We have orders to move.
It’s no secret that moving is a large part of military life. If you’re currently active, were active in the past or if you grew up in a military family, chances are you’ve done your share of moving. Military members and families may move as often as once a year, and while it can be exciting, it also can be extremely stressful. So whether you’ve had several months or just a few short weeks to prepare for PCSing (Permanent Change of Station), check out these quick tips to stay on top of your military move and ease your stress at the same time.
Get Organized: If you’re moving yourself through the Personally Procured Move Program (formerly Do-It-Yourself [DITY] Move), it’s always a good idea to check with your transportation office to make sure you have the most accurate information. After that, get organized. As mentioned in Moving Insider’s Military Deployment Readiness Tips, the checklist should become your new best friend. Military.com has extremely detailed PCS Checklists for your move. The checklists are great and can help you get organized for your military move as far as three months in advance
Determine What Moving Method Is Most Cost-Effective: Find out exactly what the military will cover, and what portion of the move you will be responsible for. Knowing this can help you to determine the most cost-effective equipment to select. Check out the variety of U-Haul moving trucks and trailers on uhaul.com. Or, if shipping is an option, you may want to look into using a U-Box portable storage container, which can make moving and storage more convenient thanks to various pickup and delivery options.
Get Some Help: Over time, I have had many opportunities to help active duty military members through their PCSing, and have heard first hand how stressful it really can be. Relocating can take its toll mentally and physically on anyone, and just knowing that someone is there to help provides reassurance. Help can be found in many places. Most military branches provide resources for individuals and families ranging from child care, expense tracking, financials etc. Whether you are living on base or not, your branch can put you in contact with the appropriate person to help you adjust to your new community.
Check out these tips to stay on top of your military move.
Settle In: There are quite a few tricks of the trade for settling in at your new location but, I have heard that using online banking is one of the most helpful. That way you don’t have to worry about finding a branch near your new home, and also can take advantage of automatic bill pay.
Hopefully these quick tips can help out in your time of need, and of course, thank you for your service and sacrifice!
Are you familiar with the military moving lifestyle? Feel free to share any helpful moving tips you may have in the comment section below.
