My wife and I are about to make our first PCS move (CONUS). Does anyone have any tips as to how I should prepare?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 16:08:06 -0400

We get HHG picked up next week.

Response by 2LT David Phillips made Sep 4 at 2017 4:41 PM

2LT David Phillips — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 16:41:44 -0400

I do. As a Military Customs Inspector, I saw all the mistakes that could be made, both CONUS and OCONUS, but mostly OCONUS.
Here is 10 things to keep in mind.
1. Take a picture of all your valuables, before they are packed. Take a picture of what goes in each box before you seal it. Make the box unique so you know what pic goes with what box.
2. Don't delay in filing your paperwork!
3. Get to your moving appointments on time and keep your CO advised if you run into obsticles.
4. Talk to other members of your unit who just finished moving. Ask them if they had any problems.
5. Anything your wife can do to make arrangements, either at your gaining or losing unit, would be a big help. Divide and concur! If she's good with paperwork, let her participate in the whole process! Work as a team!
6. Bring EVERYTHING! Don't sell anything before you move!
7. Use labeled strapping tape for better packing.
8. Make sure your land-lord is aware of the rules regarding military and leases. Some provisions and penalties can be avoided just be formally letting them know you are active duty.
9. Communicate with your point of contact at your gaining unit. Make sure there is someone there to meet you and show you around when you arrive.
10. Insure your move for loss or theft. (Take a picture of EVERYTHING!)
Best of luck to you.
Here are some great websites:
http://www.military.com/money/pcs-dity-move/pcs-checklists.html
http://nuttyhiker.com/pcs-checklist/
https://www.3menmovers.com/moving-tips/conus-military-pcs-move-tips-moving-checklist-guide/

PCS Checklists for Your Move

Don't get bogged down during your PCS move prep -- stay on top of it all with these handy checklists.

Response by SSG Nathan Bryant made Sep 4 at 2017 5:27 PM

SSG Nathan Bryant — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 17:27:13 -0400

2LT Aycox, with regard to your inquiry, I suggest the following:

Happy Wife, Happy Life - I would Google the location that you are PCSing to and seek out anything within the local community (on and off-post) that may be of interest to her (and children?). Research the same through military resources, such as Military One Source and hopefully, you have been assigned a Sponsor at the gaining location. (for example: schools, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and more)

Housing - Consider temporary (hotel) lodging upon arrival - remember the first thing - Happy Wife, Happy Life. You have a job that you are going to and in-processing/integration is systematic. It is up to you to ensure your Wife/Family find their comfort at the new location. Look into waiting lists (if any) for military housing. Also, check the BAH Calculator (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm) to gauge what your BAH will be. This may assist you when considering off-post housing. Consider locations with lower crime rates, good schools, or whatever amenities within the home, community, and surrounding areas would be most beneficial to your Family.

Weather - If you're in a warmer location and headed to a cooler location, take into account that Fall and then Winter are fast approaching and ensure that your Family will be well equipped (clothing and otherwise) as needed. This might be best accomplished upon arriving to the new location as the needed items would be more common there.

HHG - I see that you HHG are picked-up next week. Be sure to set aside those items that you intend to keep with you. My usual is to have those items in a particular room with the door closed so as to never have any confusion. Keep all important personal and professional documents with you [marriage/birth certificates, PCS orders, DA 31, and keep track of data needed for your travel voucher, keep all receipts - if doing a partial personally procured move (DITY move), ensure you follow all instructions]. Keep cell phone chargers! I keep important names, numbers, and addresses written on an index card in the event of cell phone or laptop issues. I also prefer to travel with Visa gift cards in the event that anything is lost or stolen, it will not be directly linked to my personal account(s).

Soldier - As I previously mentioned, hopefully you have a Sponsor at the gaining location. If not, see if you can find out what unit you will be assigned to. It would be good to have a general idea of what to expect. Also, give them a good idea of what to expect of you. It helps them to be a good Leader and support system if they are aware of your needs. Will you be taking permissive TDY (house-hunting) immediately upon arrival, prior to signing in to your unit/Welcome Center? Or will you sign-in first?

I've thrown quite a bit at you. If there is anything specific that you are not able to figure out, feel free to reach out. My pleasure to be of assistance.

Very respectfully,

SSG BRYANT

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Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 4 at 2017 7:22 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 19:22:48 -0400

Which OCONUS location 1LT Private RallyPoint Member ? Hate to say it, but at this point, you are going to have to ride it in. Next week not enough time. Which theater Makes a huge difference on how to advise you. Sponsor, Sponsor, sponsor...did I say sponsor? Oh yeah get a flipping sponsor and listen to them. Keep them informed. Talk early and often. Most OCONUS locations don't have a lot of support for you. They use sponsors as crutches. You won't even be able to get back and forth to work, commissary etc.get a sponsor.

Shipping a vehicle and hold bags early is good if you can do it, so it will be ready by the time one of you has a in theater license. Consider carefully your hold bags. When we went to Germany, we put our bikes and a baby trailer in the Hold bags. That was how we got around and went to the commissary until our car and HHG arrived. Get a sponsor.

Deliberately pair down. We saw all our crap after 36 months and it was a meh moment. Why did we hold onto all that stuff? Less to get trashed in storage, the better. Heirlooms? Have a family member hold them for you. Get a sponsor.

Also pair down what you take with you. In Germany and especially Japan/Korea you can almost bet on having a small apartment. Our family of 4 was in about 800 sqft. Our community intentionally left dimensions off the floor plans as they were forcing everyone on post. 800-900 sqft was the norm for E1-O5. Get a sponsor.

Talk to your insurance company. If it is USAA, you won't have an issue. The cellphone system may still be different. You might have to get new phones. Get a sponsor.

Response by Lt Col Jon Park made Sep 8 at 2017 7:11 PM

Lt Col Jon Park — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 19:11:34 -0400

This will be great! Depends on where you're going as to what to take! Pour first concurrent travel was to Yokohama AB JapAn!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2017 9:20 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 21:20:38 -0400

Do your best to record on paper with serial numbers, quantity, and pictures. depending on your moving company they are not the same as what you can and cannot bring. I know one example was all of our spices from the kitchen. I have heard some say they were not allowed to bring them but they did for us no problem. Ensure there is no moisture in anything as it may be a future mold issue in an airtight container. I am not sure what happened with our unacompanied baggage but when we opened it at the destination it was full of mold. I am not sure if it was any of our fault or not but there was inches of water in some of the boxes. Luckily we were able to either clean things with bleach or get reimbursed for our losses.

Keep manuals for anything that needs put back together or atleast be able to tell someone how to do it.

Also when you start inventory at destination have one person checking things off the list to make sure they are accounted for. The other person is to tell the movers where things need to go.

Remember anything you do want the movers to take either put in a seperate room or in your vehicle. My wife and I put sticky notes on everything saying to take or not take. If you have multiple shipments, then set aside that stuff to make sure it is not taken.

Lastly, treat the movers in your home well. Meaning provide some water for them to drink and something for them to eat as well. The happier they are at your home the better your things will be taken care of.

Response by SSG Ernest Gonzales made Sep 20 at 2017 3:37 PM

SSG Ernest Gonzales — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 15:37:05 -0400

I can suggest a local real estate agent that can help you with temp housing at your new location as well as in the future. The link on PCS'ing CONUS is great and touches on all points. Most of my referral network agents are prior military or spouses of current in the area. Let me know if you would like some assistance. Best of luck...Of the Troops and For the Troops...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 20 at 2018 1:53 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 20 Oct 2018 13:53:55 -0400

What will you do with your car(s)?