How to Manage a Permanent Change of Station Move in 2025
A PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move is a big event for military families in the best of times, and the 2025 PCS season is definitely not that, due to the Defense Department’s seeming inability to work out their problems with HomeSafe Alliance, the DoD’s single contractor for global household goods shipments and deliveries.
Many military families reported issues with HomeSafe Alliance moves, including movers not showing up as scheduled, delays in pickup and delivery, communication problems, and HomeSafe Alliance not working with enough third-party moving companies in the network.
Due to these problems, the DoD and U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) made changes for the 2025 PCS season including the use of a “dual system” approach between the outdated legacy system and HomeSafe Alliance.
What does this mean?
- Some moves will be with HomeSafe Alliance, and others with the old system, Defense Personal Property System (DPS).
- Which system is used for your move depends on HomeSafe Alliance’s capacity in your area and may be out of your control.
- The Secretary of Defense ordered “immediate modifications” to fix problems in 2025 including a task force to review the global household goods program and ensure moving companies are paid fair rates.
- You may not be offered a choice between the legacy system and HomeSafe Alliance. You may simply be “assigned” one or the other.
But while task force operations and other scrutiny is underway, military families must still grapple with a system that can barely meet the demands placed on it in its current state. This unfairly puts the job of ensuring a PCS move goes properly on the military families being packed up and relocated because the government gave them orders to do so.
How to be Very Prepared for a PCS Move in 2025
This article does not cover the entire PCS process. It focuses specifically on the moving aspect—packing up and shipping your entire home to a new duty station after receiving permanent change-of-station orders.
Once you get PCS orders, contact your local outbound transportation office (Traffic Management Office or Personal Property Shipping Office). For updates, check USTRANSCOM and service branch websites.
Be financially ready. Save money early. Know your moving allowances and reimbursements like Dislocation Allowance (DLA). If your shipment is late, have extra money for potential lodging, meals, or other costs. Keep records of moving expenses that might be reimbursed. Do not assume your travel expenses for a PCS move will be repaid right away.
Remember, the Department of Defense is not fully funded at press time and operates on funds provided via a continuing resolution. Most military families can likely expect PCS travel vouchers to be repaid in the usual manner, but in today’s climate, those assumptions should not be relied upon. Save extra funds just in case.
Gather documents early. Get PCS orders, IDs, vehicle documents, medical and school records, and legal documents. Create your own detailed inventory of your belongings before movers arrive. Take photos or videos of valuables.
Clear Out the Clutter
In the prep stages for your PCS move, it pays to de-clutter your home. Use this as a chance to get rid of items you don’t need. Doing a “purge” of unwanted or no-longer-needed household goods means easier packing and moving, and lower shipment weight. This can save you money if you’re near the weight limit. As fraught as the PCS process is at press time, don’t tempt fate by exceeding the limit of your total household goods weight.
Learn how your move will be handled. Your local transportation office will tell you if your move is with HomeSafe Alliance or DPS. You’ll likely use MilMove, the DoD’s online system. If it’s HomeSafe Alliance, you’ll also use HomeSafe Connect.
The Pre-PCS Move Survey
The official pre-move survey is important. A moving company rep will assess your items. They’ll estimate weight and plan packing. This might be in person or virtual. Be thorough and point out everything to be moved. An accurate survey is key. But prior to that, conduct your own personal survey, take photos of expensive items, document serial numbers or anti-theft measures like engraving or other identification.
Communicate well with your move coordinator. Be proactive with questions. Keep records of all communication, including dates, times, names, and summaries. If with HomeSafe Alliance, use their portal, but also have contact info. For DPS, work with the moving company’s coordinator. Confirm all dates in writing. Be polite and persistent.
While Packing Your Household Goods
Your involvement matters during packing. DO NOT RELY ON THE MOVERS to properly catalog and track your goods. Make your own separate inventory and compare notes with the inventory provided by your moving company.
- It’s not that your movers may be dishonest. It’s more about avoiding the red tape you’ll need to deal with if items are missing from your shipment’s delivery end.
- Due to the problems with the PCS process already in 2025, any anomaly in the process is a potential source for major complications. Play it safe.
- On packing day, be sure to separate items you’ll take with you such as your PCS orders and other military documents, meds, toiletries, clothes, kitchen items, and chargers. You need these items immediately after your home has been packed up.
- Be sure to ask whether the moving company will accept self-packed items. You may not be permitted to self-pack due to liability issues.
Be Physically Present
Be present or have a representative for the entire packing and loading process. Answer questions, point out fragile items, and ensure everything is packed. Check how items are handled. Do a final walk-through to ensure nothing is left. Review the mover’s inventory list before signing. Note any discrepancies.
Track your shipment during the “in-transit” phase of the PCS. When your household goods arrive at your new duty station, be ready to receive the shipment at your new home. Be present at the delivery on the other side of the PCS move.
Check items off the inventory. Note any missing or damaged items on the delivery documents before signing. Take photos of the damage. Do not let the movers unpack your items unattended.
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
