Military PCS Move Blog

Expert Tips and Guides for Military PCS Moves

Learn about military PCS entitlements, packing strategies, saving money on moves, and making your permanent change of station smoother. Articles on PPM moves, DITY moves, weight allowances, DLA, per diem, and more.

OHA Explained: How the Overseas Housing Allowance Works — OHA is not BAH with a different name. It reimburses your actual rent up to a ceiling set for your locality and grade, pays utilities separately, adds a move-in allowance on top, and forfeits whatever you do not spend. Here are the three components, the rules behind each, and the paperwork that starts them.
PCS Travel Days 2026: How Many You Get and What They Pay — The JTR authorizes one travel day for 400 miles or fewer, then divides the distance by 350 and adds a day when the remainder is 51 or more. Here is the computation, the ten situations that change it, and what a household actually draws for each authorized day.
Extended TLE: Getting More Than 21 Days of Lodging on a PCS — TLE can run to 60 days instead of 21 — at approved locations, and from September 1, 2026, when a shipping restriction strands your household goods. Here is who qualifies, what you have to do every ten days to keep it, and the BAH Transit offset that quietly shrinks the lodging you are paid after day 21.
PCS Damage Claims: Getting Paid for Broken or Lost Goods — Three clocks start the day your household goods are delivered — 180 days to report the damage, nine or twelve months to file the itemized claim, two years to escalate. Here is the whole process, including the separate money owed when a mover misses a date and what to do when your car comes off the truck damaged.
Can You Add a Trailer to Your PCS Weight Allowance? — A qualifying utility trailer is household goods, so its weight is added to the net weight your PPM is paid on. What it is not is extra allowance — for Service members it comes straight out of the ceiling. Civilian employees are treated the opposite way.
BRS vs. Legacy High-3: Which Retirement System You're Under — Your DIEMS date, not your preference, decides whether you retire under the Blended Retirement System or legacy High-3 — and the gap between a 2.0% and a 2.5% multiplier is worth hundreds of dollars a month for life. Here's the math, plus the two BRS benefits legacy retirees never get.
MSRRA: The Military Spouse State Tax Exemption, Explained — Without MSRRA, a military spouse who follows a PCS to a high-tax state would owe income tax there. Here's what the law actually protects, which state gets to tax your income, and how to claim the exemption.
PCS Advance Pay: How Much You Can Get and How It's Repaid — PCS advance pay lets you draw future basic pay early to cover moving costs before reimbursements arrive. Here's how much you can request, how repayment works, and what to know before you apply.
How Much Does the Military Match TSP? The BRS 5% Rule — Under the Blended Retirement System, the government adds up to 5% of your basic pay to your TSP every payday — but only if you contribute enough to claim the full match. Here's exactly how the formula works and what it costs you to leave it unclaimed.
VA Loan Funding Fee: How Much You Pay and Who Is Exempt — The VA funding fee is the one-time cost that lets you buy a home with a VA loan and no PMI, even at 0% down. Here's the current fee by down payment and use, who's exempt, and whether to pay it in cash or roll it into the loan.
Penske vs. Budget vs. U-Haul: What Each Costs for a PCS Move — Renting a truck for your PPM/DITY move? Here's how Penske, Budget, and U-Haul stack up on price, military discounts, truck quality, and one-way mileage policies — so you can pick the right one before PCS season.
How to Transfer School Records During a PCS Move — Transferring school records correctly during a PCS ensures your child doesn't lose credits, stays on track academically, and is placed in appropriate classes at their new school.
PCS Storage Options: What the Government Pays For — Government-paid storage during a PCS is available in specific situations. Here's when you qualify, what types of storage are covered, and how to avoid paying out of pocket.
JTR Pro-Gear: 2,000 lb Member, 500 lb Spouse if Approved — Pro-gear is one of the most underutilized PCS entitlements. Here's what qualifies as professional gear for both the service member and their spouse, and how to make sure it's claimed correctly.
PCS Moving with Pets: What You Need to Know — Moving pets during a PCS requires planning well beyond what most service members expect. Here's how to transport pets safely, what the military covers, and destination-specific requirements.
PCS During Separation or Retirement: What You're Entitled To — Separating or retiring from the military comes with a final PCS move entitlement. Here's what you can ship, where you can move, and how to make the most of your final military move.
Finding Housing Near Your New Duty Station — Finding the right housing during a PCS is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. Here's how to evaluate on-post vs. off-post housing, research neighborhoods, and avoid common mistakes.
TLE vs TLA: The Difference, and Which One You Get — Temporary lodging reimbursement during a PCS can cover thousands of dollars in hotel costs. Here's how TLE (CONUS) and TLA (OCONUS) work and how to maximize your benefit.
How to File a PPM/DITY Claim: DD Form 2278, Weight Tickets — Completing a PPM move entitles you to significant reimbursement — but only if you file correctly. Here's a step-by-step guide to getting paid for your DITY move.
OCONUS PCS Move Guide: What to Expect When Moving Overseas — An OCONUS PCS move involves different rules, different entitlements, and a lot more coordination than a typical CONUS move. Here's what to expect and how to prepare.
First Duty Station Move: What You're Entitled To — Your first PCS move is different from all the rest. Understanding what you're entitled to — and what you're not — as a new service member can save you thousands of dollars and significant frustration.
How to Ship Your Vehicle During a PCS: CONUS and OCONUS — Shipping a vehicle during a PCS can save thousands of miles of wear on your car. Here's how the military vehicle shipment program works, what it costs you, and how to prepare your vehicle.
BAH Explained: How Your Housing Allowance Works During a PCS — BAH is one of your most important military pay entitlements. Here's how it's calculated, when it changes during a PCS, and how to make sure you're getting the right amount.
PCS with Kids: How to Make a Military Move Easier — Moving with children during a PCS is one of the hardest parts of military life. These practical strategies help reduce stress, keep routines stable, and set kids up for success at their new duty station.
PCS Orders: What They Look Like and What Each Line Means — PCS orders are packed with military jargon and codes that can be hard to decode. This guide explains the key sections of your orders and what they mean for your move.
DITY Move vs. Government Move: How Each Works and Pays — Comparing a DITY (PPM) move vs. a government-arranged move during PCS. Which option saves you money — and what are the real trade-offs?
PCS Move Checklist: Your Timeline From Orders to Arrival — A comprehensive PCS move checklist covering every step from receiving orders to arriving at your new duty station. Don't let anything fall through the cracks during your military move.
PCS Taxes: What Is and Isn't Taxable on a Military Move — Confused about PCS taxes? Learn which military PCS reimbursements are taxable, which are non-taxable, and how DLA, MALT, per diem, and HHG moves are treated under 2026 Joint Travel Regulations and IRS rules.
DLA Rates 2026: How Much Dislocation Allowance Pays — Every 2026 DLA rate by pay grade and dependency status, effective January 1, 2026 per the Joint Travel Regulations — plus what DLA is and is not, the three moves that pay nothing, partial DLA, and how the claim actually gets paid.
2026 PCS Reimbursements: Per Diem, MALT, DLA and TLE Rates — A complete breakdown of every 2026 PCS reimbursement — DLA rates, MALT rates, per diem rules, TLE limits, and how the PPM incentive is calculated. Know your numbers before you move.
PCS Entitlements 2026: JTR Allowances, Non-Temporary Storage — Every PCS entitlement under the JTR: DLA, MALT, per diem, TLE, HHG, pro-gear, weight allowances, and how personally procured non-temporary storage is repaid.

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