Guide · 4 min read · Updated October 9, 2026
PCS Checklist: A Military Move Timeline From Orders to Arrival
A PCS move checklist in timeline order, from the day orders arrive to your first month at the new duty station.
The short answer
A PCS checklist starts the day you have orders: verify the orders, contact your transportation office, set up your shipment in DPS, choose HHG or a PPM, then work through housing, family, and out-processing tasks before pack-out. Your orders, your transportation office, and your finance office set the actual rules and amounts, so confirm everything with them.
From one military spouse to another: a PCS doesn't feel hard because any single task is hard. It's hard because there are a hundred of them, spread across emails, portals, and sticky notes. Here's the LAND + HOME PCS timeline, in the order you'll actually need it.
What should I do first when I get PCS orders?
The first thing to do when you get PCS orders is check them for errors, then contact your local transportation office for counseling.
- Verify names, dependents, duty station, and report dates (RNLTD)
- Report any errors to your admin office right away
- Make copies, paper and digital, of the orders and every amendment
- Contact your transportation office (TMO, PPPO, or TO, depending on your branch)
- Hold off on buying a home until you have orders in hand
Military OneSource says first-time movers, separating members, and retirees must talk to the transportation office before scheduling in DPS.
PCS timeline: what to do and when
A PCS timeline runs from orders to your first month at the new station. The windows below are planning targets, not official deadlines.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Orders in hand | Verify orders, transportation counseling, start the PCS binder |
| As soon as possible | Set up your shipment in DPS and request dates |
| 2–3 months out | Housing plan, school and childcare records, pet travel rules |
| 1 month out | Out-processing, medical and dental records, change of address |
| 2 weeks out | Separate hand-carry items, use up food, confirm dates |
| Pack-out week | Walk the packers through, note high-value items, sign the inventory |
| Arrival | In-process, check in with housing, schedule delivery |
| First 30 days | Unpack, note damage, file claims, update IDs and registrations |
Summer is peak moving season, so request dates as early as your orders allow. For the address side, use our change of address checklist.
How do I set up my move in DPS?
You set up a household goods move in the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) after transportation office counseling.
- Log in with your CAC or a DPS user ID.
- Create a shipment (HHG) or a PPM shipment.
- Enter your estimated weight, pickup and delivery addresses, and dates.
- List special items like firearms, large electronics, or pro-gear (PBP&E).
- Submit the DD 1299. The office routes it to a moving company.
For help, the Personal Property Activity call center is 833-MIL-MOVE (833-645-6683), per DoD. A quick history: DoD ended the HomeSafe Alliance contract in June 2025 and returned moves to the existing DPS system, then created the Personal Property Activity in January 2026 to oversee military moves.
HHG or PPM: which is right for you?
An HHG move means the government hires the movers. A PPM (personally procured move, once called a DITY) means you move some or all of your things yourself and get paid for it.
HHG: movers pack, load, and deliver. Less work, less control over dates.
PPM: you move it and receive 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) for the weight you move, up to your allowance. You keep the difference, minus taxes.
For a PPM, many branches allow an advance of up to 60% of the estimated incentive. You'll need empty and full weight tickets from a certified scale for each trip, plus every receipt. We walk through the math in our PPM move calculator guide.
What PCS money are you entitled to?
PCS entitlements help cover the costs of moving, and the exact amounts depend on your orders, rank, and dependents.
- DLA (Dislocation Allowance): a flat payment toward moving costs. Example: the 2026 rate for an E-5 with dependents is $3,548.02 (DoD, effective January 1, 2026).
- TLE (Temporary Lodging Expense): lodging and meals for a CONUS PCS, up to 21 days since November 27, 2024, and up to 60 days in some housing-shortage areas.
- TLA (Temporary Lodging Allowance): the overseas version of TLE. Your finance office sets the days.
- MALT and per diem: mileage and daily travel pay when you drive to the new station.
Keep every receipt. Finance asks for them, and missing ones can cost you money.
After arrival: claims and settling in
After arrival, check every box and file claims quickly.
- Note damage on the delivery inventory before the movers leave
- Give written notice of loss or damage within 180 days of delivery
- File the itemized claim in DPS within 9 months (picked up on or before May 14, 2026) or 12 months (on or after May 15, 2026)
- Report damage to your home within 7 days of the movers' last day there
- Update licenses, registration, insurance, and voting address
The bottom line
Start the day orders arrive, and keep everything in one place you hand-carry. Rules and amounts change and depend on your orders, so verify with your transportation office and finance office before you count on a number.
Common questions
What should I do first when I get PCS orders?
Check the orders for errors in names, dependents, duty station, and report dates. Then contact your local transportation office for counseling before you schedule your shipment in DPS.
How do I schedule my household goods move?
Set up your shipment in the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) after transportation office counseling. You choose pack and pickup dates, and pickup happens within a seven-day spread window, according to Military OneSource.
How much does a PPM pay?
A member-elected PPM pays 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) based on the weight you actually move, up to your weight allowance. You keep what you don't spend, minus taxes, and need empty and full weight tickets.
How many days of TLE do you get for a CONUS PCS?
Since November 27, 2024, DoD has authorized up to 21 days of Temporary Lodging Expense for a CONUS PCS, up from 14. Some housing-shortage areas are authorized up to 60 days. Confirm with your finance office.
How long do I have to file a PCS moving claim?
Give the moving company written notice of loss or damage within 180 days of delivery. File the itemized claim within 9 months for shipments picked up on or before May 14, 2026, or 12 months for shipments picked up on or after May 15, 2026.
When you're ready for the next step
Keep reading
PPM Move Calculator: How Your Military PPM Payment Is FiguredA military spouse's walk-through of how a PPM incentive is calculated and what you actually keep after expenses and taxes.
Change of Address Checklist: Who to Notify When You MoveHow to file your USPS change of address and the full list of everyone else who needs your new address.