A Detailed Guide to HHG PCS Moves: Simplifying Your Household Goods Relocation

Military moves come with many logistics, timelines, and, of course, questions. Before you even pack a box, you might wonder how your cherished items will get from your current home to your new duty station.

The military world refers to a move as a permanent change of station (PCS). When you PCS, you leave your current command and report to a new one, often in a different city, state, or even country.

One of the first questions you need to answer is what kind of PCS move you want to do. If you want to let the military handle the heavy lifting and the bill, a household goods move might be the right choice.

A household goods (HHG) move involves the military handling the logistics and expenses associated with moving. The transportation office contracts civilian moving companies to pack, load, ship, and unpack all your belongings. The bill is sent directly to the transportation office, and all you need to do is ensure that things proceed according to plan and inspect your items for damage upon arrival.

Some people prefer a more hands-on approach and do the packing and moving themselves. Often referred to as a DITY move, the military uses the term personally procured move (PPM). You can also opt for a partial DITY move, shipping the larger household items, such as furniture, with a moving company while you pack some sentimental or smaller goods.

An HHG is best suited for those who don’t want to be heavily involved or work directly with the moving process. Because the military and the contracted moving company, also referred to as the transportation service provider, handle all logistics and billing directly, you’ll have fewer out-of-pocket costs.

Once you’ve decided that an HHG move is the best choice for your situation, consider a few key factors. Preparation for your move begins with determining what and how much you can move, how to transport your most precious items to your new home intact, and when you can expect everything to arrive.

Before you can schedule your HHG move, you must have official orders to report to your new duty station. Once you have that done, you can get your move rolling. Contact the transportation office at your current location to initiate the process. You’ll need to complete training before scheduling anything to ensure you understand the requirements and restrictions.

Household goods are measured by weight rather than by room or number of boxes. This enables the military to calculate and pay for shipping everything from one location to another.

The weight you are allowed to move is called your weight allowance and depends on your rank and dependents. Junior enlisted without dependents start at 5,000 pounds. More senior military members are allowed to ship more weight, up to 18,000 pounds for those ranking O-6 and above. You will likely need to pay for any items that exceed your weight limit.

Professional gear and materials are shipped with your household goods but are counted in a separate weight allowance. Military members can ship up to 2,000 pounds of professional materials, and spouses can ship up to 500 pounds, provided these items are itemized and approved prior to the move.

There are a few items that cannot be included in your HHG shipment. If you want to move these things, you’ll need to make the arrangements yourself. A few items on the PCS prohibited list include:

• Ammunition
• Food in glass jars
• Open containers of food
• Propane tanks
• Batteries with acid or alkali
• Hazardous items, such as flammable liquids, paint, and fireworks
• Alcoholic beverages in containers over one gallon

You can set these aside in a designated room during your packing and make it clear to the movers not to pack them. To make it even clearer, you can add a sign labeling them as “do not pack.”

While most moving companies treat your items with care, packing them in appropriate boxes with materials to keep them safe during the move, some will inevitably get jostled around and risk breaking.

To protect your most cherished belongings, consider hand-carrying them to your new home. If you are driving a vehicle, you’ll have more room to pack extra items. For those flying, you may need to make room in your suitcase or pack a second suitcase altogether. You can get reimbursed for some flying fees, such as checked bags, when you file your travel claim.

Some items are irreplaceable due to sentimental value, while others are fragile and require a delicate touch. If you worry something might break and are able to hand-carry it to your new home, it’s worth considering.

Things to hand-carry include:

• Sentimental items that you could not replace
• Photos and letters
• Diplomas or other memorabilia
• Important records (birth certificate, passport, etc.)
• Moving information
• Delicate or fragile items

As you prepare, you may wonder how you’ll get your vehicle to your new city.

For a CONUS move (within the continental U.S.), you can drive your vehicle and receive reimbursement for the cost, or work with the transportation office to arrange for your vehicle to be shipped.

In an OCONUS move, which includes moving overseas or to Hawaii and Alaska, each service member is authorized to ship one personal vehicle. You will need to get your vehicle to a designated drop-off site and pick it up from the designated site once you arrive.

One of the main reasons people opt for a PPM instead of an HHG move is the timing. When you pack and move your own household, you have much more control over when things happen and how long it takes to get to your new home. If you are driving a moving truck, you can load it up, drive to your destination, and unload in a matter of days. The same move with a moving company can take weeks or even months.

The exact number of days it takes to transport your household goods depends on where you are shipping from and to. The most recent intratransit timetable can help you determine the time it takes from one location to another.

You should receive an expected timeline when you complete your pre-move counseling with the transportation office; however, delays can still occur, even after your household items have been packed. If you encounter unexpected delays, work with your new command to obtain temporary items, such as pots, pans, and dishes, to help make your wait more manageable.

When your items arrive, the moving company will unpack them and reassemble any furniture as needed. Inspect everything closely for damage, especially if it was stored during the move.

Ultimately, the decision to undertake an HHG move or another type of military move is up to the service member, their family, and the regulations governing their current or new duty station.

HHG moves are ideal for those who don’t want to deal with packing and unpacking, shipping items from one place to another, or paying upfront for moving expenses. In an HHG move, the military directly handles all of these things. For those seeking more control over the process and the opportunity to earn a little money through reimbursements, a PPM may be the better option.

Knowing the available options and which best fits your situation is important to get the best moving experience. An HHG move is ideal for those who want the military to handle the details, allowing them to focus on transitioning to a new job and community.

Interested in more PCS tips? Download the AHRN PCS Toolkit for more information