Moving to a new base is a normal part of military life and often comes with various challenges. There is packing and moving your household goods, endless paperwork, and looking for storage units and the kid’s school. Here are five tips to help make you feel calmer and more confident in managing your PCS move.
Start Planning Early
When you finally receive your PCS orders, you should start to plan. The sooner you plan, the more control you will feel about the logistics and plan for the unexpected. As soon as you can, begin drafting a moving timeline and checklist of associated tasks.
Planning early allows you time to research housing and schools before you arrive at the new location. You will better understand the community’s traditions and resources, which will help you make decisions before arriving at the new location.
Organize and Declutter
Before packing your things, organize and begin sorting through your belongings and reducing what you have. Pack and move only what you value in your life, as many people in military life accumulate a lot of items, things they might treasure, even from their first base, but when push comes to shove, it might be better to get a fresh start.
During military assignments, there will be plenty of time to add and develop desk, office, and house collections. Some categories to consider while reducing clutter include broken, unused, seasonally appropriate items that don’t align with your lifestyle.
Consider a Personally Procured Move (PPM)
A personally procured move allows service members and their families more control over the move. With a PPM, you will pack, transport, and deliver your belongings with rented trucks, trailers, moving containers, or movers.
The military will reimburse you for your expenses to a limit. You can use a PPM move calculator to know if you’ve hit the limit. The limit is the same amount the military would have paid for a government-contracted household move. A PPM is great for service members who want flexibility in timing and those who want to oversee and care for their items.
Budget for Unexpected Expenses
Even with dislocation allowances, additional unforeseen or hidden expenses are typically associated with a PCS move. Examples include hotel expenses, food, authorized emergency vehicle repair, pet boards, temporary storage, utility deposits, and more.
Having a reasonable budget in place will help you deal with any financial surprises that may come your way, especially if you are on PPM and paying out of pocket until you are reimbursed. Keep all receipts and good records since you will need this information to complete your expense report when it’s time.
Communicate with Your Movers
It is important to have an open line of communication with your movers, either with a government-contracted moving crew or a hired company, to ensure your belongings are taken care of appropriately. Be present on the pack and load days to provide direction, answer questions, and supervise.
For packing, label each box with the room it needs to go to and note which boxes contain fragile items. Take pictures of valuable items to help with accounting, resolution, and compound values if items are lost or damaged, and create a detailed inventory list to help track items for claims.
Despite the stress and uncertainty that PCS moves bring with them, they are exciting journeys that many enter into full of new possibilities. With intention and a proactive way of living, you can experience your next move as a positive experience for you and your family. Whether you execute a traditional move or take the road less traveled with a PPM, staying organized and budgeting wisely while embracing the changes will be your ticket to a smooth transition.
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