What Is a PCS Move?
A Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is an official relocation order for active duty service members. PCS moves can be:
CONUS: within the continental U.S.
OCONUS: outside the continental U.S.
Whether you’re moving across the country or overseas, knowing your benefits, allowances, and options can help reduce stress during this big transition.
Military PCS Moving Options
When it comes to PCS moves, service members typically have two main choices:
Government-Arranged Move
(HHG – Household Goods)
The military contracts movers to pack, ship, and deliver your household goods. This option saves time and reduces physical strain.
Personally Procured Move
(PPM – formerly DITY)
You move your belongings yourself and get reimbursed for eligible expenses. Many military families choose this option for more flexibility or to earn extra money if they move efficiently.
Some service members even combine both options, letting the military handle larger items while moving smaller belongings themselves.
PCS Moving Allowances & Entitlements
The military provides financial support to ease the burden of relocation. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for:
- Dislocation Allowance (DLA): Helps offset relocation expenses.
- Per Diem & Travel Allowances: Covers lodging, meals, and mileage during the move.
- Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) / Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA): Reimburses short-term housing costs.
- Shipment of Household Goods (HHG): Covers moving your personal property.
- Personally Procured Move (PPM) Reimbursement: For self-managed moves.
PCS Moving Tips for Military Families
At Friendly Military Travel, we know PCS moves affect more than just logistics—they affect your family’s daily life. Here are some tips to prepare:
Start early – Organize documents, inventory belongings, and confirm travel dates. Military One Source provides custom checklists & help your move go as smoothly as possible.
Use official resources – Military OneSource and your installation’s transportation office can answer PCS questions.
Plan for family needs – Consider schools, childcare, and spouse employment opportunities. Check your new duty station with the Military Installations Tool. This tool allows you to connect to local programs, view check-in procedures, & find services and resources at your new duty station.
Stay flexible – Moving often comes with delays, so plan for contingencies.
Overseas PCS Moves (OCONUS)
Moving overseas requires additional preparation, such as:
- Passports and visas for family members
- Medical screenings and immunizations
- Shipment of vehicles and pets
- Understanding host-nation requirements
- COLA allowances – Cost of Living Allowance Info
With the right planning, an OCONUS PCS can be an exciting adventure for your military family. Friendly Military Travel highly recommends using Military One Source’s OCONUS Guide for the most up to date programs and guides for your move.
Why Choose Friendly Military Travel?
At Friendly Military Travel, we specialize in helping service members navigate the challenges of military travel including PCS Travel. Whether you’re preparing for your first PCS or your fifth, our goal is to make the process smoother with easy-to-understand guides and trusted resources, while ensuring your travel is completely taken care of.
PCS FAQ
A Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is an official order for service members to relocate to a new duty station, either within the U.S. (CONUS) or overseas (OCONUS).
You can choose a government-arranged move or a Personally Procured Move (PPM), where you move items yourself and receive reimbursement.
Yes. Service members may qualify for allowances like DLA, TLE/TLA, per diem, and HHG shipment coverage.
CONUS moves are within the U.S., while OCONUS moves are overseas and may require passports, visas, and medical screenings. Check our Military One Source OCONUS Move guide & resources..
Start early, organize paperwork, and plan for housing, schools, and spouse employment at your new duty station. See Military OneSource.
Military One Source provides a list of resources & PCS Entitlements and tools find your local transport offices & much more.