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Getting the notification that you have orders for a military move, or Permanent Change of Station (PCS), is undoubtedly an exciting moment. The prospect of new adventures, new surroundings, and new experiences awaits. However, it's completely natural to turn your attention first to the list of tasks that must be accomplished before, during, and after a move.
According to the National Military Family Association, more than 400,000 military families relocate around the world each year. Whether it’s your first time PCSing or your tenth, getting organized and knowing what to expect will help ease some of the stress of military PCS.
Is It a CONUS or OCONUS Move?
First things first, what type of move will you be making? Whether it's a CONUS (Continental U.S.) or an OCONUS (overseas) move, both involve planning, paperwork, and attention to detail, but overseas moves come with additional considerations.
In either case, you’ll be sorting through belongings, arranging transportation, and preparing your family for a transition. But OCONUS moves require extra steps, including securing passports and visas, completing medical screenings, and understanding customs regulations. Housing may look very different depending on your location, and in some countries, military spouses may face restrictions on working off base due to Status of Forces Agreements.
Military families can use tools like Military OneSource’s Plan My Move to stay organized and avoid missing important steps during an overseas move, as well as MilitaryByOwner's comprehensive resource, Planning Your Overseas PCS Move.
Tips for an OCONUS Move
Travel documentation: For an overseas move, you'll need additional travel documentation beyond what's required for a stateside move. This can include passports, visas, and other entry permits for the military member and family members. The military typically provides no-fee passports (these are for official travel during the PCS, not leisure travel) and facilitates visa guidance. If you plan to travel, you’ll also need to obtain tourist passports on your own.
Customs and import restrictions: When moving overseas, you'll need to navigate customs and import regulations of the host country. Understanding which items are allowed, restricted, or prohibited at your destination is crucial to avoid any legal issues at customs.
Medical clearance and vaccinations: Overseas duty stations have specific health requirements for military personnel and their families. Before you move, you'll complete medical screenings and receive required vaccinations to ensure you meet the health standards of the host country and confirm that appropriate medical care is available at your new duty station.
Cultural differences and language: Moving to an overseas location often means encountering new cultures, languages, and customs. Adapting to these cultural differences can be both exciting and challenging. Familiarizing yourself with the local language and customs ahead of time can help ease the transition.
Schooling and education considerations: For those with school-aged children, researching and finding suitable schools that offer English language education or other language programs may be necessary if there aren’t Department of Defense (DoDEA) schools available at your duty station. The education system in your new location may also be different from what you're accustomed to in the U.S.
Finding housing: Finding suitable housing can be more complex in an overseas location. Military housing availability varies, and there will be cultural differences in housing styles and amenities if you're renting or buying a home off base. Lease terms, utilities, and expectations for things like appliances or maintenance may also differ from what you’re used to in the U.S.
Shipping vehicles: In most cases, the military will ship one vehicle to your overseas duty station, but additional vehicles may require out-of-pocket expense or alternative arrangements. In some cases where your vehicle might not meet local emissions/safety standards (such as in Japan), it might not be legal or worth shipping your vehicle at all, but instead waiting to buy a used car when you arrive.
Military spouse employment: Military spouse job opportunities will vary by overseas locations. Due to Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs), some locations do not allow military spouses to work off the installation, or “on the economy.” However, military spouses may be able to find employment on base with defense contractors, installation services, AAFES/commissary, or federal civil service. Learn more about military spouse employment overseas.
To help navigate an overseas move, military personnel or civilian travel offices provide counseling and checklists tailored to an OCONUS move. They’ll give you needed information about passports, travel arrangements, customs procedures, medical clearances, and other aspects unique to the overseas location where you're headed.
Planning a PPM (Personally Procured Move)
If you’re making a CONUS move, then you’ll need to decide whether you’ll use the military’s contracted movers or manage the move yourself and receive reimbursement later for moving costs by doing a Personally Procured Move (PPM), also called a DITY move (“Do It Yourself”).
PPMs are typically done for CONUS moves, though certain OCONUS situations may allow limited PPMs depending on orders and location.
Types of PPMs
There are two types of PPMs: member-elected (incentive-based) or actual cost reimbursement.
A member-elected PPM is when you choose to manage your move yourself, even when a government provided moving company is available. You’ll be reimbursed based on what the government would have spent to move your household goods, allowing you to keep any savings, though you will still need to submit the actual weight of your goods you transport.
An actual cost PPM is authorized when a government-provided moving company isn’t available. You’ll be reimbursed only for documented expenses, with no additional incentive.
Your Transportation Office will help you with details and questions on the the types of PPMs and when it applies to your situation. You can use a PPM for a full or partial move. A partial PPM is often accomplished by transporting part of your HHG in your own or rented vehicle(s).
See current guidance on PPM moves.
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- Make an appointment with your installation’s transportation office (TO) to set up and receive approval for your PPM. You should be able to submit some of your paperwork online through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS).
- Decide which rental equipment and packing materials you’ll need. Professional companies often offer partial moving assistance.
- Determine if temporary storage is required at either end of the move.
- Update your insurance policies. PPMs typically require up-to-date insurance policies for vehicles, trailers, and liability coverage.
- Get accurate vehicle weights, fully loaded and unloaded. This is required for your reimbursement claim.
- Keep track of all necessary receipts to submit for reimbursement. Your transportationl office will guide you with specifics.
Get MilitaryByOwner’s free DITY/PPM checklist.
Get Organized
Moving Paperwork
One of the keys to a successful military move is organization. While some documents will be digital/on your phone, you may still want to create a PCS binder for any hard copies you’ll need. Include any printed checklists, multiple copies of orders, travel documents, passports, Powers of Attorney, moving-related paperwork, medical and vaccine records, school records, housing info, contact details, moving company documents, and financial information.
Other paperwork that might need to be located here includes birth and marriage certificates and custody paperwork. And if you’re moving overseas, print out important phone numbers in case your phone doesn't work or the battery dies.
Once your house is packed, this is also a good spot to put your household goods inventory list from the moving company.
Need ideas for your PCSing checklists? See our free guide, Bloom Where PCS Plants You, for checklists for the weeks and days leading up to the move, moving day, and the days following.
Plan Your Budget
There’s a common assumption that PCS moves are fully covered by the military, but most families quickly learn that there are still out-of-pocket expenses along the way.
You’ll receive travel and dislocation allowances, but be prepared to cover extra expenses that could crop up, including:
- Maintenance and repairs if you’re selling your home or prepping it to rent
- Extra mortgage payments if you’re unable to sell or rent it out immediately
- Shipping an additional vehicle for an overseas move
- Any extra travel costs: the military pays for a set number of days of temporary lodging whether the move is CONUS or OCONUS
- Costs for restocking food and other household items at your new home
This is an opportune time to review your finances and build a flexible budget. From Kate Horrell, military financial expert:
Declutter Before Packing
Before the movers arrive, take the opportunity to go through your belongings and decide what you really want to bring with you. PCS moves come with household goods (HHG) weight limits, and you’ll be charged for anything over that limit.
Donating, selling, or discarding items you no longer use not only helps you stay within weight limits but also makes unpacking simpler on the other end. Starting fresh in a new home is a lot easier when you’re not surrounded by things you didn’t really want to keep in the first place.
Start early: Begin the decluttering process as soon as you know about your upcoming move. Unless you’re on short-notice orders, this should give you enough time to sort through your belongings methodically without feeling rushed.
Evaluate each item: Go through each room in your home and assess every item. Ask yourself if you’ve used it recently and if you're likely to use it in the future. If not, it might be time to part ways with it.
Donate: Items that are in good condition but no longer serve you can be donated to local charities, thrift stores, or organizations that support military families.
Hold a garage sale: If you have time, having a garage sale is a good way to both declutter and make some extra money.
Dispose of unusable items: Anything that’s broken, damaged, or beyond repair should be discarded properly (think piles of worn-out plastic food containers). Recycle when possible.
Involve the family: Get the whole family involved in the decluttering process! This makes the task more manageable and lets kids help in some of the decision making.
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Prepare for Moving Day
As your pack-out date approaches, a little preparation can make a big difference.
Set Aside “Do Not Pack” Items
One of the most helpful things you can do is create a clearly defined “do not pack” area. This is where you’ll place anything you want to keep with you rather than send with the movers. A closet or a separate room works well for this purpose.
Items to set aside include:
- Remotes, cable boxes, modems, and routers (to return to your provider)
- Legal documents
- Luggage
- Clothes and toiletries
- Prescription medications
- High-value jewelry
- Cash, wallet, and keys
- Cell phones, laptops, and other electronics
- Chargers
- Firearms
- Trash cans or bins you don’t plan to move
- Cleaning supplies for move-out
- Dirty laundry or damp items
- Any personal items you don’t want the movers to handle
It’s also helpful to think ahead about what you’ll need right away in your new home. Packing a single “unpack first” box with essentials like bedding, towels, toiletries, and basic kitchen items can make those first few days much more manageable.
Separate Pro Gear
Move the military member’s professional items (“pro gear”) into one area, clearly identified. These items are exempt from the standard HHG weight limits. Military spouses may be eligible for up to 500 pounds of pro gear needed for employment or community support activities. These items must be declared at origin.
Final Prep Before Packers Arrive
- Remove the batteries from electronics.
- Empty gym lockers, storage units, or off-site spaces and bring belongings home.
- Ask for items to be returned that were loaned out.
- Find a new home for your potted plants unless you’re able to bring them with you in your vehicle.
- If you have a fish or a small animal such as a turtle or hamster that you’re not able to bring on this move, find a new owner well before moving day.
- Collect various owners’ manuals and put them all in one large ziplock bag.
- Return borrowed items and library books.
- Gather and label cords, taping them to corresponding items.
- Keep remotes with items they belong to, batteries removed.
- Scrub clean and dry any trash cans or recycling bins you plan to move.
- Check under furniture or in storage areas for overlooked items.
- Unplug any large appliances you’re moving (washing machines may need to be unused a few days to allow them to dry out).
- Disconnect and coil garden hoses.
Packing and Setup Strategies
Have your beds packed last, as leaving them until the last moments might allow for an extra night's stay in your old place. Request that the movers prioritize assembling beds first upon arrival. This step ensures a comfortable space if you have small children needing naps and a restful first night in your new home.
Ask the movers to leave out a chair or two until the last possible moment. Even if you’re only checking off the inventory sheet, you’ll want to sit down.
Moving Day Tips
Moving day can be unpredictable, with people coming and going throughout your home.
If you have pets, keep them in a secure, enclosed space or arrange for a friend or daycare to watch them. This helps prevent stress and avoids the risk of pets slipping out during the chaos.
It’s also worth thinking about the moving crew. Offering water, sodas, or a simple meal is a small gesture that can go a long way. Tipping is optional and varies by location, but many families choose to do so if the service warrants it.
And finally, expect a few things to go differently than planned. That’s part of military life. Keeping a sense of humor and staying flexible will help you navigate the day—and you may even end up with a story to laugh about later! (Take a look at a few we’ve shared in You Gotta Laugh! Funny PCS Stories We Had to Share.)
Leaving Your Current Home
As you prepare to leave, there are a few final steps to take depending on your housing situation.
If you’re renting, notify your landlord once your orders are confirmed. If you’re living in military housing, check with the housing office for move-out requirements and timelines.
Homeowners face a bigger decision: whether to sell or rent their property. That choice often depends on market conditions, financial considerations, and long-term plans. Some families choose to rent if selling would result in a loss or if they plan to return, while others prefer the simplicity of selling and moving on.
Whatever you decide, list your home for sale or for rent on MilitaryByOwner in order to reach other families near your military installation.
We offer help for each step of the home listing process, including ad packages (whether you’re a homeowner or real estate agent), yard signs, helpful home selling articles and resources, and frequently updated home selling blogs.
Quick & Easy Steps to Prepare for Your PCS Move gives you more details about preparing your house for sale or rent.
Research the New Location
Getting familiar with your next duty station ahead of time can make the transition much smoother.
Explore neighborhoods, schools, commute times, and local amenities. Installation websites, community groups, and online reviews can provide helpful insights. If you’re moving overseas, your assigned sponsor can be an especially valuable resource for understanding what to expect.
The more you know before you arrive, the more confident you’ll feel when deciding about housing and daily life.
Check MilitaryByOwner’s base information pages to learn more details about your new duty station. Simply click the state, your base, then "more base housing details."
If you’re moving overseas, you'll be assigned an overseas sponsor who will be an invaluable resource regarding area-specific information.
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Finding Your New Home
Housing is often one of the most challenging parts of a PCS move. In many areas—especially near large installations—inventory can be limited and demand high.
Starting your search early and using multiple resources can improve your chances of finding the right fit. Military-focused platforms like MilitaryByOwner, installation housing offices, and community networks all play a role.
Networking can be an important step for military families finding housing. As soon as you know where you're moving, reach out to fellow military families. They’re often more than happy to share their experiences and offer valuable insights into different duty stations and neighborhoods.
Check the gaining installation’s social media, and reach out to military spouse groups and friends of friends. Put the word out that you’re headed to a certain base, and you never know who might help!
From Everything You Need to Know for Your First PCS:
“People are very passionate about their housing experiences and especially love to share their best-kept secrets. Along the way, keep an ear out for a veteran or military spouse real estate agent. If you make contact, they’ll probably already have a detailed strategy to help, whether buying or renting.”
Preparing Kids for a Military Move
The Great School Search
Relocating with children brings its own set of considerations. One of the most significant factors influencing your choice of housing will be the school options. Thankfully, there are so many tools to make school shopping a bit easier for military families.
Resources like Great Schools, the Nation's Report Card, and local school districts' websites give information on school rankings, test scores, and state comparisons.
No matter what approach to education you decide on for your family— public, private or homeschooling—many organizations have created resources designed to help, including the following.
- MCEC: The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) helps parents of military-connected children manage school transitions more effectively.
- Great Schools: Empowering parents with information on school ratings.
- The Nation’s Report Card: from the Department of Education. Compiles test scores, rankings, and state comparisons.
- School Digger: K-12 performance data.
- State Boards of Education: The U.S. Department of Education’s contact list for each state’s board of education.
- Local school districts: Check your local school district’s website for details about your specific locale.
- Private School Review: Find private schools by state, city, or address
Ask for referrals. Some advice from A Pre-PCS School Checklist:
“Personal experiences and referrals from your friends and their friends are invaluable. Begin networking and exploring. Read blogs, Facebook pages, and neighborhood forums relevant to your next city. Post a general inquiry about what the schools are like in the area, and the answers will pour in. Moms and dads love to talk about their kids’ lives! Examine the general trend and ignore the worst and best comments to formulate an opinion based on the overall tone of the reviews.”
Helping Military Kids Through a Move
Moving can be especially challenging for children, who are leaving behind familiar routines, schools, and friendships.
Involving kids in the process, whether it’s helping sort belongings or choosing what to pack, can give them a sense of control during a time of change. Making time for goodbyes, like final playdates or visits with friends, can also help provide closure.
Programs like the military’s Youth Sponsorship Program and MCEC’s Student 2 Student initiative connect children with peers at their new location, helping them feel more comfortable before they even arrive.
At the same time, it’s important to give kids space to process their emotions. Maintaining familiar routines where possible can provide a sense of stability during the transition.
Get more insight in our article on PCSing with kids.
Military Spouse Employment and Connections
For military spouses, building connections and finding a support network is an important part of settling into a new duty station. Social media groups and mutual friends who've lived at the gaining installation can be invaluable resources.
Once you arrive, plan to connect with in-person military spouse groups and other local organizations. Whether it's a recognized organization on the base or an informal meetup, local spouses' groups can provide a supportive environment for socializing, sharing information, and creating lasting bonds. And they will know the best hole-in-the-wall local restaurants and don't-miss area nature trails!
Military spouse employment can be an ongoing challenge due to frequent moves, but there are resources designed specifically to help military spouses find work. Programs like the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, Hiring Our Heroes, and the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network offer training, job opportunities, and support.
Moving Your Pets
In addition to keeping pets safe and secure while your home is being packed, moving with pets adds another layer to the PCS process, and planning ahead is important.
For overseas moves, research requirements for vaccinations, health certificates, any quarantines, and airline restrictions. Even for stateside moves, arranging pet-friendly lodging and transportation ahead of time can make the experience much smoother.
For help in preparing your pet for a move, reference our comprehensive resource, Moving with Your Pets, which includes information on prepping a pet for PCSing, possible reimbursements for pet travel costs, options for transporting your pet, road tripping or flying with a pet, and pet boarding.
Whether your move will take you stateside or overseas, make arrangements well ahead of time for how you'll move your pet, pet boarding on both ends of the move if you'll need it, and pet-friendly temporary lodging and housing.
While every PCS move comes with its challenges, it also brings the opportunity for a fresh start. With the right planning, preparation, and resources, you’ll be ready to handle the move and settle into your new home with confidence!
Download our complete set of PCS ebooks below for even more help with your military move.
By Jen McDonald
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