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A permanent change of station is one of the biggest logistical projects a military family takes on. Between the household goods shipment, clearing quarters, school records, and finding a place to live at the new duty station, it is easy for something important to slip through the cracks.
This PCS moving checklist breaks the move into phases so you always know what to do next. Print it, share it with your spouse, and check items off as you go.
As Soon as You Have Orders
- Get several copies of your orders (paper and PDF). Movers, landlords, schools, and utility companies will ask for them.
- Schedule your household goods move through Move.mil as early as possible. Summer peak season fills up fast.
- Contact the Housing Service Office (HSO) at your gaining installation to get on the on-base housing waitlist or request off-base referrals.
- If you rent off base now, give your landlord written notice with a copy of your orders. Read our guide to breaking a lease with the SCRA.
- Start a PCS binder or folder for orders, receipts, medical and school records, pet records, and inventory sheets. A document organizer with tabs keeps everything in one place.
Six to Eight Weeks Out
- Declutter. Every pound counts against your weight allowance, and a lighter shipment is easier to unpack.
- Take photos or video of every room and high-value item before the movers arrive. This makes claims far easier if something is damaged.
- Request school records and immunization records for children, and look up schools near your new duty station.
- Book pet travel and confirm airline or destination requirements for vaccinations and health certificates.
- Research neighborhoods and military housing rentals near your new base.
Two to Four Weeks Out
- Pack a do-not-pack area. Mark it clearly with bright do-not-pack labels or tape so movers skip it.
- Set aside items you will carry yourself: IDs, passports, orders, jewelry, firearms (follow transport laws), prescriptions, and laptops.
- Schedule utility shut-off at your current home and set-up at your new address.
- Forward your mail with USPS and update your address with banks, insurance, and DFAS through myPay.
- If you are doing a partial or full personally procured move (PPM), get heavy-duty moving boxes, packing tape with a dispenser, and moving blankets, and save every weight ticket and receipt.
Pack Day and Load Day
- Be home and available. Walk the crew through the house and point out fragile or high-value items.
- Check the inventory sheets carefully. Descriptions like “scratched” or “dented” written on everything can make claims harder later. Speak up if you disagree.
- Keep kids and pets in a separate room or with a sitter.
- Do a final walkthrough of every closet, cabinet, attic, and shed before the truck leaves.
Your Open-the-First-Night Box
Pack one bin per person that rides in your car. When the truck is late (and it often is), this box turns a hotel or empty house into something livable:
- Sheets, pillows, and towels, or an air mattress with a built-in pump if you will arrive before your furniture
- Toilet paper, paper towels, soap, and a basic cleaning supply kit
- Phone chargers and a portable power bank
- A small tool kit for reassembling furniture
- Paper plates, cups, a pot, and simple snacks
- Medications, a first aid kit, and copies of orders
Clearing Quarters
If you lived in base housing, schedule your pre-inspection and final inspection early. Ask exactly what the cleaning standard is, and photograph each room after you clean. Our move-in and move-out inspection guide walks through what inspectors usually look for.
At Your New Duty Station
- Sign in and check in with the housing office.
- Do a careful move-in inspection and document existing damage before you unpack.
- Be present for delivery, check off every inventory number, and note damage on the delivery paperwork before signing.
- File any claims within the deadlines given by your transportation service provider.
- Update vehicle registration, driver’s license, and voter registration as required by your new state.
Final Thoughts
A PCS never goes exactly to plan, but a checklist turns chaos into a series of manageable tasks. Start early, keep your documents together, and lean on your installation’s relocation assistance program. When you are ready to look for a home, browse our current military housing listings or read what base housing is and how it works.
