Military
10 Things You Should Know Before a PCS Move
- The military will pay for you to ship a vehicle. Okay, so it’s not the full cost, but what they will do is give you what they would have paid you had you driven it.
- Dislocation allowance is only paid if your spouse specifically requests it, and this can be paid in advance of your move.
- Your spouse has 10 days to get his travel claim submitted after he checks into the new command, so make sure everything is ready to go or you could be seriously out of pocket. The best way to do this is to have a folder with blank pieces of paper and a roll of sticky tape in your glove compartment. Every time you buy something, or pay for a hotel, tape the receipt to a page (you can double up if there’s space) and then place it in the folder. Now you just need to photocopy all the pages when you’re ready to put the travel claim in and you have no worries about lost receipts.
- The maximum Per Diem is $280 per day. However, you are only paid for what you use and there is a limit on how much can be used for each of accommodation ,food and miscellaneous expenses.
- A partial DITY move can let you make a little money during the move as well as transport important items that you don’t want the shippers to take.
- Big screen TVs (LCD, Plasma, Projection, etc.) are not covered by the shipper’s insurance, so either make sure they are covered on your own policy, or transport it yourself.
- Some countries have a program in lieu of quarantine for pets moving overseas. Make sure to talk to your transportation office at least 8 months before your move to get details (most of the processes take 6 months).
- You can look at rentals at the new location through www.AHRN.com well in advance of your move. This typically shows military housing as well as off-base rentals and houses for sale. All rentals have a military clause in their lease and the units are all inspected by the local housing office. There are usually photos available with the listing as well as maps to give you an idea of where it is. This is accessible only to military personnel and dependents.
- Familiarize yourself with the new area through online websites. Try to find some activities that your kids will enjoy to get them excited about the move.
- If you’re driving to the new duty station, consider making it a road-trip vacation and do some detours to interesting locations on the way.
For more tips about PCS moves (including overseas moves), see The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Life as a Military Spouse.