through this website, AAFSW receives a small percentage to help fund out activities and services. AAFSW is also affiliated with 
Start the New Year Taking Handouts
By Jan Fischer Bachman.
As another New Year arrives, it's the perfect time to get your affairs in order. Make that last will and testament you know you've needed to do. Set up a power of attorney "just in case." Make sure you have the right kind and amount of insurance or complete the inventory you started last summer and never had time to finish.
The Overseas Briefing Center, part of the State Department's Transition Center, has offered handouts on these and other vital topics for many years. Any government employee or family member going to, serving at, or leaving an overseas posting under Chief of Mission authority is welcome to use OBC services. Unfortunately, many thousands of us aren't able to just drop by Arlington, Virginia at the moment.
The good news is, most OBC handouts are now ready to download in printable form. The bad news? They are only available on the State Department's intranet. Don't despair! You can still keep your New Year's resolutions! Following is a list of online OBC publications, with exact URLs. All of them can be found on this page on the State Department intranet.
If you are not using a State Department computer, click the link above and send the resulting page to a friend who IS on a State Department computer. That friend will be able to access the documents you need and email them to you.
Or, visit the local intranet "kiosk," usually located in the Embassy Community Liaison Office (CLO) office, visit this page again from that computer, and print out the articles from there.
If all else fails, e-mail the OBC at FSIOBCInfoCenter@state.gov and ask the friendly staff to send the handout you need, using the titles and publication numbers below.
Happy organizing! And have a great year in 2006!
List of OBC Publications and Handouts
Many of these publications are available as Word documents by clicking the title above on an intranet-enabled computer. U.S. Government employees and family members may also request them by e-mail at FSIOBCInfoCenter@state.gov.
Short Term Housing & Childcare near FSI
Resource No. 03 Short Term Housing
Resource No. 04 Hotels
Resource No. 17 Child Care Located near NFATC
Bidding and Preparing for the Move Overseas
Bidding Resources and Strategy: Using the Overseas Briefing Center
Foreign Service Assignment Notebook: What Do I Do Now? (Lengthy publication in PDF format)
Protocol for the Modern Diplomat (PDF publication)
Cultural Guides on 60 countries (most in PDF format)
Resource No. 05 Writing to your Post of Assignment
Resource No. 18 OBC Checklist for Going Overseas
Resource No. 24 Language Training Options for Eligible Family Members
Where in the World Are You Going? (Activity book for toddlers and early elementary level. Online version is a 3MB PDF file.)
Legal Issues and Insurance
Resource No. 07 Getting Your Affairs in Order
Resource No. 08 General (Unlimited) Power of Attorney Forms
Resource No. 09 Specific (Limited) Power of Attorney Forms
Resource No. 10 Information Required for Will Preparation & Asset Listing
Resource No. 11 Letter of Instruction
Resource No. 12 General Information about Living Wills
Resource No. 13 Choosing a Lawyer
Resource No. 19 Goods in Storage & Receiving Goods from Post
Resource No. 23 Emergency Notification Procedures Numbers
Resource No. 15 Supplemental Medical & Evacuation Insurance
Resource No. 16 Auto & Household Effects Insurance Resource List
Pets
Resource No. 01 Pet Chart - Worldwide Pet Import and Quarantine Restrictions
Resource No. 02 Shipping of Pets Checklist
Shopping, Auto Sales, & Consumables
Resource No. 22 Shop by Mail List
Resource No. 14 110 & 220 Equipment
Resource No. 21 Automobile Sales Information
Resource No. 06 How to Ship Consumables Moving Overseas Checklist