Military PCS Checklist
A Permanent Change of Station touches everything — housing, finances, school placements, medical care, pets, and vehicles. This checklist breaks the move into phases so nothing gets lost in the chaos.
Phase 1: The Day Orders Arrive
Read your orders line by line — report date, dependents listed, and any special entitlements. Request corrections immediately if something is wrong; amendments take time. Schedule your mandatory transportation (TMO) and housing briefings, create a dedicated PCS folder (physical and digital) for orders, IDs, marriage and birth certificates, medical and dental records, school records, and pet vaccination documents, and put your sponsor request in if one hasn't been assigned. This is also the moment to decide your housing intent at the new duty station — rent or buy.
Phase 2: 90 to 30 Days Out
Schedule the move
Book your household-goods shipment dates through DPS or arrange a Personally Procured Transport (PPT) move, where you're paid 95% of the government estimate and keep the savings if you move for less. Ship vehicles early for OCONUS moves — some destinations restrict what you can bring.
Handle money and records
Confirm your DLA and travel entitlements with finance, start tracking every expense with receipts, notify your bank of travel, and request school records and medical record transfers. Research BAH rates and housing costs at the new station so your budget reflects reality, not hope.
Family logistics
Arrange pet transport and boarding, plan travel with small children and any special-needs equipment, confirm EFMP enrollment transfers if applicable, and begin the school enrollment conversation at the destination.
Phase 3: Travel Week
Keep orders, IDs, and every important document with you — never in checked or shipped household goods. Confirm lodging at the gaining station, photograph meters and home condition at departure, and document anything damaged during pack-out. Per diem and mileage rates apply to authorized travel days; save lodging receipts for TLE claims.
Phase 4: Arrival and Settling In
Report in, check in with housing, and complete your in-processing checklist. File any missing or damaged household goods claims promptly — there are deadlines. Register children for school, transfer prescriptions, update your address with banks and DFAS, and file your travel voucher. Then give yourself grace: the first month at a new station is about stability, not perfection.
Track Your Move in Mission Ready
The PCS Command Center turns this checklist into a personalized plan tied to your actual orders — task timelines, expense tracking against entitlements, sponsor coordination, and document storage. Create a free account to save your plan across devices, or explore as a guest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do as soon as I receive PCS orders?
Review the orders for accuracy, request amendments if needed, book a housing and TMO/transportation briefing, and start a single PCS document folder — copies of orders, IDs, medical and school records, and pet vaccination papers. Early document gathering prevents most downstream delays.
What money am I entitled to during a PCS?
Typical entitlements include Dislocation Allowance (DLA), Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) at CONUS moves, mileage or travel pay for your personally-operated vehicle, and per diem for travel days. Keep every receipt — reimbursement rules vary, and your finance office is the final word.
Should I move myself (PPT) or let the government move me?
A government move (HHG shipment) is managed for you, while a Personally Procured Transport move pays you 95% of the government's cost estimate and lets you keep the difference if you move for less. Weigh time, family size, and how much risk you want to carry.
Educational information only — entitlement amounts and reimbursement decisions come from your finance office and the Joint Travel Regulations.