A Perfect Guide for Your First PCS Move

 A Perfect Guide for Your First PCS Move

This is one of the most exciting times of your career, but it can sometimes be overwhelming too. You are going to join your first duty station post that boots camp. Your first military career can come along with other responsibilities like packing, moving your belongings, moving trucks, and many more.

All that is required here is a little planning and greater ideas that can help you ease your work. You can generally have some conversation or take advice from people who have experienced this or military spouses who have done this a dozen times.

A shipping company like Ship A Car Inc. is always there, who can help you ship your car as well as household goods. Over the years, they have shipped about 25,000+ vehicles which are military or non-military. For more details on their reviews, you can check google or their website https://www.shipacarinc.com/military-moving-tips-for-the-first-timer/

Some Easy Tips for your PCS move

  • Start the process as soon as you receive the official date. As you know the time frame for all the service members to get those orders will take around 5 months to even 2 weeks before your joining date. With such a short time for joining, you will have to get going as everything will be chaos when you have to do things together. Especially if you have your joining date in the summer season i.e., from May to August then getting the pickup date or the delivery date of your choice will become a little difficult. So, start things at the earliest.
  • Most importantly, make a visit to your local installation Transportation Office to get that relocation briefing. You must know every option that you got for relocation including moving yourself. Make a list of questions prior to the meeting.
  • You need to check all the online sites which will give you details about everything from planning to filing claims.
  • Many of them do go for PPM (Personally Procured Move) which is previously called the do-it-yourself-move. But this is reimbursed by your government. So, you can ask your transportation office about them and get details about it.
  • If you are planning to live in a base then you need to mention your officials to add your name to the waiting list.
  • Create a PCS binder to organize all your important documents from the certificates to the power of attorney.
  • You can take the help of your Family support center which provides you with knowledge about relocation including budgeting tips and employment resources.
  • Make some good research on your relocation place. It will be a good idea to take a road trip to this new location. However, if it is not possible for you then you get into Military Base Guides where you get to know more about the areas where you are moving as well as any important contact information.

Always remember the first move will always be your first memory which you will remember a lifetime. With every move you make you will become more knowledgeable about the entire process. Take every PCS move as something that you will learn as an adventure as well as excitement.

Andrew P. Barstow

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