Permanent Change of Station (PCS) military members know a thing or two about frequent moves. When PCSing, everyone and everything in your household will be on the move soon after you get PCS orders.
While this can be stress-inducing, you can make it a lot better if you lean into your PCS and fully prepare beforehand. Hype yourself up to get really in the mood to move. This guide will help you become informed and confident in navigating a PCS move.
- What Are PCS Orders?
- When Do You Receive PCS Orders?
- Important PCS Military Acronyms
- Full PCS Process Guide
⚬ PCS Move Checklist – Pre-Move
⚬ PCS Budget Planning
⚬ PCS Calculators
⚬ Scheduling a PCS Move
⚬ During the Move
⚬ Post PCS Move - PCS Move Tips
⚬ PCSing with Pets
⚬ PCSing with Family
⚬ PCSing by Yourself
⚬ First PCS Move
What Are PCS Orders?
If this is your first PCS move, you may ask yourself, “What does PCS mean in the military?” Military moves all start with orders influenced by your rank, the length of the job or training, and your assigned location to help the Department of Defense (DoD) experts.
This will help determine your move details. PCS orders mean you are assigned to a location for a lengthy duration of time for either training or job fulfillment. As such, a complete household move is part of a PCS.
When Do You Receive PCS Orders?
The usual rotation for receiving PCS orders is every two to four years, with May 15 through September 30 known as peak PCS season.
If you don’t have orders yet, purge or donate any household items you no longer use while waiting. The less you have to move when the time comes, the better! You can also take inventory of your items to know what you’ll have to move when orders arrive. An accurate and detailed list will also help you file a loss or damage claim if an incident occurs.
Important PCS Military Acronyms
Once you have the where and when information for your PCS orders, you will have everything you need to know to begin planning your PCS move!
Before we launch into the specifics, here are some PCS-related military acronyms you’ll need to know. Don’t be surprised if these abbreviations appear in everyday conversations or across the information you research for PCSing.
CONUS & OCONUS
Navigating a CONUS vs. OCONUS move has a handful of differences. Continental United States (CONUS) moves are the most common PCS moves. OCONUS stands for Outside the Continental United States, referring to military members and families heading overseas for their PCS. Interestingly, Hawaii and Alaska are not considered CONUS as they are labeled outside continental boundaries.
HHG
You have three different options when navigating a PCS military move. The most traditional approach is a household goods (HHG) move. PCSing military members are entitled to have their household goods moved on the government’s dime. During your HHG move, your belongings are packed and transported to your new location.
PPM
A personally procured move (PPM), also called a Do It Yourself or DITY move, means you pack and move your belongings to your new home or hire a commercial mover such as POD or U-Haul for your PPM. The government will pay a large chunk of the cost to hire a mover. In some cases, you can save some of that money by completing the move yourself for less.
If tackling the whole moving process seems daunting, you can also elect to perform a partial DITY move. This PCS moving option is partially an HHG move and a DITY move. This type of move can be beneficial when you need the government to take care of your large appliances or furniture items while you take care of your smaller personal items. You will not be reimbursed as much as you would for a DITY move, but depending on your situation, you can still take advantage of this PCS moving option.
Don’t worry. You will start to memorize and recognize these acronyms as you move through the PCS process!
Full PCS Process Guide
Your orders give you the go-ahead to begin building your PCS moving schedule.
- Make an appointment to take your orders to your new transportation office.
- Set up your Defense Property System account.
- Visit MyBaseGuide to download the base or post guide, including maps, a telephone directory, and a military buyer’s guide for your new assignment.
- Check out our Automated Housing Referral Network and explore homes for sale or rent in your new area!
PCS Move Checklist – Pre-Move
It’s easy to lose track of stuff when you’re on the move. Do yourself a favor and follow our PCS checklist to help organize your PCS move and ensure you know what is on the PCS Prohibited List so you’re not caught off guard come moving day.
PCS Budget Planning
The DoD provides allowances for housing and moving to ease moving expenses. Go to the Defense Travel Management Office for allowance tables, per diem rates, and tools to help you successfully plan your PCS budget.
For a CONUS PCS, the government will reimburse you for mileage and toll expenses incurred driving your car to your new location. Be sure to save receipts as proof of how far you drove. It can be hard to plan out how much a move will cost, but our budget estimator sheet can give you more peace of mind in the initial steps of a PCS move.
More Like This: Research Your PCS Budget and PCS Entitlements You Need To Know to ensure your finances align with your move.
PCS Calculator
Your PCS weight allowance depends on your rank, dependency status, and type of move. This number determines how much of your HHG the government pays to move to your new location.
You can use the United States Transportation Command’s online Weight Estimator to calculate the total estimate for your household relocation. Compare the estimate to your allowance, and plan accordingly to ensure all essential items can make it to your new location. Beware that overweight fees can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars!
Pro Tip: Your local personal property office is where the PCS gurus are. Ask the experts for help determining how to move your household into various shipments.
Scheduling a PCS Move
To schedule your move in DPS, you need:
- Estimated shipping weights
- Pick-up and delivery dates and locations
- Specialty item list (boat, guns, R.V., large electronics, etc.)
- Professional books, paper, and equipment list
- Your preferred moving company
When you take your Defense Personal Property Systems (DPS) forms to your transportation office, they will assign you a moving company.
Learn More: View these common questions you should ask yourself when working with military movers.
During the Move
Keep kids and pets out of the house or isolated in a room during packing day when possible. You don’t want to add the hassle of a spooked animal or distressed child to everything else going on.
Move your PPM items into your locked car in the garage or driveway at the start of packing day. You don’t want to risk getting your valuables, such as laptops, medicines, car titles, family heirlooms, jewelry, and move paperwork, tossed in an unmarked box. Now, you can see how much space you have left to keep clothing, favorite toys, pet kennels, bedsheets, and bath towels on hand in the car throughout your journey.
Pay close attention to the movers’ inventory documentation. Be sure your items include enough descriptive info and not just vague terms. This way, you can show what items were shipped. Also, don’t forget to collect the driver’s phone number so you can stay in touch during the trip.
If something goes wrong, call your transportation office. Refrain from attempting to negotiate or argue directly with the movers, as help is available in these situations.
Post PCS Move
You’ve moved! But there are still some final steps to ensure everything is in line. Update your address sooner rather than later to avoid complications. Here are a few suggestions to get you started with the lengthy process of updating information:
- USPS
- IRS
- Social Security Administration
- Employer
- Banks/Credit Unions
- Insurance Companies
- DMV & Voter Registration
- Subscription and Delivery Services
- Utility Companies
- Internet/Mobile Companies
- Credit Card Companies and Other Lenders
More like this: Discover a more in-depth explanation of what to do when you PCS to a new state.
PCS Move Tips
Moving is super stressful, as you are currently experiencing or have experienced in the past. As such, we’ve put together some insightful tips that other military members and their families found helpful.
Listen to Music While Packing
Make or discover a moving playlist or two! Music is proven to have a calming effect when you feel overwhelmed. Furthermore, music can impact your brain when you need motivation to get moving. Get in a groove and get stuff done no matter where you are in your PCS process.
PCSing with Pets
- Make sure your pet is healthy with up-to-date immunizations to make it easier to quickly board your pet or have it cared for while you pack or move.
- Remember, pets can be unpredictable in unfamiliar surroundings or situations. Be prepared to recover a panicked pet! Microchips and current I.D. tags make it easier for people to help you reconnect with lost pets.
- Pack a travel bag for your pet’s daily needs, too. Include food, water, bowls, leash, toys, bedding, and medication.
If you have pets and you’re scheduled for a PCS, CONUS, or OCONUS move, we have tons of tips, advice, and information about moving with pets.
PCSing with Family
- Hold a family celebration to break the PCS news to your friends and extended family. Help your immediate family adjust by making it exciting, and explain there will be new places to explore and new friends to meet.
- Bring fun to the packing process! If you have younger children, buy some markers and let your child decorate their boxes. Use special tape or stickers for each family member to make it easy to know where the boxes go.
- If your family starts to feel stressed while unpacking, take a break to do something fun together. Outdoor activities like walking or biking are excellent ways to reset and refocus.
Learn More: Thinking about geo-baching? Discover the pros and cons of geo-baching so you can make an informed decision.
PCSing by Yourself
- To pass the time, consider listening to an audiobook in the car. If you have a long drive ahead, this helps the miles go by faster.
- Bring your pillow! You may not be able to sleep in your bed for a little while during your PCS, but your pillow will make you feel closer to home after a long day of traveling.
- Have you checked the expiration date on your driver’s license lately? Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of moving or changing an address to update this. Tickets for an expired driver’s license can be costly and unexpected. And you’ll want to be sure you can clear the gate guard upon arrival at your new base.
If It’s Your First PCS Move
- Know Who to Call for Help:
- Army: 1-(800)-762-7186
- Marine Corps & Navy: 1-(855)-444-6683
- Air Force: 1-(210)-652-3357
- Coast Guard: 1-(833)-551-0887
- USTRANSCOM: 1-(833)-645-6683
- Get an appraisal for the expensive items you’re moving in case they become lost or damaged.
- Use a video inventory to note the condition of your furniture, TVs, etc., when shipped. This is much quicker than taking images or documenting their conditions in writing.
- Are you moving with firearms in your car? Ensure you know the firearms laws in the states you travel through during your PCS.
To save money, stay in lodging with rates negotiated for per diem. Many resources, such as FedRooms, can help you save on traveling costs.
Additional PCS Help
Now, you are ready to begin your PCS adventure! Make the most of your PCS by remaining optimistic and using the information provided to set up a successful Permanent Change of Station for you and your family.
You can find tons of information on your new military community at MyBaseGuide. MBG has the up-to-date info necessary to settle into your home, from the best restaurants to top schools and outstanding recreation options.
Furthermore, there are some options that provide counseling on how to manage relocation stress.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.