Main Content

Military Relocation Guide

For service members and their families, moving is a part of life. A Permanent Change of Station (PCS) happens quickly and can be especially stressful for those unfamiliar with the military relocation process.

This quick step-by-step military relocation guide will help you navigate your move with ease.

  • Preparing for the move

Once the service member receives their PCS orders, they should contact their base transportation office to set up a meeting. Here are the different military branches and their corresponding relocation offices:

  • The Department of Defense – Joint Personal Property Shipping Office
  • Air Force – Traffic Management Office
  • Army – Installation Transportation Office
  • Navy and Marine Corps – Personal Property Shipping Office
  • Coast Guard – Household Goods Shipping Office

During the meeting, moving options and details about the place of relocation are discussed.

Get in touch with the family center at the new location and ask about the community there. Finding out all you can about your new home will make you and your family’s transition to the area smoother.

Military relocations are usually hectic and fast-paced, making it easy to overlook important things. Thus, it’s best to create a PCS moving checklist to stay on top of everything.

If you’re a homeowner, explore all your options on what to do with your property.

  • Knowing your entitlements and allowances

Moving is an expensive process but the military offers reimbursements and entitlements to help offset some of those expenses. Here are some of the allowances you could be eligible for in relation to PCS:

  • Dislocation Allowance (DLA) – This is a partial reimbursement of household relocation costs.
  • Per Diem – An allowance to partially reimburse lodging, meals, and other miscellaneous expenses when transferring duty stations.
  • Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) – An allowance to offset meal and lodging expenses when a service member and their dependents need to live in temporary lodging in the Continental United States (CONUS).
  • Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) – If you want to use your own car for the move, military members are entitled to reimbursement for gas, toll, and other expenses. They can claim up to two vehicles for this allowance.
  • Dependent Travel within CONUS by Other than POC – For those moving within CONUS, military members can choose commercial options such as buses, trains, and airplanes. The amount that will be reimbursed depends on how much it will cost the military to purchase the ticket.
  • Finding the right home and the best military relocation assistance

Military relocations don’t give service members and their families the luxury of time to go to open houses and research different neighborhoods. This makes finding the perfect home even more challenging than it usually is.

To make buying a home easier, your best course of action is through hiring a real estate agent who is a military relocation professional. Your military relocation realtor should have in-depth knowledge about the area you’re moving to, the type of property you’re buying, and the military relocation process.

With the right military relocation assistance, your home buying experience will be a breeze.

  • Choosing the best way to move

Military members have a choice on how they’ll be moving to their new residence: the government contract move or the personally procured move.

With government contract moves, everything will be taken care of by the military from start to finish. All expenses will be covered, as well.

Once the service member has gotten in touch with their respective relocation office regarding a government contract move, they will be set up with a professional military moving service.

Your shipment of household goods will be arranged and transferred to your new residence. This type of move comes with a weight restriction so be mindful of the number of items that you’re shipping out.

A personally procured move, also known as a do-it-yourself (DIY) move gives you more freedom to choose your moving company. For this move, you’ll have to take care of the logistics and moving but the military will reimburse you for the costs.

  • Settling into your new home

When all your belongings have found their way to your new home, it’s time to settle in and make the space your own. You can’t unpack everything in one go so it’s best to unload essential items first.

Military relocation is easy with the help of Loralee Wood!

Get in touch with me, Loralee Wood, the #1 military relocation specialist in Las Vegas. I’ve been helping military families relocate to Las Vegas since 2001.

From finding the right home to closing the deal, I’ll be there for you every step of the way. Call me today at 702.419.3212 or send an email to Loralee(dotted)wood(at)cbvegas(dotted)com.

10 Military relocation terms you need to know

Change of stations, whether temporary or permanent, are quite common in the military. If you are anticipating a relocation soon, one thing that would make the entire process easier is to acquaint yourself with the most common terms used in this stage. Click here to learn about the 10 military relocation terms you need to know. Here, we’ll touch on what makes OCONUS and CONUS different, the different names of the transportation office, and why you should apply for a TLA if you are doing an OCONUS move. Military terminology and acronyms can be confusing, so add these to your vocabulary before your PCS.

UNLV: A top school for veterans

After military service, what happens? Transitioning back to the regular lifestyle can be a daunting task when you have been away serving in the military for a couple of years. One option is to go back to school, finish your studies, and pick up a few skills to help you re-integrate back to your community. In these aspects, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas excels in helping veterans. Click here to learn why UNLV is a top school for veterans. I also included information about the scholarships and initiatives you can apply for and benefit from as you live out your life as a student.

How to apply for a VA loan

Established in 1944 by the government as a means to aid service members achieve their dream of homeownership— that’s the VA loan. It’s also one of the many mortgage types you should definitely explore, especially if you think you might be eligible for it. In this blog post, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about VA loans. This includes how to determine your eligibility, additional requirements you might need to submit, how to start your loan application, and what to expect in the process. Click here to learn more and, as always, get in touch with us if you have any questions.

MRP: What it is and why you should work with one

The process of military relocation isn’t the same as the average home buying process. There are a lot of terms to be familiar with, steps to know, and other details to take into heart. All of these can make the entire thing quite overwhelming, especially for first-timers. In such cases of military relocation, what you need is the expert advice of an MRP realtor or a Military Relocation Professional. But what makes them different from most real estate agents and why is it better to go through military relocation with one? Click here to learn what makes MRP realtors your go-to people during military relocation.

Quick tips for a smooth military relocation

Moving to a new home is both an exciting and challenging time to the homeowners involved. This is even more so with members of the military, who must also deal with set timelines and a laundry list of processes and procedures. This is where the guidance of a reputable Military Relocation Professional, such as myself, comes in handy. Here is a brief but substantial list of essential things to remember if you have been assigned your next Permanent Change of Station or Temporary Duty Move. From assembling your essential PCS folder, to learning more about VA loans, this resource will lead you to all the important information that you need.

Skip to content