Preparing to Move

Organization and discipline make any task more efficient.

• Learn how to create customized checklists with the Plan My Move online tool. Whether it’s locating a new school, securing new housing or preparing financially for the move, the Plan My Move checklist will help ensure you won’t forget a thing, including EFMP & Meassistance at your new installation and making sure your pets are ready for the move.
• Explore how to arrange a personal property shipment.
• Find comprehensive moving information, resources and services all in one place on the Moving Your Personal Propertypage, including:
  • Moving guides
  • PCS videos and podcasts
  • FAQs
  • Entitlement brochures
  • DPS login

• New to MilitaryINSTALLATIONS? Learn more about how to explore your base and beyond with MilitaryINSTALLATIONS.
• Enter your new installation in the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS tool and start exploring your new installations and the community around it. Find contact information, articles, maps and photos about installations worldwide.

When you’re preparing for a move, having a pet can add another layer of complexity. Spend time upfront planning and preparing so you can ease the stress of moving for both you and your pet.

• Moving With Pets
• Passenger and Pet Transportation for PCS Moves

Keep vital documents with you during a PCS.

Pro tips:

• Stay organized by creating a moving binder to hand carry, which will give you easy access to all of your important paperwork.
• Check off each item in this list and make multiple copies, as appropriate. Electronic copies can be convenient, but make sure to have physical copies as well.

Important documents include:

• Orders – Keep your original set of orders with you at all times, and make more than one copy.
• Identification for each family member – Bring your military IDs, driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and passports for all family members, as well as birth, marriage and naturalization certificates.
• Vehicle documentation – Carry your vehicle title or lease information and proof of vehicle inspection, registration and insurance.
• Financial information – Bring personal checks, any hard copies of recent bank statements, and all credit and debit cards, even the ones from department stores you never use.
• Housing information – Carry the household inventory list your moving company provided, as well as lease or mortgage paperwork.
• Legal documents – Bring divorce or annulment paperwork from a previous marriage, wills, custody or adoption paperwork, and any active power of attorney documents.
• School or employment records – Carry all transcripts, report cards or grade sheets your children may need for school registration. If your child has an individualized education program, or IEP, it’s important to carry this with you. If you are moving with a child with special needs, learn more about support provided by the Exceptional Family Member Program.
• Medical and physician information – Medical, dental and vaccination records will likely be needed for school registration and for some employment.

You may want to take an extra step and back up important files on a flash drive, external hard drive or in the cloud.

Because moving delivery delays can happen, it’s a good idea to carry essential items with you. Some items to consider hand carrying are:

• Medication for each family member – Prescription medications for each family member should be close at hand. You might want to bring some headache meds for you too in case of a sibling screaming match on the way there.
• Phones and chargers – Surviving without your smartphone and charger today is almost inconceivable.
• Valuables – If you can’t imagine living without a family heirloom or treasured item, carry it with you for safekeeping.
• Home items– If you are doing a stateside PCS and you have your vehicle with you, pack a box with items you are going to need as soon as you arrive at your new house. Even if your belongings are scheduled to arrive “door-to-door,” it’s a good idea to plan for an extra day or two without your things because moving delays happen, especially in summer. Items to have on hand include:
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper towels
  • Hand soap
  • Cleaners
  • Toilet brush
  • Broom
  • Mop
  • Drinks and snacks
  • Diapers
  • Paper plates
  • Extra sheets and towels
  • An air mattress

If you’re doing an OCONUS PCS, you can include essential kitchen items, baby equipment, etc., with your “unaccompanied baggage.” For more information about unaccompanied baggage, contact your local transportation office.

You may be entitled to a number of moving benefits that include storage of household goods, travel allowances and a per diem.

• Travel allowances and other final move benefits vary by service branch.
• Check with your installation Military and Family Support Centeror transportation office for more information.

The Defense Department Transition Assistance Program has information, tools and training to prepare you and your family for your military-to-civilian transition. Tap into more information and support:

• Find your nearest Transition Assistance Program office.
• Speak with a Transitioning Veterans specialty consultant to get answers to your questions.
  • Whether you are 12 months out from retirement or separation or within 365 days of your last day of service, you are eligible for this free, personalized transition support offered by Military OneSource.
  • Through a series of sessions, a professionally trained consultant will help you identify goals and navigate benefits and resources.