Tips for Military Moves

In observance of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Awareness Week, March 16-20, associates from Penske’s Military Call Center provided the below tips to aid with your next military move.

Three months before the move:

• Inform family about the upcoming move.
• Explore moving options.
• Organize your belongings.
• Schedule an appointment with your base Personal Property Transportation Office.
• Start saving all receipts associated with the move. Authorized expenses include: payment for rental vehicles/trailers; packing materials; moving equipment (including hand trucks and dollies); gas and oil expenses; highway tolls, weight tickets and any other transportation expense directly related to the move.
• Inform landlord or Housing Office of upcoming move and coordinate move-out inspection.
• Coordinate with gaining installation’s Housing Office to coordinate for on/off post housing.

Two months before the move:

• Determine the size of the Penske truck you need by using our Truck Wizard and Reserve your Penske Truck. Save up to 20 percent on your military move when reserving one-way rentals online (mention promo code: MILITARY).
• Confirm your insurance coverage, as most companies do not provide coverage for truck rentals.

One month before the move:

• If traveling with pets, schedule a veterinarian appointment.
• Coordinate with your children’s schools to pick up their transcripts and contact new school district to arrange for in processing.
• Start using items you will not be able to move, such as cleaning supplies and perishable or frozen foods.
• Order boxes through Pensketruckrental.com under the link Moving Supplies and Tips.
• Coordinate with Simple Moving Labor or family and friends for moving assistance, if needed.
• Cancel subscriptions, regular deliveries and memberships.

Two weeks before the move

• The Four P's: Papers, Post Office, Providers and People
• Make copies of medical records, birth certificates, etc.
• Change address with the post office, banks, credit cards and magazines.
• Call service providers and utilities to schedule turn on.
• Secure moving-day help. Ask friends and family to save the date; reserve sitters; contact Simple Moving Labor.

Week of the move

• Remove pictures and patch the walls.
• Tear down any furniture. Use plastic bags to keep the screws together and tape to the furniture.
• Pack property and clothing that isn’t needed until arriving at destination.
• Check the status of your new home. If your move-in date is going to be delayed, contact your Military Move Advisor so he or she can assist you in finding storage solutions.
• Refill prescriptions you and your family may need during the next few weeks.

Day before the move

• Pack room by room. Tape and label all boxes. Store electronics and computers in their original boxes, if possible. Use lots of packing materials. Start padding the bottom of the box. Wrap the electronics tightly with more material and top the box off with more padding. Label the box as “Electronics/Fragile Top Load.” Order boxes.
• With pictures, glass and mirrors, wrap in furniture pads and place in a flat box. Always stand the box on the edge. Do not lay flat. Order furniture pads.
• Pack your clothes, uniforms and shoes into wardrobe boxes. Order wardrobe boxes.
• Wrap dishes and glasses separately. Fill empty spaces in the box with packing paper. Label the boxes as “Dishes/Fragile Top Load.”
• Secure dresser drawers and appliance doors with packing blankets, rope and tape.
• Assemble a “moving day kit” to include orders, school transcripts, medical records, directions, maps, GPS, eyeglasses, prescription drugs, water, snacks, books and games for the kids, food for the pets, and the keys for the present quarters so you can turn them in.
• Pack suitcases for everyone in the family with enough clothes to wear during the move.

Day of the move

• Place important documents in a safe location.
• Pick up your Penske Rental Truck. Weigh the truck while it’s empty (for reimbursement purposes).
• Load heaviest items toward the front of the truck.

During the move

• Try not to drive during rush hour
• If you are staying in a hotel overnight during the move, lock the storage area of the truck and park the vehicle in a safe legal parking spot.

Unloading at Destination

• Weigh truck while it’s still full (for reimbursement purposes).
• If there are stairs at your destination, unload enough items to allow you to move the heaviest items first, before you feel fatigued.
• Turn in the truck on time to ensure no late charges incur.
• Unpack promptly. This will allow you and your family to quickly get settled and relax in your new home.

After the move

• After the move you, have 45 days to submit a claim for full payment of your relocation allowance.
• This should include the following at a minimum: empty and loaded Weight tickets (two copies of each); DD Form 2278 (Application for Move and Counseling Checklist); Change of Station Orders; Vehicle Rental Contract; SF 1038 (Advance of Funds Application and Account); DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher/Subvoucher); Move Expense Sheet an Move Certification (attach all receipts for moving expenses).

Are you in the military and need assistance with a move? Call Penske’s Military Call Center at 1-844-4TROOPS (1-844-487-6677).

By "Move Ahead" staff