Airmen can ease PCS woes with move.mil

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Reginald Prince
  • 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Once again, its peak moving season for military personnel and Department of Defense employees, which runs from May to September.

To help ease potential delays, military personnel are advised to go to www.move.mil and register for a Defense Personal Property System account. DPS registration can be accomplished before official orders are issued, but to start the process and request desired move dates you need official orders.

Self-counseling in move.mil is mandatory for all military and DOD civilians. Additionally, the self-counseling process takes you through the steps to arrange contractor pack, pickup and ship dates. Once self-counseling is completed in DPS, personnel must visit the Traffic Management Office, Personal Property section with two copies of orders, DD Form 1299, Application for Shipment and Storage of Household Goods and DD Form 1797, Personal Property Counseling Checklist. Headquarters Personal Property Activity requires personnel to schedule their move dates at least three to four weeks in advance.

Be flexible with moving dates and provide realistic primary and alternate dates, which must be at least a week apart. If government-arranged moves are not available due to blackout dates, there are other options such as having a designated releasing agent, power of attorney, or using a personally procured move.

Depending on the type of official orders, there are different types of shipments such as PPM and household goods.

PPM allows you to control your move dates and ensure you have immediate access to your property upon arrival at your new location. You may also be eligible for a financial incentive. In addition to using your own vehicle or renting one, you also have the option to use portable moving and storage containers. There is an option to receive an advance payment to curtail any expenses.

A PCS move may authorize household goods transportation and storage. Your belongings' weight allowance depends on your pay grade and dependency status. Moreover, based on service branch, your next duty location might be weight restricted. Transit times may vary, with estimated 60 to 75 days to an overseas location, and 14 to 30 days to stateside locations. Any remaining weight you elect not to ship may be placed in non-temporary storage.
Non-temporary storage is a secured location for storing your property. This storage is authorized for the duration of your tour.

Unaccompanied baggage is personal clothing and equipment, essential kitchen and housekeeping items, collapsible items and other articles required for the care of dependents. Transit times are usually between 30 and 60 days.

A good method of gauging the weight of household goods is around 1,000 pounds per fully furnished room as an initial estimate. Members are encouraged to dispose of unnecessary items to reduce the weight of their shipment. Excess weight shipped over weight allowance will incur excess cost to the member.

For information on shipping your vehicle, visit the Vehicle Processing Center website at www.pcsmypov.com; for additional information on moving, contact the personal property office at 456-3229 or visit www.move.mil.