Moving – Resources

Plan My Move is a Department of Defense relocation tool that helps you organize your move and keep it on track. Use Plan My Move to:

• Create checklists for different parts of your move, including family, household goods, paperwork and housing
• Print your moving checklists or save them online and access them whenever you want
• Track your progress online as you complete tasks

MilitaryINSTALLATIONS provides comprehensive information for installations around the world. Find contacts for key programs and services, check-in procedures, local resources, maps, community information and more.

Visit the Defense Personal Property System to upload your orders, ship household goods, manage unaccompanied baggage, arrange non-temporary storage, or plan for a personally procured move. You can also track the status and location of your shipment(s) and file claims.

PCSmyPOV is an online resource for service members moving or storing their privately owned vehicles during a permanent change of station. Learn more about shipping a car overseas.

Preparing for Your PCS Move reviews the steps that occur before packing even begins. Learn about things you can do while you wait for official orders, such as understanding different kinds of moves and shipments and how to use the Defense Personal Property System.

PCS Entitlements provides information about the amount and type of items you are allowed to move for both PCS and temporary duty assignments.

How to Plan for a Happy Move gives an overview of what you can expect to happen during the loading, transport and delivery of a normal household goods shipment.

The Defense Personal Property system offers pro moving tips from other service members and families to help you get organized and master your next move.

Understanding Moving Claims provides details about filing different kinds of moving claims, including compensation for lost or damaged property, as well as expenses incurred due to a lapse in service.

Find answers to your moving questions in these Defense Personal Property Program Frequently Asked Questions for PCS and Military Moves.

Your opinions matters! Complete the customer satisfaction survey to help other families benefit from your experience, and improve your own future moves as well.

It’s Your Move Armed Forces Members is the comprehensive Defense Transportation Regulation personal property guide from the U.S. Transportation Command and the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. It can help you understand the Defense Personal Property System, your allowances, entitlements, shipment and storage responsibilities, and much more.

The downloadable Personal Property Claims fact sheet provides information and contacts for filing loss and damage, residential damage, and POV claims.

The downloadable Inconvenience Claims fact sheet provides information and contacts for filing inconvenience claims.

The downloadable Personal Property Quick Reference Guide offers an overview of customer and mover responsibilities, general moving tips and service branch customer service contacts.

The downloadable Personally Procured Moves fact sheet provides general information about personally procured moves, or PPMs, and service branch customer service contacts.

The downloadable Personally Procured Move Checklist and Expense Certification form provides a checklist of documents required for reimbursement of a PPM, and a Statement of Expenses table you can fill in with your moving expenses.

Customer Service for Your Military PCS provides links for moving assistance, POV shipping and storage, relocation and financial assistance, customer service, claims, retirement and separation extensions, and more.

Your local transportation office can help you with household goods logistics, such as exploring your different moving options and coordinating your shipments. They can also assist with questions about entitlements and allowances. Find contact information for your local household goods/transportation offices at MilitaryINSTALLATIONS.

Each branch of service is available to assist with moves and offer customer service contacts and specific resources tailored for its members.

• Army PCS Moving Assistance
• Marine Corps PCS Moving Assistance
• Navy PCS Moving Assistance
• Air Force PCS Moving Assistance
• Coast Guard PCS Moving Assistance

Your installation Relocation Assistance Program can help you learn about your new installation, offer assistance with spouse employment options, housing, schools, financial readiness and more. Find out how to put the military’s relocation program to work for you.

If you’re moving overseas, visit Military OneSource OCONUS Moves for more information and resources.

Contact your installation Military and Family Support Center to learn about relocation assistance services — including individual move planning, workshops and briefings — as well as other programs and services to help you balance the demands of military life.

The housing offices at your new installation can help you explore the options in your new location and understand your housing-related allowances. Contact your installation housing office/government housing for information about living on base. Contact the housing referral office/housing privatization for information about off-installation options.

If you’re living in government quarters now, notify your installation housing office/government housing of your projected move-out date.

HOMES.mil is a service designed to connect service members and their families with community housing rental listings located near U.S. military bases. It provides contact information for your current or prospective housing office. You can also list your own rental properties.

Learn about military child care programs, including:

• Expanded hourly child care services through Military OneSource
• Registration for on-installation care anywhere in the world through MilitaryChildCare.com
• Fee assistance through Child Care Aware® of America

If you have a family member with special needs, consultants with the Exceptional Family Member Program can help you make sure your family member’s needs are met during and after your move, especially if your exceptional family member will transfer to a new school. You can also check out the EFMP&Me online tool for information and support anytime, anywhere.

Many installations have a school liaison to serve as a bridge between schools and military families. Your installation school liaison can work with your child’s school to minimize the negative consequences of transitions and inform the school about issues related to the education of military youth.

Military Kids Connect is an online community specifically designed for military children ages 6-17 years. It provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children dealing with the unique psychological challenges of military life, including frequent moves.

Sesame Street for Military Families offers a variety of videos, worksheets and tips to help young children cope with challenges of military life. Check out their relocation resources.

Your installation’s Personal Financial Management Services office can help you plan for moving expenses and determine what relocation benefits you are eligible for.

Visit the Defense Travel Management Office website for current allowance tables, per diem rates and other tools to help you plan your move.

Military OneSource offers relocation and transition specialty consultations to help spouses during military moves. Consultants can help you create an individualized action plan and identify resources. They can also share information on housing, child care, education, employment and more.

Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, or SECO, offers support and resources for military spouses looking for employment or educational options at your new location.

Stay updated on COVID-19 resources by visiting the Military OneSource COVID-19 information page. Look under Guidance From the Government for a link to weekly updates on installation travel restrictions.

• Information for Defense Personal Property Program, or DP3, Customers Impacted by Conditions Based Movement in a COVID Environment
• Defense Personal Property Program, or DP3, COVID-19 Customer Guidance Handout
• Department of Defense Commitment Letter

Military OneSource provides 24-hour simultaneous language interpretations by phone in more than 150 languages. Learn how translation and interpretation services can improve PCS moves.

Looking for a place to stay while you’re in transition? Try these options:

• DOD Lodging
• Coast Guard lodging locations