Military Family Central

/ Family Member / Children /

Tweet

Moving can be an incredibly stressful time for anyone, and when the move is mandatory for a job the pressure is really on.

A Permanent Change of Station (PCS) includes any move mandated by the military from the first active post to a move back home after active duty.  Often there isn’t a lot of time for service members and their families to investigate their options so here are a few tips to make sure you have a stress free move.

• Set up a meeting with the transportation office at your current base to iron out all details and resources
• If the entire family will be making the move as well, investigate any special powers of attorney in case the primary family member is unavailable during any part of the move
• Try a house hunting trip prior to move: military members are allowed a permissive TDY (Temp Duty) for up to 10 days to the location of their change of station, as long as it is within the CONUS.  This 10-day period will not be charged as leave from their current station and can be used to look for housing at the new base.
• It’s never too early to begin looking at transportation options, plane tickets are always cheaper in advance

How does the government assist with the moving process?

Although moving can be confusing and expensive, the military offers numerous services to help ease the burden. Below is a list of different reimbursements the government offers to individuals and families facing a PCS.

• Tax deduction of moving expenses
• Temporary Lodging Expenses: a fund to help partially offset lodging and meal expenses when a member and or their dependents need to occupy temporary lodging
• Dislocation Allowance: A fund to partially reimburse extraneous moving expenses not otherwise covered
• Reimbursement of lodging and meal expenses while traveling during the move for service members and their dependents including a mileage allowance if you choose to drive
• Storage of personal belongings during active duty

Feeling Brave? Try a Do It Yourself Move

The government also offers a program to individuals and families known as a DITY move where the military will pay a flat percentage of estimated moving costs. With advanced planning and military discounts some can lower their costs enough to even make money off their move.

Simply put, you must notify your current officers and decide on a moving strategy, pack your belongings, move, unpack, and file for reimbursement.  That said, a DITY move can be stressful and time consuming if you are really focused on gaining a profit and isn’t for the faint of heart.

If you are interested in investigating a DITY move, check out our previous article on Doing it yourself. A rough economy and a push from the military are making DITY moves more popular than ever, and there is a lot of information and online communities dedicated to making the most of military discounts along the way.

The most important thing with any type of move is to always start as early as possible and take advantage of any services the military offers. Military.com has compiled a very useful checklist for the PCS process starting three months in advance.

Photo thanks to sean dreilinger via Flickr Creative Commons

Related posts: