Military PCS Move Guide

A PCS move touches almost every part of your life at once: your job, housing, family routines, and bank account. Whether this is your first set of orders or your seventh, having a clear picture of what you are entitled to and what to do first makes a huge difference.

This guide breaks down everything from weight allowances by rank to how to actually schedule your shipment in DPS so that you can move with less stress and fewer surprises.

A permanent change of station (PCS) is a military-ordered relocation from one duty station to another. Unlike a temporary duty assignment (TDY), which sends you somewhere temporarily and brings you back, a PCS move is permanent: it involves changing your official duty station and resetting your housing situation.

PCS moves apply across all branches of the U.S. military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. How often you move depends on your branch, military occupational specialty or rate, and the needs of the service, but most service members can expect to PCS every few years over the course of a career.

If this is your first PCS, the process can feel overwhelming. If it is not your first, you already know that no two moves are the same. Either way, this guide covers what you need to know to become informed and confident when navigating a PCS move.

PCS orders are the official documents that authorize and direct your move. They come from your branch’s personnel system and spell out the details: your gaining unit, report date, number of authorized travel days, and transportation entitlements. Think of them as the operating manual for your move.

Your weight allowance is the maximum number of pounds the government will pay to move in a government-arranged shipment.

The DoD sets these limits by pay grade and number of dependents. If you exceed your authorized weight, the excess shipment costs come out of your pocket, and those charges can add up quickly.

Here is a summary of weight allowances by pay grade group.

Some things to keep in mind include:

• Professional books, papers, and equipment (PBP&E) may be authorized above your basic weight allowance. Ask your transportation office whether your job qualifies.
• If your shipment arrives overweight, the carrier bills the government first, and the excess charges are then passed to you.
• Use the USTRANSCOM weight estimator tool to get a rough idea of your shipment before pack-out day. It is free and takes about ten minutes.

This is the question every service member faces when orders drop. You have two options: let the government move your stuff or move it yourself and get paid. Here is how both work.

With a household goods (HHG) move, the government contracts a carrier to pack and move your belongings from door to door. You do not pay out of pocket for the move itself, and the government carries liability if something gets damaged or lost (though the claims process takes time and patience).

While it may seem like the easiest option, keep in mind some trade-offs:

• You have less control over timing, and during peak season, the Transportation Service Provider (TSP) assigned to you may not be your first choice.
• Your weight limit still applies.

A personally procured move (PPM) means you arrange and execute the move yourself. The government pays you a percentage of what it would have cost to hire a carrier for the same move on the same route.

Here is how the payment calculation works:

1. The government estimates the cost of moving your authorized weight from its origin to its destination at a standard rate.
2. You receive a percentage of that estimated cost. For 2026, the JTR rate is 100% of the government’s constructive cost.
3. You use that payment to cover your actual moving expenses: truck rental, fuel, packing supplies, and hired labor.
4. You can keep whatever is left after your expenses.

A few important things to know about PPM:

• The payment is taxable income. Your actual moving expenses may help offset your tax bill, but talk to a tax professional before counting on that.
• You can do a partial PPM, where you move some items yourself and let the government handle the rest.
• Distance, route, pay grade, and weight allowance all affect how much you net. Higher-ranking service members with large weight allowances and long cross-country moves tend to do better financially with PPM.

Not sure which option is right for you? Consider these factors:

• How far are you moving? Longer moves usually favor PPM financially.
• What is your pay grade and weight allowance? A larger allowance means more potential profit with PPM.
• Do you have dependents and help available on moving day?
• How much time do you have? A self-move requires more planning and physical effort.
• Are you comfortable managing potential damage claims yourself?
• What is your risk tolerance if something gets lost or broken?

There is no universally right answer. Run the numbers for your specific situation before deciding if an HHG or PPM move is right for you and your family.

The government does not just move your belongings. It also pays you several allowances to help cover the costs of uprooting your life.

Here is a quick overview of some of the PCS entitlements available to you. For the full list of what you’re entitled to, including entitlements that vary by branch and order type, see the full list of PCS entitlements.

• Dislocation Allowance (DLA): A one-time payment to help offset the costs of setting up a new household. The amount varies by pay grade and whether you have dependents.
• Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) / Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA): If you need to stay in a hotel while waiting on housing at either end of the move, TLE covers up to a set number of days for CONUS moves. OCONUS moves use TLA instead, with different rules.
• Mileage Allowance (MALT): If you drive your personally owned vehicle (POV) to your new duty station, you get reimbursed per mile. The DoD sets the rate and updates it periodically. For 2026, the Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) rate for PCS travel is $0.205 per mile.
• Per Diem: You receive a daily allowance for meals and incidentals during your authorized travel days. The rate differs for the service member, spouse, and dependent children.
• Advance Pay: If you need cash upfront to cover moving costs before your entitlements pay out, you may be able to request an advance. Talk to your finance office early, before orders are final, if possible.

It is helpful to set up a simple PCS budget of your actual spending. Track them separately. PCS costs tend to creep up, and knowing where you stand in real time prevents unpleasant surprises at the end of the move.

The PCS budget toolkit has a template to help you get started.

The Defense Personal Property System (DPS) is the online portal where you request a government-arranged move or get authorization for a PPM, and it’s where the paperwork gets done.

One heads-up: DPS undergoes scheduled maintenance every Friday from 7 p.m. CT through 5 a.m. CT Saturday. Do not wait until the last minute on a Friday night.

Here is how to get your shipment scheduled:

1. Gather what you need before you log in. Have your orders, your gaining unit information, an estimate of your household goods weight, and your preferred pack and pickup dates ready before you start. The system will ask for all of it.
2. Log in to the DPS portal using your CAC or DS Logon credentials.
3. Select “New Shipment” and choose your move type: HHG, PPM, or partial PPM.
4. Enter your origin and destination addresses and your authorized weight.
5. Choose your preferred pack and pickup dates. Book as early as possible. Peak season slots (May 15 through September 30) fill up fast, and you may not get your first-choice dates if you wait.
6. Review your Transportation Service Provider (TSP) assignment. You may have some ability to select or rate TSPs based on prior reviews.
7. Confirm your shipment details and save your confirmation number. Screenshot it. Email it to yourself. Write it down.
8. Contact your Personal Property Shipping Office (PPSO) or Transportation Management Office (TMO) at your installation if you have questions or run into problems.
9. If you get stuck, call the PCS Call Center at 833-MIL-MOVE. If you are a first-timer, your installation’s transportation office can walk you through DPS in person, so don’t hesitate to ask.

The earlier you start, the smoother things go. You will want a practical PCS move checklist broken down by how far out you are from your move. Here are the key milestones to hit at each stage of your move.

As Soon as Orders Drop

• Notify your current landlord or housing office. If you are renting off-post, review your lease break rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which protects you from penalties for breaking a lease due to PCS orders.
• Contact your gaining installation’s housing office to get on any wait lists and start understanding your BAH situation at the new duty station.
• Log in to DPS and open your shipment request as soon as your orders are finalized.
• Schedule a pre-move survey with your TSP to estimate the weight and scope of your shipment.

6 to 8 Weeks Out

• Confirm pack and pickup dates with your TSP.
• Start decluttering. Items you don’t ship reduce your weight, lower your overweight risk, and can increase your PPM profit if you go that route.
• Research schools, childcare, medical facilities, and dental providers at your new duty station. This takes longer than you think. If you are doing a PCS move with kids, start the school research as early as possible.
• Review your Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and beneficiary designations. A PCS is a good trigger to make sure everything is current.

2 to 4 Weeks Out

• Build your PCS binder. Keep this with you, not in the moving truck.
• Separate items you will transport personally, such as valuables, irreplaceable documents, medications and electronics, from what the movers will take.
• Notify the U.S. Postal Service, the IRS (Form 8822), the Social Security Administration, and the bank of your new address.

Moving Day and After

• Be present during pack-out. Walk through the rooms with the movers and document the condition of your belongings with photos before they are packed.
• Get a copy of the inventory sheet before the truck leaves. Read through it before you sign anything.
• File damage claims promptly through DPS after delivery. There are time limits, so do not sit on this.
• Update your driver’s license and vehicle registration with your new state’s DMV.

Not everything can go in the moving truck, even if it fits within your weight allowance. Certain items are prohibited from government-arranged HHG shipments for safety and regulatory reasons.

Common categories of prohibited items include:

• Hazardous Materials: This includes ammunition (with limited exceptions for authorized personal firearms), flammable liquids, propane tanks, and similar materials.
• Perishables: Food and plants cannot go in a government shipment.
• High-Value Personal Items: Cash, jewelry, and irreplaceable personal items are not insured by the carrier. Pack these yourself and carry them with you.
• Pets: Your furry family members travel with you, not in the truck.

For the complete breakdown, including what is restricted vs. fully prohibited and how to handle edge cases like firearms, see the full PCS prohibited items list.

Once you know where you are headed, housing becomes the next big question. Here is what to think through.

BAH Basics

Your Basic Allowance for Housing is based on your pay grade, dependency status, and duty station’s zip code – not where you actually end up living. That matters because BAH rates vary significantly between duty stations. Look up current BAH rates by duty station before you start apartment hunting so you know what you can actually afford.

On-Post vs. Off-Post

Living on-post typically means your BAH covers rent and utilities through the privatized housing provider. Off-post gives you more flexibility and, depending on your BAH rate and the local market, potentially more space for your dollar.

You will want to consider on-post vs. off-post housing by weighing the commute, school districts, waitlist timelines, and whether you want the convenience of on-post amenities or the freedom to choose your own neighborhood.

AHRN’s housing search tool is built specifically for when you have orders in hand and need to find off-base housing near an installation you have never lived near. Search rentals near your new duty station and filter by what matters to you: commute distance, pet-friendly listings, price range.

What is a PCS pending move status?

“PCS pending” typically means your orders have been initiated in the personnel system but are not yet finalized or officially published. While your move is pending, you cannot submit a shipment request in DPS, and you may not be able to lock in housing or moving dates. Stay in close contact with your unit’s S1 or administrative section, so you know the moment orders are finalized and you can start the clock on your checklist.

How early should I start planning a PCS move?

The short answer is as early as possible, and definitely the same day orders drop. DPS shipment requests should be submitted well in advance of your report date. During peak PCS season, transportation slots fill quickly, and waiting even a few weeks can limit your date options. Official DoD guidance recommends contacting your PPSO as soon as you receive orders. For an overseas move or a complex situation (such as selling a home or caring for dependents with special needs), earlier is even more important.

What is the difference between a CONUS and OCONUS PCS move?

CONUS stands for Continental United States, domestic moves between stateside installations. OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) covers overseas assignments: Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan, Germany, and other locations outside the 48 contiguous states.

Entitlements differ between the two. OCONUS moves use Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) instead of TLE, may have different weight allowances, and typically require additional documentation and coordination.

See the CONUS vs. OCONUS PCS guide for a full breakdown of the differences.

Can I ship my car during a PCS move?

For overseas (OCONUS) moves, the government may authorize shipment of one privately owned vehicle (POV) at government expense. For CONUS moves, POV shipment is generally not authorized. Instead, you receive the MALT mileage allowance for driving the vehicle to your new duty station. The specifics depend on your orders and the JTR guidance in effect at the time of your move.

What should I put in my PCS binder?

Your PCS binder is a physical folder (or a digital equivalent you can access offline) that stays with you during the move. It should include:

• Military orders and any amendments
• Leave paperwork
• DPS confirmation numbers and TSP contact information
• Vehicle titles
• Passports for all family members
• Medical and dental records
• School records for children
• Insurance cards (health, auto, renters/homeowners)
• Marriage license and birth certificates
• Social Security cards
• Travel reservations and lodging confirmations

Now, you are ready to begin your PCS adventure! Make the most of your PCS by staying optimistic and using the information provided to plan a successful move for you and your family.

A PCS move has many moving parts, but you do not have to figure it out alone. AHRN has resources to help you through every stage.

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. Movers cannot ship hazardous items, certain cleaning products, or open food.