A Cuban serving in the United States Army shared on Instagram a detailed account of his military transfer from U.S. territory to Italy two years ago, a process that took nearly eight months and involved complex logistics, weeks spent sleeping on the floor, and two months in a hotel room upon arriving in Europe.
The content creator known as José "Pepe" Ávalo —whose account @el_pepe_avalo has built a loyal audience among Cubans and Latinos in the Army— published a reel to explain what a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) is, the official mechanism through which the military relocates its soldiers and their families to a new duty station.
According to what is described in the video, the process began with paperwork, medical exams, and the organization of two separate moves: one for general belongings sent by ship months prior to the trip, and another for appliances that ended up in storage because American electrical appliances are not compatible with the European system.
The family vehicle also traveled by sea, from the port of Norfolk in Virginia to Italy.
During the transition period in the United States, while they awaited their departure date, the family lived with very little: "We were sleeping on mattresses on the floor and literally living with the bare minimum," he recalled.
The journey itself was no less chaotic. "Two little girls, a bunch of suitcases, two layovers in Frankfurt, we almost missed the flight to Venice, total chaos, but well, we made it to Italy," she humorously recounted.
Upon arrival, the first two weeks were dedicated to mandatory official orientation to learn about the laws and procedures of the new destination. After that came the search for housing: "We spent two months living in a hotel room until we finally moved into our current home."
Regarding the documents, Pepe Ávalo clarified that he does not need a visa or special residence permit: "I don't have any conventional documents to live in Italy, only my American passport and my military orders, which are nothing more than a document with a series of information signed and authorized by NATO." His wife and daughters, on the other hand, did receive a special residence permit valid for the duration of the contract.
The military member, who continues to pay taxes to the United States despite being stationed in Europe, describes the experience as a "temporary migration": "I will eventually return to the United States or wherever the army sends me, who knows."
His daughters adapted quickly and, he says, now they love Italy. For him, the transition was more bearable thanks to something he considers part of his identity as an emigrant Cuban.
"Italy has been worthwhile both professionally and in terms of family. Immersing ourselves in Italian culture, language, and cuisine has been a unique experience that we've had the opportunity to live in 4K," concluded Pepe Ávalo, before summarizing his philosophy with a phrase that became the heart of the video: "I am an immigrant, and I am also Cuban. I come with the adaptation chip already integrated; I just had to do a system update, and that's it. Happy and grateful for life."
This is not the first time that Cubans in the Army share their experiences on social media, a phenomenon that has gained visibility in recent years among the Latino community within the U.S. armed forces.
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