We're 254 Repair, a veteran-owned repair shop in Killeen. Orders overseas are exciting, and the electronics side of the move is easy to leave until the last week. Then you land, your phone won't take a local SIM, the bank wants a code sent to a number you no longer have, and your laptop charger looks wrong for the outlet. This guide covers what to sort out before you leave Fort Hood. It's not official guidance. For entitlements, shipping and your sponsor, use your transportation office and Military OneSource's PCS planning resources and its overseas living page.
Start with our Fort Hood PCS device checklist for backups, inventory and packing. This page adds the overseas pieces.
1. Unlock your phone before you go
A phone locked to a US carrier may not accept a SIM or eSIM from a carrier overseas. Unlocking has to be done by your carrier, and it's much easier while you're still in the States.
- Check whether it's locked. On an iPhone, Apple says to go to Settings > General > About. If it's unlocked, "No SIM Restrictions" appears next to Carrier Lock (Apple: use eSIM while traveling internationally). On Android, ask your carrier or check its unlock page.
- Know the rules. The FCC's cell phone unlocking guide explains that phones are often locked until they're paid off or for a set period. It also explains that providers in CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service post their unlocking policies. That code includes a deployed personnel unlocking policy: participating carriers will unlock devices for deployed military personnel who are customers in good standing, once they provide deployment papers. Ask your carrier how that applies to your orders.
- Request it from your carrier:
- AT&T: device unlock
- Verizon: device unlocking policy
- T-Mobile: SIM unlock policy
- Unlocked isn't the same as compatible. The FCC also notes that an unlocked phone may not work on every network, because networks differ from country to country. Check with your carrier before you travel.
2. Plan your phone service abroad
You usually have three choices. Which one fits depends on your duty station and how long you'll be there.
- Roam on your US plan. Apple notes that some carriers include international roaming or sell travel passes. Ask your carrier what it costs where you're going before you rely on it.
- A local eSIM or SIM. Your phone has to be unlocked. Apple notes that some local plans may ask for ID, and longer-term plans may need proof of local residency.
- A travel data eSIM from a worldwide provider, for the first days until local service is set up.
On supported iPhones, Apple says you can keep your home number on one eSIM and use a local eSIM for data. That can help you keep getting codes on your US number. See Apple's eSIM setup page.
3. Two-factor authentication: protect your codes before your number changes
This is the step that locks people out. If your bank, email or military and VA logins text a code to your US number, losing that number overseas can cut you off.
- Switch to an authenticator app where your accounts allow it, and save the backup codes somewhere safe that isn't on the phone. CISA explains how to turn on multifactor authentication and the different options.
- Check your Apple Account and Google 2-Step settings and your trusted phone numbers: Apple two-factor authentication and Google 2-Step Verification.
- Decide what happens to your US number. If you're keeping it (for example on a second eSIM), keep it active. If you're dropping it, update every important account to a new method before you cancel.
4. Chargers, voltage and plug adapters
Outlets and voltage differ overseas, and the wrong setup can damage a device.
- Read the label on each charger. Apple says its USB power adapters are designed for power sources of 100V to 240V AC at 50Hz to 60Hz (Apple: about Apple USB power adapters). A charger with that rating usually needs only a plug adapter, not a voltage converter. If a charger or device isn't rated for the local voltage, don't plug it in with just a plug adapter.
- Plug adapters change the shape, not the voltage. Apple's World Travel Adapter Kit page shows the plug types by region. It also warns that even where voltage is in range, electrical spikes and brown-outs can damage equipment.
- Use safe chargers. Apple warns that adapters that don't meet safety standards can pose a risk of injury. Skip the cheapest no-name chargers.
- Game consoles and desktops often have their own power ratings. Check the label or the manufacturer before you ship one overseas.
5. Fix it before you go
A weak battery, a loose charging port or a cracked screen is easier to deal with here than after you arrive. You may not know where to get a repair yet, and parts can be harder to find. 254 Repair offers a free diagnostic, a price before any work starts and a 90-day warranty on parts and labor for the part we replaced. For Android phones, parts are ordered for your exact model and typical parts jobs take about 3 business days, so don't leave it to your last week. See battery replacement, charging port repair, iPhone repair, Android repair and laptop and computer repair.
Before you drop anything off, read our drop-off checklist. We're open Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm, walk-ins are welcome, and active duty, veterans and military families can ask for our military discount. If you have a deployment coming instead of a PCS, see our deployment and field-time device prep guide.
Frequently asked questions
Will my US phone work overseas?
It depends on whether it's unlocked and whether it's compatible with networks where you're going. The FCC advises checking with your provider before you travel internationally.
Can I get my phone unlocked because I'm in the military?
The FCC notes that CTIA's Consumer Code includes a policy for participating carriers to unlock devices for deployed military personnel who are customers in good standing, once they provide deployment papers. Ask your carrier how its policy applies to your orders.
Do I need a voltage converter for my iPhone charger?
Apple says its USB power adapters are designed for 100V to 240V AC at 50Hz to 60Hz, so they usually need only a plug adapter. Check the label on every charger and device.
How do I keep getting two-factor codes overseas?
Move to an authenticator app where you can, save backup codes off the phone, and update trusted phone numbers before you cancel or change your US number.