When Do You Receive PCS Orders?
When Do You Receive PCS Orders?
As military families prepare to relocate with PCS orders, receiving orders can be an exciting time of change and transition. While the government provides allowances to assist with moving expenses, oftentimes they're insufficient in covering all associated costs that may be encountered on such an undertaking.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Orders
Military members frequently encounter PCS moves. Each year, approximately 400,000 service members experience this event and must pack up and empty out their old homes before checking into a hotel or temporary housing on base and departing on their journey (or flying home from base).
As soon as your PCS date is known, planning can begin in earnest. An assignment notification may give an idea of when it could happen – however it won't become official until your orders arrive in the mail.
An effective PCS move begins by creating an inventory of what you plan to bring with you – this will aid with DPS paperwork should something become lost or damaged during transit, and budget for relocation expenses as there is only limited funding allocated by the government for moving services and other related costs.
Temporary Change of Station (TCS) Orders
PCS and TDY orders allow service members to relocate to new locations, with each order providing an anticipated check-in date when arriving to begin their assignment.
As soon as a service member and their family arrive at their new assignment, they must be properly screened for overseas travel. A no-fee passport will also be needed in order to travel outside of the U.S. It is important that they follow procedures outlined in MILPERSMAN Articles 1300-300 through 1300-306 and 1300-316 when making these arrangements.
Moving can be a tumultuous time for service members and their families, especially during peak PCS season when there may be shortages of movers and labor. To ease their transition, service members should begin planning as soon as they receive their assignment notification – this could include "spring cleaning" their home before taking an inventory of belongings that will accompany them – in case items get misplaced during transit or disappear entirely during arrival at duty station.
Deployment Orders
Military personnel typically are informed of their deployment schedule several months in advance depending on their job function. Aircraft maintainers, pilots and security police usually deploy frequently. A warning order usually precedes deployment notices followed by movement orders.
Deployments involve sending personnel or equipment forward for training or combat operations; such orders differ from PCS/TDY orders as they don't affect current assignments, etc.
As with TDY and PCS orders, deployment orders identify your TCS (mobilization station) and proceed date. Most deployment orders provide government transportation, quarters and meals at no cost to you; if your PLEAD lies outside commuting distance then daily incidental expenses for travel days will apply; please see MOB for additional details and read your AWARD orders for additional entitlements.
Travel Orders
After receiving PCS orders to an overseas location, members and families should quickly contact the Personal Property Transportation and Household Goods office. In addition to applying for no-fee passports for themselves and any dependents required by MILPERSMAN Article 4650-020 regarding overseas screening and Dependent Entry approval processes, as soon as possible they should update command websites and Welcome Aboard packages accordingly. Depending on their destination restrictions may exist regarding shipping of household goods and privately owned vehicles.
An order to fill positions may be issued by any commander authorized to fill them, an activity's commander employing civilian employees, or the gaining command itself. A PCS travel order should include information specified in Table 5 regarding where their first PDS OCONUS location will be, clearly marked "PCS to first duty station", and may include whether TDY en route is authorized with per diem rate and authorization information provided as appropriate.
When Do You Receive PCS Orders? As military families prepare to relocate with PCS orders, receiving orders can be an exciting time of change and transition. While the government provides allowances to assist with moving expenses, oftentimes they're insufficient in covering all associated costs that may be encountered on such an undertaking. Permanent Change of…