PCS SEASON · ONE PAGE, THE WHOLE MOVE
The PCS Kit
Every money piece of a permanent change of station on one page: the allowances, the timeline, the calculators, and the discounts that matter for a move. Print it. Fridge it. Execute.
How to use this page: a PCS pays through several separate entitlements, and each one has its own rules and paperwork. This kit links every StandWatch tool and guide that covers a piece of the move, in the order you'll need them, plus the official help desks that own the final numbers for your orders.
The money timeline
| When | Money moves to make |
|---|---|
| Orders in hand | Read them twice: your allowances flow from what the orders authorize. Start the housing conversation at the new station and set up a move budget with the Budget tool. |
| As early as possible | Book the move in DPS through your transportation office (TMO), or price a PPM (you move yourself, the government pays you). The PCS Money Guide walks the government-move vs PPM decision. |
| Before you drive | Know your authorized travel days and what each pays: the travel-day formula with worked examples, plus mileage (MALT) at the current rate. |
| Between homes | Temporary lodging is its own allowance with day limits: TLE vs TLA covers which one applies and how to claim it. |
| At the new station | File travel vouchers fast, watch for the Dislocation Allowance (DLA) to post, and reset the household budget for the new BAH rate. |
THE ENTITLEMENTS · ONE LINE EACH
The five allowances
- DLA: a lump sum for setting up the new household. Covered in the PCS Money Guide.
- Travel days and per diem: roughly one day per 350 official miles, each day paying per diem. The formula with examples.
- MALT: mileage for driving your own vehicle, paid per official mile. Also on the travel-days page.
- TLE / TLA: temporary lodging on either end of the move. Side-by-side breakdown.
- PPM (DITY): get paid to move yourself. The decision math is in the PCS Money Guide.
The discount stack for a move
These listings in the Discounts Directory earn their keep during a PCS. Terms live on each provider's official page; several need ID.me or SheerID verification, so set that up before you book.
Truck and container movesPenske, Budget Truck Rental, and PODS all carry military offers in the directory. Lodging en routeBest Western lists rates at or below per diem for service members; Hilton and others carry military rates that vary by property. New station utilitiesPhone and internet military offers, because a PCS usually means new bills.THE HOME FRONT
For the family
- A move often costs a spouse a paycheck: the Military Spouse Employment Guide covers license transfers, remote-work rights, and the programs that pay for recredentialing.
- New state, new rules: the SCRA & MLA Guide covers lease termination rights when orders move you.
Own a home at the old station?
The biggest money decision of many moves: sell it, rent it out, or carry it empty. The Home Sale & Purchase Guide has a calculator that runs all three doors from your numbers, the 2024 agent-commission rule changes explained, and an agent-vs-by-owner pressure test.
The Three Doors CalculatorSell, rent out, or hold: your mortgage, rent, fees, and vacancy, side by side. The Military Landlord GuideIf the rental door wins: pricing, screening, taxes, and the SCRA from the landlord side.OFFICIAL HELP DESKS · SAVE THESE BEFORE YOU NEED THEM
Who actually runs your move
Your transportation office (TMO) and finance office own the authoritative numbers for your orders. When you can't reach them, or something breaks mid-move, these are the official desks that exist to unstick it.
Find your local offices
The MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory lists every base's offices:Transportation offices (TMO) →
Finance offices →
Relocation assistance programs →
Your branch's PCS help line
Can't reach your local TMO? Each branch runs its own moving-assistance desk:Army · Marine Corps · Navy · Air Force & Space Force · Coast Guard
DPS help desk (booking system)
Moving under the legacy Tender of Service program? DPS is where you schedule and manage the move; its System Response Center fixes access, account, and technical problems.833-MIL-MOVE (833-645-6683), open 24/7
Email the response center · Schedule your move in DPS →
Shipping your vehicle (POV)
International Auto Logistics handles POV shipping and storage questions.855-389-9499
PCSmyPOV.com →
Passengers and pets (OCONUS)
The Air Mobility Command travel site covers terminals, reservations, baggage, and pet spaces for overseas moves.AMC travel site →
Pet and passenger transportation, explained →
Any part of the move, any hour
Military OneSource, free 24/7 help from DoD's own support line.800-342-9647
Source: Military OneSource, customer service contacts for military PCS. As of July 2026.
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