Welcomes Military Relocation: PCS Move Tips and Resources
Military Relocation: PCS Move Tips and Resources
Permanent Change of Station orders arrive with a timeline that civilian moves rarely match. Military families average a move every two to three years, and the accumulated expertise of the community has produced a system of resources, entitlements, and strategies that can make PCS moves remarkably efficient when you know how to use them.
Understanding Your Entitlements
The military covers most PCS moving costs, but the specifics depend on your branch, rank, pay grade, and whether you choose a government-arranged move or a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly called a DITY move).
Government move (GBL/HHG): The Transportation Management Office (TMO) arranges a moving company to pack and ship your household goods. Weight allowances scale with rank, ranging from 5,000 pounds for an E-1 without dependents to 18,000 pounds for an O-10. This option requires less personal effort but means less control over timing and handling.
Personally Procured Move (PPM): You move yourself and receive reimbursement based on the government cost estimate for a comparable move. Many families profit from PPMs by renting a truck and doing the labor themselves, pocketing the difference between actual cost and reimbursement. The key is weighing the truck before and after loading to document the weight moved.
Dislocation Allowance (DLA): A one-time payment to offset the miscellaneous costs of moving, such as deposits, temporary lodging, and incidentals. Amounts vary by rank and dependency status but typically range from $2,000 to $4,000.
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE): Covers up to 10 days of lodging and meals when you are between housing at your old or new duty station. Use it strategically to bridge the gap between vacating old housing and occupying new housing.
The PCS Timeline
60-90 days out: Attend a PCS briefing at your installation. Schedule a TMO counseling appointment. Begin researching housing at your new duty station. Request school records for children.
45-60 days out: Book your pre-move survey with the moving company (if using government move). Start decluttering aggressively since weight overages come out of your pocket. Arrange temporary lodging at both ends.
30 days out: Confirm moving dates. Arrange vehicle shipment if moving overseas. Begin address changes. Notify your children current school of withdrawal date.
14 days out: Confirm all reservations. Pack your essentials kit separately. Prepare a detailed inventory of high-value items with photos for claims purposes.
Moving day: Be present during the entire pack and load. The moving company crew works better and more carefully when someone is watching. Document any existing damage to items and note it on the inventory forms.
Housing at Your New Station
On-post housing: Apply through your installation housing office. Wait lists vary from immediate availability to six months. Privatized housing (managed by companies like Lendlease or Balfour Beatty) is the norm at most installations now.
Off-post housing: Use the Automated Housing Referral Network (AHRN) at ahrn.com for listings near military installations. Your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is calculated based on your duty station ZIP code, rank, and dependency status. Use the BAH calculator at defense.gov to determine your specific rate and use it as your budget ceiling for off-post rent.
Temporary housing: Most installations have temporary lodging facilities (TLF) for incoming families. Book early since availability is limited, especially during summer PCS season (May through August).
Spouse Employment and Family Support
Military OneSource (militaryonesource.mil) provides free career counseling, resume reviews, and job search assistance for military spouses. The Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) connects spouses with employers who commit to hiring military families.
For spouses with professional licenses (nursing, teaching, law, cosmetology), many states now participate in interstate compacts that allow license portability for military families. Check your new state requirements before assuming your license will transfer automatically.
School Liaison Officers at each installation help families navigate school enrollment, special education transfers, and extracurricular opportunities. Contact yours before arriving to smooth the transition for your children.
Filing Claims for Damaged Items
Damage during a military move is unfortunately common. Document everything with photos before, during, and after the move. File claims through the Defense Personal Property System at move.mil within 75 days for full replacement value coverage. After 75 days but before the two-year deadline, you are limited to depreciated value.
Keep all receipts for items you must replace before the claim is settled. The claims process typically takes 30 to 60 days for resolution.