Military Move Checklist: What You Need to Know About PCS, PPM/DITY, and HHG Moves

When it comes to military moves, there are two types of people— the planning type or the spontaneous type. If you like to plan your moves, you’ve probably already been checking your schedule and assigning dates to prepare for your next military move.

No matter which side of the spectrum you fall on, we’ve got the complete scoop on the often-complicated process of military moves. One thing for sure is that military moves are not something you can just “do” without a solid plan in place.

If you’ve always found yourself unprepared for your military move, we’re here to help! Let’s dive into our military move checklist.

Yes! Thankfully, the military will help you and your family with your move. This is a significant benefit, especially given how often some military members have to change stations. The military provides assistance in many ways during a permanent change of station (PCS) and Temporary Duty (TDY) move, which we will learn more about below.

In fact, the military provides allowances and reimbursements for several aspects related to moving. These benefits are often referred to as “entitlements,” as service members are entitled to receive compensation for the sacrifices they must make when moving for the military.

Depending on whether you’re moving by yourself or letting the military take care of some of the moving troubles, you’ll qualify for different types of payments and reimbursements to help you cover various moving-related costs. These entitlements also include per diem, in lieu of transportation, dislocation, and temporary lodging allowances.

Whether you have just entered the military or you are receiving your first moving orders, you might be a little confused about what a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) entails. A PCS is an assignment or appointment of military personnel to a new installation for a considerable period of time, usually between one to four years.

A PCS could be CONUS (inside the continental U.S.) or OCONUS (outside the continental U.S.), meaning you could be called to move just a few states away or to the other side of the world! As you can imagine, this opens up many doors of adventure and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for military members.

The level of monetary assistance you receive for your move will depend on how long you will be gone and how far away you are moving. Late spring into early summer is generally considered peak PCS season, so you can expect to receive your next PCS orders just before that time!

A Temporary Duty Move (TDY), also referred to as a Temporary Duty Assignment (TDA), is when a government employee or military member is requested to travel to another installation for a short period of time. This time can greatly range from just a couple of days to a few months at a time, depending on the assignment and what you’re needed for.

Think of a TDY as more of a business trip rather than a full-on move. Though if you get a TDY request that’s on the other side of the country and lasts for several months, it can certainly feel more like a complete move than a short trip. Conveniently for a TDY, you will still be reimbursed for travel, lodging, and meal expenses.

The government gives military personnel choices when it comes to how you can choose to move your household from one installation to the next. From having the military take care of everything for you to choosing to save some money and doing it yourself, you’ve got options!

When PCSing, you can choose how much you want the government to help you with your move. By selecting the full government PCS route, you elect for the military to plan, pack, transport, and unpack your household. The best part is that they pay for the process as well!

If you decide to use a government-arranged move, start through Military OneSource’s moving resources and the Defense Personal Property System (DPS), where you can schedule and manage your shipment, track it, and file claims.

For a government-arranged household-goods move, you will request dates in DPS. Under current rules, your shipment is scheduled within a seven-day pickup window tied to the latest pickup date you request, and your assigned moving company will work within that window.

Click here to learn more about you 7-day window.

Your military-assigned transportation service provider (TSP) will load everything into a moving truck, and they will hold onto your household goods until you’re ready for them at the new place. Once you arrive at your new home, you can expect the movers to do everything from unloading your items to unpacking them and placing them where they belong.

If items are lost or damaged, the TSP may be responsible, but you still need to follow the claims process. Document visible issues at delivery, report newly discovered loss or damage within 180 days, and file your claim on time.

Want more information about your next installation? Visit MyBaseGuide.

A Do-It-Yourself (DITY) or Personally Procured Move (PPM) is not for everyone. In a DITY military move, you are not assigned a TSP, as you are agreeing to pack, load, move and unload your items yourself. With this type of move, you can still receive some reimbursement for the move.

In a Personally Procured Move (PPM), you manage some or all of the move yourself. As an incentive, the government pays up to 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC), which is what the government would have paid for the same move and/or storage if it had been arranged for you. Your actual out-of-pocket costs can still be higher or lower depending on how you execute the move.

Keep receipts for the expenses, such as the moving truck and miles traveled, for a chance of getting some of that money back. You just need to make sure that your expenses are authorized.

You can find an in-depth list of what you will and will not receive reimbursement for here. The reimbursement you receive will also be based on how much your household goods weigh and how far you need to ship them. Because of this, you’ll have to weigh the moving truck before and after you pack it up to get the appropriate measurements.

To arrange a PPM, work through DPS and your local transportation office. During counseling, the system generates the required PPM paperwork, including DD Form 2278 and other supporting forms used to document and settle your move.

A partial DITY is a perfect blend of the aforementioned types of military moves. With a partial DITY move, you will get to determine exactly what goods the TSP will move for you and what you will move on your own.

Similarly to a full DITY, you will still have to weigh any vehicle that you’re transporting goods in by yourself, and you want to make sure to keep certified weigh station tickets in a safe place. This way, you can receive the full and correct reimbursement amount.

Whatever you don’t pack and move on your own vehicle will be conveniently handled by a military-assigned TSP. As you can imagine, a partial DITY is a great option for people who have very important belongings that they don’t want to be separated from during a move but who also want someone else to handle part of the moving process.

When it comes to your next military move, you’re going to want to know what you will face along the way. By familiarizing yourself with these processes, you will be able to dodge any potential curveballs when you go to fill out forms and paperwork for your PCS or TDY military move.

The Defense Personal Property System (DPS) is the main online system used to schedule and manage household-goods shipments, track shipments, and file certain moving claims. Once you have official orders, you can use DPS to begin scheduling your move and uploading required documents.

It’s a good idea to go ahead and make an account on the DPS site before you even receive orders. This way, you’ll always be ahead of the game! Here, you can get in contact with real humans, thank goodness, to ask them questions about the process, access vital information and moving-related articles, schedule your military move, and track your shipment(s).

You can’t move to your next installation without all of your items! Household Goods (HHG) move simply refers to your items being packed up and transported to your new installation. To begin the HHG move process, you will need to begin by filling out the DD Form 1299, also known as the Application for Shipment and/or Storage of Personal Property.

This form will help you launch the move and coordinate with your military-assigned TSP for packing, loading, transporting and unloading your HHG at your next home.

Unaccompanied baggage (UB) is an expedited shipment of a limited portion of your authorized weight allowance, typically used to get essential items to your new duty station sooner than the rest of your household goods. UB is a small percentage of your household goods that the military allows you to send to your new installation ahead of your arrival via air express travel.

The amount you can ship as UB depends on your orders, location, and administrative weight limits, so confirm the exact allowance with your transportation office.

Your POV shipment and storage allowance depends on your orders and destination. In general, if you are moving overseas or outside the contiguous United States, the government may pay to ship one privately owned vehicle to your new duty station, or store one POV during your OCONUS tour.

Generally, you may be eligible for POV storage if you were ordered to an OCONUS move and:

• Your vehicle isn’t permitted in that country
• You were assigned TDY for more than 30 days for a contingency operation
• There was a change in a ship’s home port of more than 30 days between arrival and departure
• Government-procured storage is not available

Because entitlement rules vary by assignment and location, confirm the details with your transportation office or PCSmyPOV resources.

For those that have received PCS orders and have to move inside of the continental United States, there’s good news! In some instances, you don’t have to drive your vehicle across the country if you don’t want to. You can have your vehicle shipped across the United States if you are a service member who cannot physically drive or if you do not have time to drive and report to the PDS on time.

Whether your HHG outweighs your assigned weight allowance or you need to temporarily downsize as you head overseas, there are many reasons you may choose military Non-Temporary Storage (NTS).

Non-Temporary Storage (NTS) is long-term government-arranged storage for household goods that you are authorized to place in storage rather than ship to your new duty station. NTS eligibility depends on your orders and assignment details, especially for certain overseas or otherwise restricted moves, so confirm your entitlement with your local transportation office before assuming storage will be covered at government expense.

Depending on your circumstances, the government will decide whether to pay for your NTS or if you should be responsible for that bill. Here are some non-temporary storage regulations in which you might be eligible to have your NTS paid for:

Military NTS Criteria

• You were assigned to a designated isolated CONUS installation
• You’re moving to (or between) OCONUS installations
• You cannot use a specific household good in your newly appointed living space
• The storage of an item or items is in the best interest of the government

If you do need to put anything into NTS, make sure to keep your TSP updated with your current phone number, address, or new orders. You’ll need to complete the Department of War’s (formerly known as the Department of Defense) DD Form 1299 to apply for NTS!

Click here to learn more about NTS.

Sometimes we just need someone to tell us where to start! To help you take the right first steps in your military move, we’ve compiled a comprehensive military move checklist. By following these straightforward steps, you’ll be on the right path to moving to your new installation!

1. Talk To Your Family About Your Move

Before you make any decisions, speak about your military move with your family. Especially if you have a spouse or children, they’ll want to know what is in store for their future and be involved in the decision-making process.

Children may need time to mentally adjust to the news. After all, this means they will be uprooted from their friends and comfort zone with the expectation of adjusting to a new area. Your spouse may also need your help wrapping their brain around what this new life will look like for them regarding their career.

Depending on your family’s dynamic, breaking the news can be devastating or exciting. So, knowing how to approach each member of your family and what you can do to nurture them through the adjustment is essential to launching a stress-free PCS move.

2. Inform Your Local Transportation Office

Make an appointment with your installation’s Transportation Office as soon as you can. This professional will be a pivotal resource for you as they can arrange shipments for your household goods and get a moving schedule underway.

3. Do Research About Your New Station

Check the local BAH rates and available housing on-base and off-base. This will help you begin to gauge how much it’ll cost you to actually live at your new installation. MyBaseGuide is a great resource for checking out military-trusted businesses, schools, places to eat, and other activities on and around the base.

4. Catalog Your HHG

Taking note of every household good sounds overwhelming, but it’s imperative. Especially if you’re not doing a DITY move, you’ll want to document what movers are packing, loading, transporting and unloading for you.

Write down all of your household items and take pictures of anything that’s expensive, fragile or important. This will protect you in case items show up damaged or if they don’t show up at all! While it’s unlikely anything will go wrong, you will want to be prepared if an issue arises on the off-chance.

5. Let Your Landlord Know

If you are renting, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act may allow you to terminate a residential lease after you receive qualifying military orders, including PCS orders.

For a lease with monthly rent, termination generally becomes effective 30 days after the next rent payment is due following proper written notice to the landlord. The landlord may not charge an early termination fee, though you can still owe prorated rent already due and other valid charges under the lease.

You’ll need to contact your landlord as soon as possible with a copy of your orders to let them know you’ll be breaking the lease. Your lease will terminate 30 days after your next rent payment is due to give the property owner plenty of notice.

More Like This: What To Do When Your Tenant Has Military Orders to Break Lease?

6. Update Your Passport & Visa

You don’t want to be caught at the airport with an out-of-date passport! It’s crucial to ensure these documents are updated and ready to go if you have to report to your new installation by a specific date and time.

If you are heading OCONUS, verify passport, visa, and country-entry requirements as early as possible. Document rules vary by destination, assignment type, and family status, and missing paperwork can delay your travel and check-in process.

7. Compile a Moving Kit

Anything you will want with you and handy throughout your military moving process should go in your moving kit. This should include important documents, licenses, medications, payment methods and keys; really, it’s anything you will want to access within your first week at your new station. Having these essentials together and accounted for will prevent them from getting lost in the shuffle or accidentally packed away with items that will be arriving much later.

8. Set Up a Budget & Save Up

Even if you’re making a PCS military move, you’ll want to save up some money before moving day comes. Yes, you’ll get some reimbursement, but it’s better to have a safety net. Especially if you’re moving across the country or to a different country entirely, having extra funds will be a relief if any unexpected expenses arise.

9. Gather Important Records

Contact your healthcare provider for copies of your medical records and those of your spouse and children, including vaccinations, prescriptions, and prior health issues. If you have kids, get in contact with the school to ensure you have any education-related documentation needed before you move.

For any pets, you’ll also want to reach out to your vet to get copies of their health records and any medications they may need.

10. Don’t Forget Your Pet’s Information

For those moving overseas, check in with the pet travel requirements of the country or state you will be entering.

For example, Hawai‘i has some of the strictest pet-entry rules in the country because it is rabies-free. Dogs and cats must meet the state’s import requirements, and outcomes vary based on compliance: some pets may qualify for direct airport release, some for the 5 Day or Less program, and pets that do not qualify can face a much longer quarantine period.

It’s important to start planning for your pet movement as soon as possible after you learn your new duty station, so you have time to line up the required vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, and titer tests with your veterinarian.

So, ensuring your pet has all of the necessary vaccinations, medications, and credentials needed is essential to ensure they are allowed to come with you.

Are you moving with a pet? We have a Moving With Pets Guide that will walk you through the best ways to move them, too!

11. Complete All Out-Processing Paperwork

When you’re leaving an installation, you have to fill out a few forms to ensure the military is updated on the specifics of your move. These forms will usually include questions about your next installation, who you’re traveling with, dependents and if you have a spouse who is moving with you.

12. Register Your Vehicle

Before you arrive, review your new installation’s check-in, base-access, and vehicle requirements. These rules vary by installation. MilitaryINSTALLATIONS is a good place to start, and your gaining installation can tell you what documents you, your spouse, and your dependents will need for access and in-processing.

Getting your vehicle registered ahead of time will save you time and hassle when you finally arrive at the gate of your new installation. While you’re at it, you’ll want to provide your new station with details about your children and spouse, so they are also allowed on base once you arrive.

Sure, you can do all of this once you arrive. However, having it all taken care of ahead of time will make entering the installation for you and your family a stress-free and seamless process.

13. Reserve a Hotel

If your trip requires an overnight stop or temporary lodging, check your travel entitlements before booking. For PCS moves, reimbursement for temporary lodging is generally handled through Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) in CONUS and Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) in OCONUS, subject to current rules and limits.

If you didn’t notice while reading, the key to a stress-free and smooth PCS military move is to come to the table prepared. It’s no secret that there’s a lot that goes into a military move. Whether your next PCS is coming up or you’re not due for another one for a few years, it’s never too early to plan for a big move.

As you begin the planning process, check our AHRN to research military housing near your next installation. It is our mission to connect military members with efficient and high-quality housing options, so you can’t go wrong with our tailored options!

Additionally, if you are looking for a tailored PCS experience, explore AHRN’s PCS Toolkit for a comprehensive guide.