[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n upcoming PCS can be a stressful and exciting time for everyone involved. There’s lots of preparation to be done, but also a lot of resources readily available to help with the process. It’s all about knowing where to look and who to talk to. In the military, PCS is an acronym that stands for Permanent Change of Station.
There are plans to be made and conversations to be had, both at work and at home. Here’s how you can prepare for your upcoming PCS.
Look at the Available Resources
First and foremost, pay a visit to your Transportation Office as soon as you have information regarding your PCS. They’ll be able to give you more information about your relocation and answer questions about the process. They’ll also discuss the various options that are available to you.
You’ll have the option to handle the move yourself and receive reimbursement while taking advantage of vendor discounts for your upcoming PCS. This is known as a Personally Procured Move or a PPM. The alternative is letting the military handle everything and going along with their protocol for moving you to your new station.
Get Alignment with Your Spouse
After talking to your TO, you’ll also want to have an open discussion with your spouse, if you have one. The relocation will ultimately affect both of you, perhaps your spouse even more so. Will they require a new job or are they a stay-at-home parent? If they fall into the latter category, what resources do they need to make the transition as smooth as possible for your family?
Having an open conversation about the process with your spouse, particularly if this is your first PCS, will help highlight any concerns that may impact your family.
Sort Out Housing
Once you know where you’re going, you’ll need to figure out where to live when you get there. If you want to live on base, you’ll need to call and make arrangements to do so. Some bases have waiting lists, so call as soon as possible. Ideally, conversation with your TO and spouse and the phone call to your new station will all happen within 24 hours of each other.
If there is a long waitlist, look into other living arrangements in the meantime. There may be off-base housing available to the military at a low rate. If you want to own a house in that area, look into the local real estate market and see what’s available.
Get Your Paperwork in Order
Create a package that has your ultimate to-do list for your upcoming PCS, as well as your important paperwork. This may include your birth certificate as well as those of your children who will need to be registered in a new school or daycare. It may also include your new orders, title deeds, medical records, and so on.
Having your paperwork collected neatly in an accessible location also helps create a centralized to-do list for you and your spouse. If they’re working on getting some things together while you work on others, you will easily be able to check and see what’s done and what’s still pending.
Learn About Your New Installation
Take some time to learn about your new station and the surrounding area. If you’re being stationed abroad, there are lots of cultural and language differences with which to get familiar. Even in a domestic setting, it’s good to know lots about the surrounding area and the community around you.
Get in touch with the family services office at your new installation and see what welcoming resources they have available and what recommendations they can make before you arrive. If you can visit your new installation before you move, do so.
Like any major move, a PCS is all about staying organized and learning along the way. Remember, you have a lot of resources available to you to make the process go as smoothly as possible.
