7 Top PCS Tips for Military Moves

Undergoing a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is a common part of military life for Servicemembers. While moving to a new duty station can be exciting, it can also present some challenges, especially if you’re not familiar with the process. Keeping up with moving logistics, preparing your finances and handling new installation registration tasks can be a lot of work.

To help you navigate this process, we asked some of Navy Federal Credit Union’s team members how they’ve navigated their PCS experiences. Each person brings a unique perspective specific to their situation, offering essential tips that can help you navigate your move like a pro.

1. Learn from the PCS experts

The planning phase of a PCS involves many moving parts, from reviewing military orders and timelines to organizing your important documents. 

With the right mindset and support from your duty station, you can help ensure your PCS plan addresses all your needs.

“When you’re PCSing for the first time, the most important thing to bring is patience—both with the process and with yourself,” says Richard Jones, a Project Manager for Navy Federal Credit Union’s Member Strategy Office and Army Veteran who has PCSed 12 times. “Your current duty station will likely require you to attend multiple briefings—sometimes up to 20—that walk you through every step of a successful PCS.”

Take detailed notes and ask questions during these sessions so you’ll be prepared for your upcoming move. These relocation professionals are familiar with PCS moves and can guide you every step of the way. 

2. Get your documents in order

This pre-move period is also the best time to gather all the documentation you’ll need to have handy. PCS moves generally require family documents—such as Social Security Number (SSN) cards, birth certificates and passports—medical records, out-processing/in-processing documents and moving-related receipts, says Chloe Burress, a Project Manager in Navy Federal’s Marketing department.

“Make sure you communicate with your gaining unit and installation to know what documents they will need when you in-process,” Burress says, an Air Force Veteran and current Active Duty military spouse who has PCSed 6 times. “I make sure to always keep my most important documents with me in a very safe place while I travel from one location to the next.”

3. Organize your belongings

Organizing your home before you move is no easy task, but it’s an essential step for a successful PCS. You can help the moving process by organizing your belongings based on how you plan to pack them and what purpose they serve.

“Before your PCS move, it’s important to organize your home with the shipments in mind,” Jones says. “Start by identifying which items belong in each shipment—such as your express shipment, household goods and non-temporary storage.”

Jones suggests using colored sticky notes or labels to mark items within each category. For example, he says, you could mark items that will go with you with red notes, household goods with blue notes and storage items with green notes. 

“This makes it easier for movers to follow your plan and reduces confusion on packing day,” he says.

Use a PCS checklist to keep track of these household items. This can help ensure your important belongings aren’t left behind.

4. Make your moving plan 

In addition to tracking your personal belongings, your PCS checklist can help your family tailor the moving experience to suit their needs, Burress says.

“Make sure you have a plan that specifically addresses how you’ll take care of your prized possessions, your family and, most importantly, you,” she says. “This starts with deciding how you’ll move your items from one duty location to the next, knowing what your family and pets are entitled to, as well as having a solid plan to prioritize your own well-being throughout the whole process.”

With the right logistical planning, you can help make the move easier on yourself and keep your belongings safe.

5. Decide how you’ll move

Now, it’s time to decide who will be managing your move. You’ll need to choose whether you want to move on your own—possibly with help from a moving company—or if you want to ask the military or government for help. Both options have benefits and drawbacks so you should make your decision based on what’s important to you and your family. 

When deciding between a Personally Procured Move (PPM)—also called a do-it-yourself (DIY) move—and a government move, think about whether control or convenience is more important to you, says Dan Gogue, a Product Manager for Navy Federal’s Cards and Payments Engage marketing team. Gogue is a Veteran who PCSed 4 times during his time in the Army. 

“A Personally Procured Move means you control when and how your goods are packed up and ultimately when they’ll arrive at your new duty station,” he says. “With that control, however, you’ll be responsible for meticulous expense tracking and reporting to make sure you are fully reimbursed. With a government move, your moving company will be assigned and then take control of packing and unpacking your goods.”

Be sure to review your moving priorities with your family and the military movers before making a decision. This can help reduce moving stress, regardless of which option you choose. 

6. Pack your belongings for shipping and storage

Once you’ve decided who’ll handle the move, it’s time to start packing. There are several ways to set yourself up for success, Burress says.

 “Before I move, we declutter the home to help ensure we’re within our allotted weight limit,” she says. “I then clearly label each room—kitchen, main bedroom, main bathroom—to help the movers label boxes accordingly. This helps greatly with the unpacking process at my new location.”

When shipping your items, it’s important to know when essential items will arrive at your new location. This requires coordinating with the moving company or government movers so you don’t arrive without your most important belongings.

“One of the biggest planning factors to account for is when your household goods will arrive if they were packed and shipped by a moving company,” Gogue says. “Most moving companies will guarantee a delivery window that will require an adult to be present to receive your household goods. Be sure to have some essentials like extra clothes and basic kitchenware in case you arrive at your new duty station, but the rest of your goods are delayed.”

You’ll also need to decide how your items will be stored in the new location. Will they go to the house with you or be sent to a storage facility? The most essential items should go with you, but less essential items are good candidates for non-temporary storage (NTS) provided by the military.

“Use NTS wisely,” Jones says. “Items you won’t need for a few weeks—like seasonal clothing, extra kitchenware or decor—can be sent ahead with your NTS shipment.”

Keep a log of what was stored where, when the items were stored and how long they’re expected to be in storage.

7. Prepare your finances

Packing up your stuff is just one part of the PCS journey. It’s also a great time to check in on your money situation and make sure everything’s in order before the move. Being prepared can help you avoid financial stress later and make settling into your new home a lot smoother.

“Before a PCS, it’s crucial to get ahead of your finances to avoid surprises,” Jones says. “Review your bills. Know which services—utilities, subscriptions, etc.—need to be canceled and which ones will need to be activated at your new location. This helps you manage your budget and avoid double charges.”

Aside from reviewing your personal finances, one of the most important steps to take is to contact your bank, credit union or other financial institutions you have accounts with and let them know about your PCS move.

“Make sure to let your financial institution know that you are going to be traveling,” Gogue says. “Your credit card or debit card could get flagged or frozen because your financial institution notices an increase in transaction volume in different geographic areas.”

Taking care of financial tasks prior to moving is just one piece of the puzzle. You’ll also need to prepare for expenses incurred during the actual move.

“The most important financial preparation is making sure I had funds in my checking account to pay off expenses I incurred while traveling,” Gogue says. “Things like gas and food expenses can add up over a 5-day move across the country.”

It should be noted that the financial tasks after a PCS are just as important as those completed before the move. These often include applying for reimbursements, seeking unemployment compensation, creating a new monthly budget or contributing to a PCS fund.

Navy Federal can help you navigate the PCS process

PCS moves are no small task, so it’s important to be prepared for each step of the process. We hope our favorite tips from our Navy Federal team will help you make the most of your move and ensure a smooth transition.

Whether you’re planning for a PCS or are in the process of moving, Navy Federal is here to assist you every step of the way. We have a special selection of PCS resources that can help make your move a success. You can also schedule a no-cost appointment with a Navy Federal financial counselor to discuss a plan for covering your estimated PCS expenses.