Updated Oct 11, 2022
Updated Oct 11, 2022
It’s just part of military life. If you’re in the military, you can expect to move much more frequently than the average family. As a result, you must know everything about military moving to make the process as easy as possible.
On top of standard steps, like finding a moving service and packing your belongings, you’ll also need to deal with a lot of bureaucracy. The good news is that you may be able to save a lot of money since you’re moving as a member of the military.
Keep reading for our complete guide to moving while in the military and everything you should know to make your move to your new home smoother.
Before making moving plans, you’ll need to identify the following components of your move:
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Temporary Duty (TDY):
Are you staying within the United States or internationally?
If you’re moving internationally or outside the contiguous United States (Alaska or Hawaii), you’ll need sea transportation for your move. This is nicknamed an OCONUS move.
If you’re staying within the 48 contiguous states, otherwise known as a CONUS move, you will need to make arrangements to move via vehicle.
Next, you’ll need to determine what kind of move you want. The following are the three most common types of military moves:
Many military members opt for a DITY or PPM move because they can save money and often make money from entitlements.
Service members who choose this option receive 95% of the cost of an HHG or complete household goods move, and the usual travel allowance provided for your family. If you’re able to save money by DIYing parts of the move or negotiating a good deal with a moving company, you can keep the extra money. You may also end up with additional time left over at the end of the move, which doesn’t frequently happen with HHG moves.
Other benefits of choosing a PPM move include:
If you choose a PPM move, we recommend taking the following steps:
Consider an HHG move if you need to move quickly because the extra relocation assistance from the agency will help immensely.
This is a great choice if you don’t have time or availability to schedule the move to your next duty station. If you’re at the duty station before your belongings arrive, you’ll be offered temporary lodging, so don’t worry about that.
If you have some time to plan your move but want some help moving, a partial PPM move is a great option. The government can handle moving most of your belongings, while you handle specific or essential belongings that you don’t want others to manage.
The government will still reimburse you for items that you move yourself with this option. However, you’ll want to look into the restrictions that a partial PPM has to ensure this is the right choice for you and your family.
Need additional help? Consider these agencies for help:
A military move requires more steps than many moves. However, you also have more resources available and financial aid than the average family moving. We hope this piece on the complete guide to moving while in the military helps your move go as seamlessly as possible. Don’t forget to check out our moving checklist for help packing and other helpful moving tips.
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