We live outside Tampa, FL - stationed at MacDill AFB. We moved here 2 year ago when prices had come down some and we were told by all the realtors that it was a great time to buy. There is NO base housing for officers here, so it was rent off base or buy. We had to buy 30 miles from the base because we could not afford anything closer, so my husband has a 1 hour commute each way in terrible traffic. (Having to deal with rising gas prices is another topic.)

We did a sensible, 30 year fixed rate loan (eventhough we could have gotten a much better interest rate with a ARM). We put 20% down. Now, we will PCS in a year and our house value is down $70,000! That is not an exaggeration. We will lose all our savings and still have to fork over tens of thousands of dollars at closing - IF WE CAN SELL. That is big IF.

If we try to rent, we will lose at least $500 a month. Depending on where we are sent next, we may not be able to afford that loss. Plus the headache of being a long distance landlord.

My husband has done 5 deployments in Iraq. He loves the military and his country. A simple quick help would be to delay PCS for a while (hopefully the economy will recover). A tax write off for the loss would be a help too. Any help at all is welcome. Just some recognition of the struggle.

Dear Walkmad,

We're mad too! This is a completely unacceptable way to treat our Military Families.

Easy answers to this? Actually there are. They are immediate tax relief for families who have lost thousands due to PCS orders and parity with other federal agencies employees who do not endure this non sense!

Quick answers? I am afraid not. As obvious as this is, our elected officials just don't get it! Yet! I am afraid it will take a 2x4 across the head for them to understand that this is a critical retention issue that could make the "hollow force" of the '70s look mild. It is also very frustrating that some of our non-profits...don't get it either.

I am constantly writing Congressmen, media, and others to try to get this issue in the public eye. We hope to soon have a forum for you to cut / paste a letter with easy email access to send to them! It will take a determined grass roots effort to turn this around. Please stay tuned. Please write you home state politicians and please ask your friends / family to document their feelings on this forum. We use it to support you!

In the mean time, be sure that we appreciate your family's sacrifice and will work hard to get this fixed!

Hang in there! Joe