Every year (except maybe during this pandemic time) up to 400,000 service members and their families embark on a new PCS journey. Sometimes you are on the happy side and cannot wait to get to your new duty station, and other times you leave kicking and screaming. Regardless of where you are on the emotional rollercoaster of moving, we all know it can be a pretty chaotic process.
My family has PCS’d 10 times in the last 15 years (plus 2 local moves) and I like to believe that I have this process down to a science. Additionally, I have also spent the last two years working on PCS reform to improve the process and experience with US Transportation Command, Congress, and the moving industry. Through all my experience and work, here are my tips on how to stay organized during a usually stressful process.
PCS Binder
There are many different binders available in many different forms out there if you need a template between a hard product binder or digital binder. Having a place where you can keep your important life documents, school records, vet records, medical records, vehicle information, insurance policies, PCS orders, and of course all your moving paperwork and inventories. When setting up your life again at your new location, it will be easy to have everything that you need located in one area for quick reference.
Game Plan
Have a good plan for how you envision the process going. How do you want your home packed up? While the regulations say you cannot prohibit the crews from doing their job (such as asking a crew of 5 to pack 1 small bedroom at a time), you can ask them to start in certain areas of your home and what you want packed first. Also, consider making a plan for delivery and if you want a full, partial or no unpack. Having a good plan and then working together as a team with your crew can help set expectation management for everyone. Also having a plan lessens the normally chaotic nature of a pack out and delivery.
Knowing Regulations and Resources
Reviewing the regulations and knowing what resources are out there can help bring some calm to the process as well. Knowing the regulations and where to find them can help you navigate those sticky issues, and who you may need to call. Additionally, knowing the resources available can help answer your questions before and during the process.
Regulations that you should look through:
- Defense Travel Regulation (DTR) Part IV Attachment K1 and Appendix B, the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) chapter 5
- Review Move.mil as US Transcom’s website for the PCS process
- Lost During My PCS and PCS Like A Pro – Your Smooth Move are two great Facebook groups where you can ask all of your PCS questions!
Pre-Packing
First, let me say that pre-packing is by no means required. You will hear many families talk about this as their way to prepare for their move and to also help protect certain things. Here are some easy pre-packing tips:
- Use scented trash bags over your hanging clothes like garment bags. This will help keep clothes together and keep things from falling off the hangers.
- Large trash bags can again be used to help bag up all the stuffed animals your children may have!
- I am a fan of the Ziplock flex totes since they stack easily into the boxes the moving companies use. I use these for all of my folded dresser clothing, and for our other linens.
- Ziplock bags (1 gallon and 2 gallon) are perfect for bagging up all of those little toys, office supplies and junk drawer items too!
Being organized on any level can help make the PCS process go smoother. Set yourself up for success, but also have some realistic expectations for the process as well. While everyone PCSing this year are doing so under less than desirable conditions, we hope everyone is able to have a smooth PCS!