Ready for a PCS? Here are 10 tips to make your military move smoother.

Need help getting ready for a move? Our top tips were designed with military men and women in mind.

For service members and their families, moving is a natural part of life — and a perk that offers opportunities to experience new destinations and cultures. It's exciting, but it can also be expensive if not done correctly, and those added expenses can lead to financial hardships.

Here's the key: Don't skip the planning stage. From each of my permanent change of station (PCS) experiences, I learned new lessons that I was able to apply to future moves. By the time my family and I got our third set of PCS orders, we had it down to a science.

Read on for 10 tips that I hope will help you move to your new home, and rest easy once you're there.

  1. Start a PCS fund.
  2. Determine your type of move.
  3. Use your per diem wisely.
  4. Use SCRA benefits to your advantage.
  5. Get advice from a military spouse.
  6. Make a plan for your pets.
  7. Be sure your vehicle is road-ready.
  8. Notify your service providers.
  9. Prepare for moving day.
  10. Make your health a top priority.

1. Start a PCS fund.

While preparation is critical to guaranteeing a smooth transition, no amount of planning can help you avoid out-of-pocket expenses. That's why USAA recommends all service members maintain a PCS fund worth at least $2,000 plus whatever is required to cover additional expenses the military won't cover.

What does the PCS fund cover? For starters, it can help cover moving things like an RV or a boat, possessions that can't be included in your household goods shipment. Or maybe you're moving overseas and have a pet that will require quarantining. Your goal is to have enough money to cover these expenses, so you don't have to put them on a credit card and go into debt.

Keep in mind that this is above your normal emergency fund of 3 to 6 months of living expenses, which is meant to cover emergency expenses. A military move isn't an unexpected emergency. It's an expense that you can and should plan for.

The best time to start building this fund is right after your last move. That way, you have plenty of time to save gradually without taking a huge hit to your budget. Set a goal for how big your PCS fund needs to be. Plan to reach this goal prior to your next military move by saving automatically.

If you deplete some or all of it during a military move, have a plan to replenish it before the next one arrives.

2. Decide on your type of move.

Will your upcoming move be a full military move, a personally procured move or a combination of both? In other words, how much of the heavy lifting will you, personally, do? If you're not sure about the difference between a full military move and a personally procured, or do-it-yourself (DITY) move, check out this video for a brief explanation.


If you're planning a DITY, you'll need to find and hire a moving company — or do it all yourself. This includes renting the moving truck, packing all your belongings, transporting the truck to your next duty station and unloading it once you get there.

Before you decide which type of move is best for your situation, be sure to understand how your personal property is protected in each scenario.

  • In a full military move, coverage is normally provided by the military through the transportation service provider. Make sure all your items are manifested and carefully follow all of the DOD's required deadlines.See note1
  • In a DITY move, renters insurance may provide limited coverage. For example, you may have coverage if your items are stolen from the moving truck, but you probably won't if you drop and break your $4,000 TV — unless, of course, it's covered through a valuable personal property plan or through a technology endorsement.

If you hire professional movers and they destroy your TV, which is recorded on your bill of lading, it's probably covered through their insurance. In that case, your own renters policy could serve as backup.

The bottom line: Take some time to understand your insurance policies to know when you have coverage and where your risks may be.

3. Use your per diem wisely.

During a PCS, your travel choices can break the bank or add to it. If you live a five-star lifestyle during your three-star, military-funded relocation, you can easily go into debt.

OK, so maybe the PCS military move isn't funded at three stars, but you get the point. If they pay $200 a day for hotel and food, and you spend it all at a fancy steakhouse, you can quickly and easily spend more than your per diem.

Many people who go over their per diem end up putting it on a credit card without a plan to pay it back. Even if you have a PCS fund, chances are you have more important things for your PCS fund to cover than fancy steak dinners.

Before you move, familiarize yourself with the per-diem rates.See note1 Knowing these rates enables you to plan each day's agenda and meals and stay within your budget.

Keep in mind that different per-diem rates apply to family members, depending on their age:

  • The military member gets the full per-diem rate.
  • Dependents age 12 and older who are traveling with the military member get 75% of the military member's per-diem rate.
  • Dependents under the age of 12 get 50% of the military member's per-diem rate.

Rates also change if the dependents are traveling separately. Find ways to save money during your next military move, by checking out these PCS tips.

4. Use SCRA benefits to your advantage.

Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), you're entitled to terminate your rental without penalty if you meet certain guidelines.

Consider including a military clause in your rental agreement, which can make it easier to break your contract. Around military installations, it's common to have a military clause, and many landlords will automatically add it. But don't assume that it's there. Inquire about it.

If you receive PCS orders or are deployed for more than 90 days, SCRA might allow you to break the lease before the agreement is up. This might save you money, which you can apply to other financial goals.

If you're breaking your lease, provide written notice to your landlord. If requested, you may also have to provide a copy of your PCS or deployment orders with at least 30 days' notice.

5. Get advice from a military spouse.

It's always nice to learn from people who have been there and done that. That's why we interviewed veteran military spouses. Between them, they have 40-plus military moves. That's experience. Check out this video for their top 14 tips.


6. Make a plan for your pets.

If you've ever traveled with pets, you know that not all are welcome at hotels. And some hotels that do welcome pets charge additional fees. Planning to stay at a hotel on your way to your new home? Call ahead or check online to be sure it's pet-friendly.

And once you safely arrive, will your pets be allowed in your next house? Some installations and homeowners' associations have restrictions on the number and breeds of occupants' pets. Be sure you know the rules before you secure housing.

7. Be sure your vehicle is road ready.

The last thing you want on your cross-country trip is to break down in the middle of nowhere.

I remember moving from Florida to Oregon and passing a sign that said, “Next service 100 miles.” That's the beauty of rural America.

Ensure your vehicle is PCS ready by checking out these auto maintenance tips. This allows you to enjoy the scenery as you're passing by, not as you're waiting for roadside assistance.

8. Notify your service providers.

Make a list of all your service providers, including trash pickup, internet, television, phone, home security, gas, water, electricity, lawn maintenance, house cleaners, etc.

Next, let everyone on the list know that you're moving, and arrange to receive any deposits that are due.

9. Prepare for moving day.

Between boarding your dogs, blocking off items you're planning to take with you and making sure all your boxes get an inventory tag, there are plenty of last-minute steps you can take to make the big day go smoothly.

Take a few minutes to watch this video, complete with tips for helping you prep for moving day.


10. Make your health a top priority.

Take a quick inventory of your prescriptions to be sure you have enough medication to last until you get situated and are able to get refills at your new location.

If you have important medical supplies, pack them so they're easy to find and within reach. My son has an epinephrine injector, so we were always careful to keep it in a special box we had readily available instead of packing it with our other household goods.

Get your finances in order.

I know this is a top-10 list, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the importance of one final — and critical — step, update your budget once you've settled in at your new home.

Why is this such a high priority? In your new location, income and expenses are likely to change. Look at your new fuel costs, insurance payments, grocery bills and utilities, and be sure your budget has up-to-date numbers so you can adjust your spending plan to ensure you spend less than you earn. Otherwise, you'll go into debt, perhaps without even realizing it.