Preparing for a Military Move – PCS Checklist for Fort Stewart Families
Preparing for a Military Move – PCS Checklist for Fort Stewart Families
Are You Moving to Fort Stewart from Another Base? – Here is our printable PCS checklist to ensure a successful military move experience for Fort Stewart families! This printable checklist can ensure a smooth move!
Start the decluttering process by holding a yard sale or donating serviceable items to thrift shops and charities. Also book any final vet, boarding, or health certificate appointments for your pets.
1. Get Your Official Orders
Once you receive official orders to move to another military base, it's time to start planning. Starting early gives you more control of your relocation than leaving everything up to the government.
Plan to go through each room of your home and remove items that no longer serve you or won't fit at your next duty station. Donate these items or host a yard sale to raise some extra cash for your moving fund.
Make sure to organize a PCS binder or system for keeping track of important documents like orders, leave forms and inventory lists; this could prove invaluable should they become necessary later on in your career.
2. Set Up a Meeting with Your Base Transportation Office
Before shipping anything, meet with your base transportation office to understand exactly what entitlements and weight allowances apply to you and any restrictions applicable based on whether your move involves full PCS, partial PCS, TDY or CONUS moves.
Veteran military families sometimes opt to ship their vehicles and purchase more economical local ones upon arriving at their new duty station. Your transportation office can help determine whether this option would be beneficial to you and your family.
Now is an ideal opportunity for families to do some housecleaning and reduce clutter – things no longer serving your family, no longer sentimental, or no longer fitting your new duty station lifestyle can help ease stress on moving day. Less to pack will also reduce packing hassle.
3. Hire a Moving Company
Dependent upon your move's timetable and logistics, you may require hiring a moving company. This can be done either directly at your local transportation office or online.
If your move falls under the Personally Procured Move category (previously known as Do-It-Yourself or DITY move), the military will reimburse up to 103 percent of what commercial movers would cost you – making this form of moving an excellent budget option.
Many seasoned military families prefer shipping their car rather than purchasing another at their new location; this will save wear and tear and reduce expenses. If this option appeals to you, ensure that final vet and boarding appointments are scheduled prior to moving day.
4. Packing
PCS moves are far more complex than civilian ones, so it's essential that you begin planning early. Check with your installation's Family Support Office for briefs and classes offered to get acquainted with the process.
De-clutter and donate items you no longer use or need, particularly those that can benefit other military families, to ensure you remain within your household goods weight allowance and reduce moving costs.
Organise items you will need with you on moving day, such as toiletries, clothing and paperwork essential to the move as well as phone chargers. Be sure to set aside any Military Professional Gear you plan on taking with you so it doesn't get packed by movers!
5. Packing Tips
Dependent upon where you're moving, additional planning may be necessary to ensure everything runs smoothly. Some bases require everything from furniture to groceries be purchased, while others have specific guidelines as to which items qualify for reimbursement.
As military movers tend to pack everything in your house, it is wise to perform an initial purge of items you don't wish to move or are uncertain of, which might include holding a yard sale or giving away unwanted possessions to family and friends.
Make sure to label all items (such as military Professional Gear) you plan to bring with you, so they do not count towards the total weight of your shipment. This can assist if anything should become lost or damaged during transport.
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Preparing for a Military Move – PCS Checklist for Fort Stewart Families Are You Moving to Fort Stewart from Another Base? – Here is our printable PCS checklist to ensure a successful military move experience for Fort Stewart families! This printable checklist can ensure a smooth move! Start the decluttering process by holding a yard…