housing and see if he is eligible. If you are eligible, use the program. It will be for your benefit.
services in the position
There are none. There is no ACS, no commissioner,… nothing. It is a National Guard post, which only has the basics for Soldiers. So if you need something, you have to find it in the Hattiesburg community (or wherever you end up living).
Services outside the publication
Hattiesburg is the community outside of Camp Shelby. It is a decent size with many restaurants, universities and churches. If you’re not from the south (we weren’t) it will take some getting used to, but the people are friendly and the community is supportive.
Medical
There are no doctors available at Camp Shelby. You may be thinking this is a nuisance, but it’s actually a great thing! You will be Remote Tricare. This means you can see any doctor who accepts Tricare (they all do in Hattiesburg) and all the doctors are very familiar with how Tricare works. My baby saw a civilian pediatrician, I saw a civilian specialist, etc. That’s great!
The two hospitals are Forrest General and Wesley Medical. Both are very good. Soldiers are automatically sent to Forrest General, but the family can choose. We have no complaints about anything medical in Hattiesburg, MS.
Dental is also a great experience. You will have your choice of dentists. There are only for children, only for adults, family, etc.
Childcare
There is no childcare at Camp Shelby. You will have to use day care centers in Hattiesburg, and there are many. See the Hattiesburg article for more information. Since there is no child care at Camp Shelby, you are eligible to receive benefits to supplement the cost of off-post child care. Be sure to visit the NAACRA website to see if you are eligible. Please note that many child care providers accept these funds, but they are not listed on the website. Ask each provider if they are part of the program.
Camp Shelby can be quite intimidating for families who have always lived on military installations. But living off the job in this community can be very rewarding. Remember to keep an open mind, ask questions, and try not to get frustrated. Find a spouse who has been there for a while and ask them to help you out. If your drive has an FRG, they may be able to help you too.
Keep your head up! This experience will be entirely what you make of it. So make it great!