Guide to your first PCS move

There is no easy relocation, no matter how many times you relocated. It affects you and your family emotionally, and it affects the belongings you move. Furthermore, if you have a PCS move on your hands. In that case, you may need to get ready to move oversea. Anyhow, we assembled a basic guide on how to prepare and organize your PCS move. Hopefully, our guide will make it all a lot easier to handle.

What is a PCS move?

One segment of a military life that can be hard to grasp, is a permanent change of station (PCS). Some people change their posts yearly, and others less frequently. Nevertheless, this is emotionally and physically hard for the whole family. But on the other hand, you get to see and experience the other parts of the world and its culture. Some would argue that this is one of the reasons for choosing this career path. Just about half a million members in the service have their PCS move each year. Therefore, you should prepare and obtain the basic knowledge on the subject and be ready once your move is at hand.

What should your PCS order include?

To receive a one-year re-assignment is rare and usually a special request. For most of the military members, it is from two to four years. Once you receive your orders, you should read it carefully to be sure that you have all the details needed. You should have an issue date, the issuer’s name, and order number, and authorization for the location. Check if you have all the relevant information’s for your relocation. You must double-check since you are not only relocating your home but your working position as well. One thing you should know is that there are two different PCS order types, Conus and Oconus. Conus is when you are relocating within US territories and Oconus if you are moving oversea.

Who will help with your PCS move?

After you carefully analyzed the PCS document, it is time to assemble your moving checklist. You should cover all the steps ahead and prepare everything to be ready for the moving date. You should cover all the legal documents, utility bills, and services, bank accounts, school documents, etc. On top of that, you should pack everything and organize a moving vehicle to transport your cargo. Maybe you have more stuff than you anticipated. Or you have a garage, attic, and you need to clear out your storage unit?

Then, you’ll need more time and a better organization. You should consider enlisting a moving company, or special services like dumpster rental MA. If you need to take out the trash in the most efficient way, there is no better way to do it. Call your company today and browse through the moving services they offer.

Which resources are available to you?

You have more resources than a civilian does, but many of us are not aware of it. You can always coordinate your relocation yourself as anyone else would do. But you have an advantage since you can enlist the military services to help you with your move. They can, like any other moving company, schedule everything for you and assist in executing everything on time and efficiently. You will have packers and transport organized to take care of your needs. You can accomplish this by submitting your request via transportation command facilities that are working closely with moving companies in the area. Furthermore, military transportation department assigned to this case can help immensely. They can answer all the question you have and assist in any scheduling issues that might occur.

Although, it is up to you to decide what is best for your situation. If you want to do it all yourself, it might be more expensive but quicker. On the other hand, you can reduce the moving expenses since the military will cover some of the costs. But in this case, you might have to wait a while for the whole process to go through due to your entitlement and the number of resources available at the moment. You will know what to choose the best, depending on your status and the complexity and urgency of your relocation. Check all options available and payment and reimbursement methods available.

Should you do it on your terms, or hire professionals?

There are many downsides of a self-moving project but it is doable. It can be a bit more expensive but it will pay off for the time invested. You can relocate yourself entirely. It will require a good organization and a few crucial steps and you are good to go. As we mentioned before, everything is much easier with a detailed list of all steps you must take before your moving date. It is not too hard if you do it on time. As soon as you know the date of your PCS move, start organizing. Inspect all the areas of your household and evaluate the situation. Decide on how many packing materials you need and start room by room. You should pack kitchen first since it holds many small, sharp, hazardous, and fragile objects. Those need special care and a bit more time.

Then move to the bathroom, bedroom, and finally living-room. And, if you have a shed, garage, or a storage unit, cover those as well. Also, you must disassemble some of the furniture to make it all easier to fit in a moving truck. Finally, you will use your vehicle or rent a proper moving truck to load your cargo. But if all of this sounds too complicated, you can do some of it yourself and let the military service do the rest. Or you can enlist the professional moving company yourself and relax. Moving companies offer a variety of moving services that will come in handy. They can clean, declutter, pack, unpack, and more. All promptly and affordably. Therefore, check out the local moving services Worcester MA and pick the best option for you.

Legalities and paperwork

We must remind you to double-check your PCS move orders. You must be sure that you are aware of all the requirements and regulations. Once you are sure that you communicated everything with your superiors and officials, then you can start packing. Also, you’ll be ready to start moving your personal documents and the documents of your family members. For this one, you should contact the Military Family Support Center. They will help you organize all the documentation and point you the right way. You will obtain valuable information regarding transportation, education, employment, housing, etc. Be sure to take advantage of your relocation military assistance. The referral and information they provide will be of great help.

In conclusion, once you receive your PCS move orders, read it several times to be sure you understood everything. Then organize your relocation most suitably. We are sure that after reading this article, you are readier than ever to embark on such a journey. We wish you a successful one and a pleasant start on your new assignment. Good luck.