PCS Move Checklist: Your Timeline From Orders to Arrival

As Soon As Orders Arrive (8–12 Weeks Out)

• Read your orders thoroughly. Check every field for errors: your name, pay grade, dependent names, duty stations, and report date. Any errors need corrected orders before you move.</ li>
• Make 10–15 copies of your orders. Digital backup too. You'll need copies for TMO, housing, finance, school enrollment, vehicle registration, your landlord, and more.
• Contact your TMO. Schedule your household goods pick-up appointment. During peak PCS season (May–August), slots fill fast.
• Start your housing search. Contact the gaining installation's housing office to get on the government quarters waitlist, and begin researching off-post options simultaneously.
• Notify your landlord. Under the SCRA, give written notice plus a copy of your orders (or documentation that orders are forthcoming). Lease termination becomes effective 30 days after your next rent due date following that notice — not simply "30 days from today" — so the earlier you give notice, the sooner the lease actually ends.
• Request school records. Submit written requests for official transcripts, IEP documents, immunization records, and other school documents from your children's current schools.

6–8 Weeks Out

• Decide on government move vs. PPM. Get your GCC estimate from the TMO and calculate your PPM incentive using the PCS Calculator. Make your decision and proceed accordingly.</ li>
• If doing a PPM: Reserve your rental truck now. Summer truck availability is limited and prices spike.
• Schedule vehicle shipment (OCONUS). If your PCS is OCONUS, contact PCSmyPOV.com to schedule vehicle drop-off.
• Begin decluttering. Every item you sell, donate, or toss is weight you don't move. A garage sale 6 weeks out is more effective than panic-tossing items the week before pack-out.</ li>
• Update your will and powers of attorney. Your Legal Assistance Office can help. Powers of attorney are especially important if one spouse will be managing move details while the other is still on duty.
• Contact TRICARE. Begin the process of transferring your primary care manager to the gaining installation. Transfer prescriptions and gather specialist referral documentation.

4 Weeks Out

• Notify financial institutions. Change your address with your bank, credit unions, investment accounts, and TSP (Thrift Savings Plan).
• Notify USPS. Set up mail forwarding from your current address. Do this early — it takes a few days to activate.
• Compile valuables inventory. Photograph and document high-value items (jewelry, electronics, art, collectibles) before they're packed. Use serial numbers where available.
• Begin packing non-essentials. If you're doing a PPM, get started early. If using government movers, pack your personally transported items (jewelry, medications, important documents) separately.
• Reserve temporary lodging at the new duty station. On-post lodging books up months in advance during PCS season. Book now even if you're uncertain about dates.

2 Weeks Out

• Confirm moving company schedule (if government move). Call the TSP to confirm pack-out and pick-up dates.
• Gather military/financial documents. Birth certificates, marriage certificate, passports, Social Security cards, DD-214s — these travel with you, not in the moving truck.
• Plan for pets. Confirm pet-friendly lodging along your route and at your destination. Get health certificates from your vet if flying or traveling to certain states.
• Notify all subscription services. Update your address for subscriptions, delivery services, and any auto-ships.

Pack-Out Day and Moving Day

• Be present for the entire pack-out and pickup. Don't leave the movers unsupervised.
• Walk through every room when movers claim they're done — open every door, every closet, attic, and outdoor storage.
• Review and sign the inventory carefully. Mark any items you believe are already damaged before movers arrive.
• Keep your personally-transported box separate and clearly labeled — essentials for the drive and first night, medications, documents.
• Do a final meter reading at your old residence and photograph it.
• Return all keys, garage openers, and access cards for your old housing.

At the New Duty Station

• In-process with your new unit within the time specified by your orders.
• Update your address on MyPay and through DFAS.
• File TLE claim with receipts promptly.
• File your DLA claim through finance.
• If doing PPM, file your reimbursement claim within 45 days of completing your move — confirm the exact window with your Transportation Office.
• Schedule household goods delivery as soon as you have a confirmed address.
• Inspect all delivered items and file a claim for any damages within the required window.
• Update driver's license and vehicle registration within the required timeframe for your new state.
• Register children for school and enroll in TRICARE at the new location.

Related Articles

• PCS Orders, Line by Line — Decode every field before you start your checklist
• DITY Move vs. Government Move — Make the move-type decision early to maximize your reimbursement
• 2026 PCS Reimbursements Guide — Everything you're owed: DLA, MALT, per diem, TLE
• TLE vs TLA — How to claim temporary lodging reimbursement
• How to File a PPM/DITY Claim: DD Form 2278 — 45-day filing window, weight tickets, and what to submit
• Transferring School Records During a PCS — Interstate Compact protections for military families