Military Wife Confessions

Your moving experience begins when you receive your Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. The information below will give you a head start on what to expect and who you need to contact when you receive your first set of PCS orders.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Allowances and Entitlements

There are various allowances and entitlements associated with most CONUS and OCONUS moves. DO NOT ASSUME that you will receive any of these allowances. Allowances change periodically so ensure you check with the finance office on your installation to determine the exact amount of your allowances and entitlements. Further, the Per Diem Committee's website is the official source for the most up-to-date changes to allowances and entitlements.

Housing Office

Your Installation Housing Office can help you with:

Determining your housing allowances and entitlements

Determining availability of government housing at your new location

Getting help with finding local community housing at your new location

Finding out about arranging temporary lodging

Household goods

Household goods (HHG) include items associated with the home and all personal effects belonging to a member and dependents on the effective date of the member's PCS or TDY order that legally may be accepted and transported by an authorized commercial transporter. HHG also include: professional books, papers, and equipment (PBP&E), spare POV parts and a pickup tailgate when removed, integral or attached vehicle parts that must be removed due to their high vulnerability to pilferage or damage (e.g., seats, tops, winch, spare tires, portable auxiliary gasoline can(s), and miscellaneous associated hardware), vehicles other than POVs (such as golf carts, motorcycles, mopeds, jet skis, hang gliders, snowmobiles), and their associated trailers, boats and single occupant ultralight vehicles for recreation or sport purposes; weighing less than 155 pounds if uncovered or less than 254 pounds if powered; having a fuel capacity not to exceed (NTE) 5 gallons; airspeed NTE 55 knots; and power-off stall speed NTE 24 knots.

HHG do not include:

personal baggage when carried free on an airplane, bus or train

automobiles, trucks, vans and similar motor vehicles

airplanes, mobile homes, camper trailers and farming vehicles

live animals including birds, fish and reptiles

cordwood and building materials

items for resale, disposal or commercial use rather than for use by the member and dependents

privately owned live ammunition

articles that otherwise would qualify as HHG but are acquired after the effective date of PCS orders except: bona fide replacements for articles that have become inadequate, worn out, broken, or unserviceable on/after the effective date of orders

Personally Owned Vehicle (POV)

One POV by you or your family member may be shipped at government expense overseas. It must, however, be for you or your family member's personal use only. If you desire to make your own arrangements and ship an additional POV, consult your Transportation Office for any restrictions which may apply. You may be required to pay an import duty on a second POV. At the option of the member shipping a vehicle overseas, a motorcycle or moped may be considered a POV if the member does not ship a vehicle with four or more wheels under the same set of military orders. A vehicle under a long-term lease (12 months or longer) may be shipped if you obtain written permission from the leasing company.

The POV should be delivered to the port prior to the departure of the personnel on whose orders the shipment is to be made. This includes dependent travel authorizations when no POV has been previously shipped on the sponsor's orders. Member must have a minimum 12 months remaining on overseas tour at the time the vehicle is delivered to loading port. If a military spouse delivers the vehicle to the loading port they must have a Special Power of Attorney.

Personally Procured Transportation Moves (or DITY moves)

You may move your HHG yourself using rental equipment/POV or by hiring a commercial mover. Under this program you can receive reimbursement up to 100% of the Government Constructive Cost (GCC) or an incentive payment of 95% of the GCC. An advance operating allowance can be authorized to defray out of pocket moving expenses (rental equipment, HHG mover charges, packing material, etc.).

Transportation Office (TO)

Set up an appointment with your transportation office as soon as you have a copy of your PCS orders. The earlier you call or visit your transportation office, the greater your chances of moving on the date you desire. The counselors will explain all your PCS move entitlements in detail. Your first decision is whether to have the government move you or whether to move yourself. There are pros and cons to each type of move. Your counselor will answer all of your questions. If you choose a government move, they will book your shipment and let you know the exact dates the movers will come. If you choose to move yourself, the counselor can assist with recommendations and tips on how to do a personal move.

Your InstallationTransportation Office can help you with the following:

Determining your household goods entitlements

Learning whether or not you can do a self move

Getting information on shipping a pet

Learning about shipping your car

Unaccompanied baggage (UAB)

Unaccompanied baggage are those items that you will need immediately upon arrival at your new destination. It includes clothes, linens, baby or medical equipment.

Command Sponsorship

When a military member is stationed overseas, the member must request permission from their command for family members to accompany him or her overseas. If approved, the military member will be reimbursed for travel expenses and be given housing allowances and other benefits for the overseas assignment. Command sponsorship might not be approved for a number of reasons, such as the location of the duty station, the lack of general family support resources at the duty station, or the lack of resources available to support a family member with special needs. If command sponsorship is denied, but a family member still decides to move to the duty station country, he or she will be responsible for all of the transportation and living expenses associated with this move. A Service member requests command sponsorship through his or her chain of command. If approved, military orders will specifically state that dependents are authorized.

via Military Homefront

this helps alot My husband is in Korea right now and should be getting his orders soon to come home and I am like what do I do as his orders will be for fort hood...I am worried about housing and stressing here