We salute the men and women of the military and their spouses, and their unwavering dedication to fighting for our freedom.
The life of a full-time military person involves extensive moving, either within the country or far away in another country. Usually, when the military person moves, he is allowed to take along his spouse as well as children. An army career requires commitment, sacrifice, a strong sense of responsibility, flexibility in response to shifting conditions, and a desire to serve and defend one’s nation.
This is a reality that people in the armed forces could run into on multiple occasions throughout their careers. The moving process can be intimidating, but military members have access to some of the most dependable, effective, and affordable moving services available. To guarantee that all necessary tasks are accomplished on time and that the transition to a new duty station is as easy and stress-free as possible, preparing for a PCS move requires careful planning and attention to detail.
Preparing For a PCS Military Assignment – Tips and Advice
The military moves its personnel on average every three years as part of the permanent change of station (PCS) process. Under the PCS procedure, military personnel are frequently transferred to new duty stations. This is done to keep the military prepared and to ensure that the proper personnel are in the right positions to carry out their objectives. PCS moves can be a difficult yet wonderful opportunity to go to new places and connect with new people.
Service members may be sent to new duty stations for a variety of reasons, such as occupational specializations, skill needs, and rotation to numerous deployments or locations. The frequency of PCS transfers can be influenced by a number of factors, including rank, occupational specialty, and unit type. Understanding the ins and outs of a Military PCS can be daunting, but the key to a smooth transition is early planning.
Since relocation is often frequent, it is quite easy to lose important documents. Even worse, the transition can be severely stressful, especially if kids are involved. A successful military move begins with planning and preparation a month in advance. Consider throwing a moving away party for your military family and friends as a memorable farewell; this can also serve as a stress reliever before the big move.
- The average cost of a PCS move is approximately $13,000, according to the Government Accountability Office.
- The Army accounts for the highest number of PCS moves, making up nearly 40% of all relocations.
- The summer months, particularly May through August, are the busiest for PCS moves.
- The military allocates around $2.4 billion annually for PCS-related expenses. To save money during your move, consider utilizing the military’s Dislocation Allowance (DLA) for miscellaneous costs that aren’t covered by the government.
Leveraging Military Resources for Discounted Moving Services
Take advantage of the Household Goods/Transportation Office (HHG/TO) and its assortment of reduced services when relocating with the military. The HHG/TO provides more than merely coordination of household goods transportation. They offer useful services such as cheap moving supplies and a list of licensed carriers. The military’s Dislocation Allowance (DLA) can be used for miscellaneous moving costs.
They may assist in navigating weight restrictions, scheduling pack-out and delivery dates, and mediating any disagreements with moving companies. The military offers an Advance Basic Pay option, which is essentially a loan to cover move-related expenses. Furthermore, the HHG/TO is knowledgeable in foreign migrations and can provide critical information on customs regulations. By utilizing these services, you can expedite your military relocation while lowering costs and stress.
Preparing for a Move as a Military Spouse
Being a military spouse and getting ready to move can be challenging, but it’s important to make sure everything is in order to ensure a seamless transition. Nearly 60% of military spouses face employment challenges due to frequent relocations. It’s crucial to first do extensive research about your new place. Learn about the neighborhoods, schools, and employment prospects.
You can make decisions about what to take and what to leave behind using the information provided. You could also get in touch with other military spouses and ask them for their support and guidance. Connecting with the military community at your new location can provide valuable insights and emotional support.
It’s time to start packing for the move once you know exactly what to expect in your new place. Create a list of all the tasks you need to complete, such as packing, shipping, and storing home belongings, arranging for the transportation of vehicles, and notifying utility companies and other service providers of the relocation. Moreover, make sure all of your crucial papers are arranged and easy to find, including your passport, marriage license, and birth certificate.
Does the military move their personnel for free?
For qualified service personnel and their families, the military does offer free moving services. The military member’s perks are referred to as a “Government-funded move” or a “Government-paid move.” The packing, shipping, and unpacking of household items are all typically handled by a transportation office as part of the move. The precise services offered differ depending on the service member’s rank, the nature of the move, and other elements. The military’s transportation office should be contacted for more details on the specific advantages and services offered for your move.
The military would send movers to your home to get the larger items. However, you are still responsible for securing your other items such as jewelry, money, and even the serviceman’s gun. Within the month before you move, you should separate the items that you want to take with you and the others that you would prefer to leave behind. Get rid of the items that you do not want by either selling them on an auction website or by hosting a local yard sale or you can even donate them to charity.
Benefits of Choosing a Military-Procured Move
Military families in the United States have the option of a Personally Procured Move (PPM), which grants them more control over their relocation process and potentially offers financial benefits. The U.S. Department of Defense offers military-procured moves as one option to consider when arranging a transfer. Convenience, efficiency, cost savings, and peace of mind are just a few advantages associated with this sort of move.
The PPM program is optional, and you are free to use all of it or only a portion of it. For instance, up to the permitted weight allowance, you might ship some household items on a Government Bill of Lading (GBL) and then use the PPM program for the remaining items. You can drive your own car or rent a moving truck. If you opt for a Personally Procured Move (PPM), renting a moving truck can offer you more control but remember to factor in fuel costs.
What the Government Doesn’t Cover
You may feel relieved knowing that many moving expenses are covered by the government. However, pause for a moment! There are specific costs that won’t be subsidized. Have you considered your pet? International relocations often entail costly quarantine fees for animals. Don’t overlook import duties on personal vehicles, especially if you plan to bring your car. Extra storage fees for items that can’t be immediately moved are another often-overlooked expense. These added costs can accumulate, resulting in an unexpected bill.
The Real Cost of DIY Moves in the Military
Thinking of taking matters into your own hands with a Personally Procured Move (PPM)? It might seem like a good idea until you start adding up the costs. Truck rentals might look affordable at first glance, but have you factored in fuel costs? And don’t forget, you’re responsible for any loss or damage to your belongings. No one’s going to reimburse you for that heirloom vase if it gets shattered in transit.
The Hidden Financial Layers
It’s not just about the immediate costs; it’s also about the ones that sneak up on you. For instance, if you’re planning to drive to your new location, tolls and potential road closures could add unexpected delays and expenses. And let’s not forget that time is money. The hours you spend planning, packing, and driving are hours you could have spent settling into your new home or exploring job opportunities.
Navigating Temporary Housing
When relocating to a new area, researching and utilizing temporary housing choices can substantially ease the move. Begin by looking into extended-stay hotels, furnished apartments, and military lodging. These alternatives frequently provide flexible lease periods and amenities, allowing you to live in a comfortable and convenient environment while you look for permanent housing. Contact your new installation’s housing office or relocation assistance program for more guidelines.
Temporary housing acts as a buffer phase, allowing you to settle in without committing to long-term accommodation. It is cost-effective because it is less expensive than extended hotel stays. Furthermore, it relieves the burden of having to choose a place of residence right away, allowing you to evaluate communities and make informed judgments. Use the convenience of furnished spaces to avoid the effort and expense of transporting or purchasing furniture.
How to pack for a military move?
You should take into account the following recommendations when packing for a military move:
Begin early: To reduce stress and guarantee you have enough time to properly pack your belongings, start packing well before your move date.
Use the right tools: To safeguard your items during transit, use sturdy boxes, packing tape, and bubble wrap.
Label boxes: Boxes should be clearly labeled with their contents and the room they belong in. It will be simpler to unpack and arrange your possessions as a result.
Smaller boxes should be used to pack heavier objects in order to make them easier to carry.
Pack by room: To make unpacking and arranging your possessions simpler, pack goods from each room in individual boxes.
Use a packing list: To make unpacking simpler and to ensure you don’t forget anything, keep a list of everything you pack.
Disassemble furniture: Disassemble larger pieces to reduce space and secure larger items during transit.
Secure delicate items: Use bubble wrap to further protect delicate items like electronics, glassware, and tableware.
In order to ensure a quick and easy transition, it’s also critical to comply with any rules and specifications established by the military’s transportation office.
Gather all the paperwork
A military home is filled with paperwork which includes orders, certificates and medical records in addition to personal documents like birth and marriage certificates and grade school reports for the kids among other things. Gather all the paperwork and place them in a folder where the documents are well protected with plastic. Creating a PCS binder can be a lifesaver; it’s where you can store all essential documents, from orders to medical records. Your social security cards, children’s medical information, and car insurance documents should also be placed in this folder. It would be wise to purchase labeling tags to stick on the plastic to help you better locate your paperwork when you need them.
Documents aside, there can also be an abundance of photos as well. For this, you can invest in one of the many photocarriers that are out there or you can place them in a photo album to later stack in boxes. Plastic containers sell for very cheap at dollar stores and are also ideal for storing your photos.
Protect Your Identity
Take particular precautions when packing your items to protect any sensitive information, including orders and identification cards from your military service. Take these documents with you when you move and pack them separately to avoid identity theft.
Last but not least, after the transfer, check your credit report to make sure there are no unauthorized accounts or charges. This might help you be aware of any indications of identity theft and enable you to respond swiftly.
Take Care Of Financial Matters
Taking care of financial concerns should be a top priority when a military move is looming. Your bank, credit card companies, and other financial organizations should be notified of your address change. You can have missed or delayed payments if you don’t update your address with these organizations. As they handle military pay and benefits, it’s also critical to update your information with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Failing to do so can lead to missed or delayed payments, which could add financial stress to an already difficult situation.
Military pay, including basic pay, special pay, and allowances, is administered by the DFAS. As a service member, it’s important to update your information with the DFAS as soon as possible to guarantee that you receive your pay and benefits without delay. Your current address, contact information, email address, and banking details are all included in this. You can save unnecessary stress and concentrate on settling into your new city with peace of mind by keeping your information up to date.
Military spouses should also inform their employer of the planned move, arrange for job transfers, and look for other work prospects in the new area.
Plan For Your Pets
If you own pets, you should make plans for their housing and transportation. You might have to work with a pet-transportation agency or plan their trip on your own. Do your homework on any travel-related paperwork or health certificates that your pets might require. In case they become separated from you during the transfer, you should also make sure that your dogs have the appropriate identifying tags and are up to date on their immunizations.
You’ll need to make sure your pets have a secure and cozy place to reside once you’ve reached your new location. Before making any decisions, check the rules and regulations regulating pets if you’re moving into on-base housing. You should locate pet-friendly housing that suits your needs if you’re living off-base. Make sure to look into any nearby facilities that allow dogs, such as dog parks or pet shops.
What won’t military movers take?
Due to rules, safety considerations, and security concerns, military movers typically have restrictions on what they will and won’t transport. Typical prohibited items for military movers include:
Materials that are potentially dangerous include things like fuel, propane tanks, chemicals, and weapons.
Food, plants, and other perishable objects are not permitted to be moved by military movers.
Jewelry, money, investments, and other valuables won’t typically be moved by military movers.
Items that have sentimental significance, such as family heirlooms and photo albums, are often not moved by military movers because they cannot be replaced if they are lost or destroyed.
Go through the inventory form
You will receive an inventory form to sign when you receive your orders. Remember to list everything that you have in your home by brand name and quantity so that if your items were to get lost or damaged, they would be replaced with the money for an identical product. Properly pad, seal, and label your boxes and also list them on the form as well. Do not sign the form until you are satisfied that you have listed everything that you are taking with you.
Moving with children
When it comes to the children, accentuate the positive sides of moving to your children so that they would not be too stressed about it. However, if your child is still despondent after your talk, then you can ask the military’s family program representatives to provide you with more information on how you can assist your child.
The family program is very resourceful and may have a professional to send to your home to talk to your child. Finally, make sure that all your utility bills and phone bills are paid off or transferred if you are relocating within the state. And do not forget to have your mail forwarded to your new address as well.
Plan For Travel
Any military move should include travel preparation. You have a choice of driving and flying to your new place when getting ready to move. You need to carefully plan your trip if you’re driving, taking into account things like traffic, the weather, and rest stops. Furthermore, you might also need to look into any tolls or road closures that may be there. It’s crucial to allow plenty of time for the trip, especially if you’re taking young children or pets. Family members should also be involved in the planning process, especially if they have specific needs or responsibilities during the move.
Hotel bookings are also necessary if you’re traveling a great distance by car. If you’re traveling with dogs, take a look at hotels that offer a discount to active-duty military personnel. Particularly if you’re visiting during the busiest time of year, you should reserve your hotel rooms in advance to ensure availability. To get the lowest deals, book your flights as early as you can if you plan to fly.
Being separated from their loved ones for a long period of time is a sacrifice made by the courageous men and women serving in our military for the benefit of our nation. However, moving may be a stressful and difficult experience for a military family when the time comes.
The resources we have set up for this relocation are intended to reduce the families’ stress and disruption during this process. Our objective is to provide these families with the assistance they require, so they can integrate as fast and easily as possible into their new neighborhoods and communities.
Unique Challenges and Solutions
Emotional Toll on Children
Children in military families often face emotional stress due to frequent relocations, which can affect their academic and social lives.
Solution: Consider enrolling your children in programs designed to help military kids adapt to new environments. Schools near military bases often have counselors trained in this area.
Spousal Employment
Military spouses often find it difficult to maintain consistent employment due to frequent moves.
Solution: Look for remote work opportunities or roles within companies that have a national or global presence, making it easier to transfer your job when you move.
Vehicle Transportation
If you have more than one vehicle, getting them all to your new location can be a logistical challenge.
Solution: Consider using a professional car shipping service for one vehicle while driving the other. Some services offer military discounts.
Maintaining Long-Term Friendships
Frequent moves can make it challenging to maintain long-term friendships, which can be emotionally draining.
Solution: Leverage social media and video conferencing tools to keep in touch. Plan visits during holidays or long weekends to maintain those important relationships.
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