PCS Timeline: What To Do & When
Here’s the quick answer: A PCS timeline starts the day your orders arrive. Contact your transportation office and request your move dates right away, then work back from your report date. Book movers or your PPM about 90 days out, give lease notice around 60 days out, and confirm everything 30 days out.
This permanent change of station (PCS) timeline puts every task in date order. Each step links to the matching section of our PCS move checklist. For the full process, see our military moving guide, or compare the best military moving companies if you’re hiring help.
Here’s the PCS timeline at a glance, counting back from your move date:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Day orders arrive | Verify orders, contact transportation office, request dates |
| 90 days out | Pick move type, get PPM approval, book movers |
| 60 days out | Lease notice, records, housing search |
| 30 days out | Pre-move survey, lodging, advances |
| One week out | “Do not pack” zone, first-day box, inventory |
| Moving week | Pack-out, inventory check, walk-through |
| After arrival | Delivery check, DEERS, claims |
Paying for any part of your move yourself? Start with movers that have a proven track record:
Jump to the PCS timeline step you need:
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What should you do the day you get PCS orders?
The day you get PCS orders, check them for errors and contact your transportation office. An Army reassignment brief says soldiers must contact the transportation office as soon as orders arrive. The goal is to issue orders at least 120 days before the report date.
Your report date sets everything else. Count back from it to plan your pack-out, travel days, and leave.
- Verify your orders: Confirm the duty station, report date, and dependents, and get errors fixed before you book anything.
- Request move dates in DPS: An Army transportation office says your orders are all you need to start your household goods move, with no need to wait for clearing papers.
- Schedule counseling: First-time movers, separating members, and retirees must contact the transportation office before booking in the Defense Personal Property System (DPS).
- Contact your sponsor: Ask your gaining unit for a sponsor who can help with housing and schools.
Full task list: orders & counseling checklist.
Not sure whether a PPM or a government-arranged move is better for you? Compare truck, container, and mover costs for your route.
What should you do 90 days before a PCS?
About 90 days out, lock in your move type and book any movers you’re paying for. If you’re doing a PPM, formerly called a DITY move, get it approved by your transportation office before you rent or book anything.
For movers you hire on a summer PCS, Safeway Senior Certified Moving Consultant James Coleman says booking 90 days ahead “is best,” 60 days “is good,” and 30 days “is time to get to work and be decisive.”
- Choose your move type: Pick a government-arranged move, a full PPM, or a partial PPM move.
- Get your PPM estimate: Ask your counselor for your estimated incentive, then compare it with quotes to see how much a PPM pays after costs.
- Book movers or equipment: Reserve your truck, container, or PPM movers, and ask for certified weight tickets in writing.
- Start decluttering: Sell or donate what you won’t move, so your weight stays under your military weight allowance.
- Apply for passports if moving overseas: No-fee passports can take four to six weeks, so start them now.
Hassan’s experience, which he shared in moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project, shows why control over loading time doesn’t guarantee a predictable delivery date. With less than a month to plan an April 2022 Navy PCS from Pennsylvania to Washington, Hassan chose PODS. He spent four days loading, but his container arrived 40 days after pickup. When he called to confirm delivery, he said, “nobody knew where it’s at and they kept changing the dates.” Before booking a container for a PCS, get the delivery window in writing and plan for time without your household goods. Read Hassan’s full story.
Full task list: PPM checklist.
Booking movers for your PPM? Get free estimates from vetted movers.
What should you do 60 days before a PCS?
Around 60 days out, focus on housing, records, and travel plans. Notice periods and record requests take weeks, so starting them now keeps them off your moving-week list.
- Give lease notice: Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), a monthly lease ends 30 days after your next rent payment is due once you give written notice and a copy of your orders, per Military OneSource.
- Request school records: Ask for unofficial records to hand-carry, and contact your school liaison.
- Request medical records: TRICARE says to request medical and dental records at least one month before your PCS date.
- Start your housing search: Contact the new base housing office about waitlists and off-base rentals.
- Plan your route: Map travel days, hotels, and pet stops. See our guide to moving with pets if you’re bringing one.
Expert tip: moveBuddha founder Ryan Carrigan recommends giving a hired mover your new address and asking it to check the street on Google Maps. If a full-size truck can’t reach your door, you’ll need a shuttle, and it’s better to get that fee quoted up front. See the legitimate ways movers can increase your final cost.
Full task lists: housing checklist and family, school & pets checklist.
Moving off base at your new duty station? Price your move by home size and distance.
What should you do 30 days before a PCS?
About 30 days out, confirm your dates and line up the money and lodging you’ll need to bridge the move. Most allowances reimburse you after you’ve paid, so plan for the gap.
- Confirm your dates: Check your pack and pickup dates in DPS, or confirm your movers, truck, or container.
- Watch for the pre-move survey: Military OneSource says to contact the mover or your transportation office if no survey has happened within a week of your move date.
- Book temporary lodging: Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) covers up to 21 days of lodging and meals on a move within the continental U.S., per a 2025 Marine Corps message.
- Request advances: Decide on a PPM advance of up to 60% of your estimated incentive or advance pay of up to three months of basic pay. Both get paid back.
- Schedule utilities: Set shut-off and start dates. Our guide to transferring utilities when moving covers the timing.
- Schedule housing inspections: If you live on base, book your final inspection with the housing office.
Budget for destination labor when comparing container and full-service quotes. Hassan’s $4,500 PODS quote became a $5,090 total after he hired a separate unloading crew for $590.
Full task list: money & allowances checklist.
Most PCS allowances reimburse you after the fact. Line up advances and lodging before your pack-out, not after.
What should you do one week before a PCS?
The week before your move is about setting aside what can’t go on the truck. Packers will box almost anything left out, so sort before they arrive.
- Set up a “do not pack” zone: Put orders, IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, medications, keys, and valuables in a marked closet or your car.
- Pack a first-day box: Military OneSource suggests planning for an extra day or two without your things, since delays happen, especially in summer. Our moving essentials box list covers what to pack.
- Make your own inventory: Photograph or video every room, high-value items, and serial numbers, and store a copy online.
- Prep the house: Take down wall-mounted items, empty trash cans, and bag small loose items.
- Refill prescriptions: Get enough medication to last through the move and your first days at the new base.
Full task list: moving day checklist.
Last-minute help for a PPM? Compare movers for your route.
What happens during PCS moving week?
On a government-arranged move, packing and loading happen on separate days. Military OneSource says you or a designated agent must be home from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on scheduled pack days.
- Pack days: Packers box your belongings. Ask to see inside boxes before they’re taped, and keep your “do not pack” zone closed off.
- Load day: Check that high-value items are on the mover’s inventory and note existing damage before the truck leaves.
- PPM load day: Get your certified empty and full weight tickets for each trip. See how to get PPM weight tickets for every method.
- Final walk-through: Check closets, cabinets, the attic, and the garage, then clean and turn in keys.
- Clear the installation: Finish out-processing and any final housing inspection.
Moving with a container instead? PODS drives your container and gets your PPM weight tickets on request:
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What should you do after you arrive?
Your PCS has deadlines that run after you arrive, and missing them can cost you money. Here’s what to do and when:
- Delivery day: Check every item against the inventory and note damage or missing items before the crew leaves.
- Within 45 days: File your PPM claim with weight tickets and receipts. The Personal Property Activity says to expect payment within 45 days of a complete claim.
- Within 90 days: Update your address in DEERS, then change your TRICARE enrollment. TRICARE gives you 90 days from the move.
- Within 180 days: Report loss or damage in DPS. For shipments picked up on or after May 15, 2026, you have 12 months to file the claim with the mover. See our guide to filing a moving damage claim.
- Right away: Enroll kids in school, file your travel voucher, and update your address. Our change of address guide has the full list.
Full task list: after you arrive checklist. PPM payments are taxable, so also read up on PPM taxes and the military moving expense deduction.
Need local movers or storage at your new duty station? Get local moving quotes.
How does peak season change your PCS timeline?
Summer is the busiest time to PCS, so book the day you get orders if you’re moving between May and August. Military Times reports that peak season generally runs from mid-May through August, with 138,570 household goods pickups by June 30, 2026.
Lead times stretch in summer. An Army transportation office has noted that lead times for move dates can reach 21 days during peak season, and short-notice pickups are hard to book.
Pro tip: Ask for mid-month dates. Military OneSource says the worst times to move are the last week of any month and the last week of June through the first week of July. For more on timing, see our military moving guide.
Moving in summer? Check peak season prices for your route.
What if your PCS orders come with short notice?
If your orders give you only a few weeks, compress the timeline and do the long-lead tasks first. Request move dates, give lease notice, and request records on day one, then handle everything else in the order above.
- Call the transportation office first: Ask what dates are open and whether a PPM or partial PPM gives you more flexibility.
- Book a mover fast if you need one: Coleman’s 30-day advice applies: get to work and be decisive, and vet the mover’s USDOT number on the FMCSA’s Protect Your Move site.
- Plan for temporary lodging: A short gap between pack-out and housing is common, so book TLE-eligible lodging early.
Short on time? Safeway, a moveBuddha Certified mover, handles PPM moves for service members:
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
How is an overseas PCS timeline different?
An overseas (OCONUS) PCS needs more lead time for passports, screening, and your car. Start these the week your orders arrive:
- Passports: No-fee passports can take four to six weeks, and some countries also require visas, which may have to wait until passports arrive.
- Overseas screening: Family members traveling with you usually need medical and educational screening before family travel is approved.
- Unaccompanied baggage: Schedule this smaller, faster shipment so essentials arrive before your main shipment.
- Your car: Book shipping or storage through PCSmyPOV. See our guide to car shipping for military moves for a second car.
Full task list: overseas PCS checklist.
More about military moves
- Military moving guide: Learn how a PCS works, from orders to delivery.
- PCS move checklist: Get every task grouped by category, with a free printable PDF.
- Military weight allowance by rank: Find your allowance and what counts toward it.
- Military PPM move guide: Learn how a PPM works, from counseling to filing your claim.
- Best military moving companies: Compare top movers for a PPM or a move after service.
FAQ
How far in advance do you get PCS orders?
Notice varies by branch and assignment. The Army’s goal is to issue orders 120 days or more before your report date, but many members get less.
How soon should you book a PCS move?
Request your move dates in DPS as soon as you have orders. If you’re hiring movers for a summer PPM, book about 90 days ahead if you can.
When is PCS peak season?
PCS peak season generally runs from mid-May through August. Lead times are longest then, so book as soon as you have orders.
Can you schedule a PCS move without orders?
No, you need orders to schedule a PCS move. An assignment notification isn’t the same as orders, so wait for them before making permanent decisions like buying a home.
How long does TLE cover on a PCS?
Temporary Lodging Expense covers up to 21 days on a move within the continental U.S. It was 14 days before Nov. 27, 2024.
How long do you have to file a PPM claim?
You have 45 days after finishing your move to file a PPM claim. The PPA says to expect payment within 45 days of a complete claim.
What is the worst time to PCS?
Military OneSource says the worst times to move are the last week of any month and the last week of June through the first week of July. Ask for mid-month dates if you can.
Ready to plan your PCS? Compare truck, container, and mover costs for your route before you book:
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