Your PCS entitlements, decoded.

A lump-sum payment to partially offset the out-of-pocket costs of a PCS move — security deposits, utility hookups, connection fees, and all the other expenses that come with uprooting your life.

Based on your pay grade and dependency status. Ranges from approximately $900 (junior enlisted, without dependents) to roughly $4,900 (senior officers, with dependents). The exact table is published in the JTR and updated periodically.

Paid with your PCS travel claim, usually within 30 days of filing. You can also request an advance DLA before you move — ask your finance office.

Most service members executing a PCS move with a change of permanent duty station. Includes moves with dependents, and many without. First duty station from basic training typically qualifies. Separation moves do NOT always qualify — check your orders.

DLA rates are significantly higher with dependents. "With dependents" means you have a spouse, children, or other authorized dependents registered in DEERS. The difference can be $1,000 or more.

Personally Procured Move (formerly DITY move) — you move your own household goods and the government pays you based on what it would have cost them to hire a contractor. If you spend less than that amount, you keep the difference.

The government calculates what a commercial moving company would charge for your authorized weight. They pay you 100% of that estimate. If you rent a U-Haul for $2,000 and the government estimate was $8,000, you pocket the $6,000 difference. The incentive is real.

Your authorized weight is based on pay grade. An E-1 gets 5,000 lbs. An E-5 gets 7,000 lbs. An O-3 gets 13,000 lbs. An O-6+ gets 18,000 lbs. Pro gear is separate (see HHG section). You only get paid for the weight you actually move, up to your limit.

You must get certified weigh tickets: weigh your vehicle/trailer loaded (full), then weigh it again empty. The difference is your shipment weight. Use CAT scales at truck stops — they give official certified tickets.

PPM profit is taxable income. The amount you receive above your actual moving expenses is considered taxable. The government withholds approximately 22% for federal taxes. Budget for this — your take-home from the PPM will be less than the gross payment.

You don't have to choose all-or-nothing. A partial PPM means the government ships some of your stuff (HHG), and you personally move the rest. You get PPM payment for the weight you move yourself and full HHG service for the rest.

The Transportation Management Office (TMO) arranges professional movers to pack, load, transport, unload, and unpack your household goods at no cost to you. This is the "standard" military move most people think of.

Same grade-based weight chart as PPM. E-1: 5,000 lbs. E-5: 7,000 lbs. E-7: 11,000 lbs. O-3: 13,000 lbs. O-6+: 18,000 lbs. If you go over your authorized weight, you pay for the excess out of pocket — and overweight charges are expensive.

Packing materials, packing labor, loading, transportation, unloading, unpacking, and up to 90 days of storage in transit (SIT) at government expense. They're supposed to handle everything from boxing your kitchen to reassembling furniture at the destination.

Cleaning your old residence, maid or janitorial services, items movers are prohibited from shipping (hazardous materials, ammunition, perishable food, flammable liquids, propane tanks), and any items you failed to declare. Live plants and pets travel with you, not HHG.

If movers damage or lose your property, you have 75 days from delivery to file a claim. This is not a suggestion — it is a hard deadline. After 75 days, your claim is likely denied. File through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) or your branch's claims office.

Professional gear — tools of your trade, reference books, professional instruments, and specialized equipment required for your job — does NOT count against your weight allowance. Service member gets up to 2,000 lbs of pro gear. Spouse gets up to 500 lbs if they have a profession.

Reimbursement for temporary lodging (hotel, Airbnb, TLF) while you're between permanent residences during a PCS. Covers the gap period when you've vacated your old home but haven't moved into your new one.

Up to 10 days combined between your old and new duty station. You can split those days however you want — for example, 3 days at the old location and 7 at the new one. Maximum reimbursement is approximately $290/day for lodging plus meals/incidentals per diem.

For OCONUS moves, TLA replaces TLE and is significantly more generous — up to 60 days at the new OCONUS duty station. Rates are higher to reflect overseas lodging costs. TLA is a separate entitlement and does not reduce your CONUS TLE days.

Keep every receipt — hotel folios showing nightly rates, meal receipts if claiming actuals, and anything related to incidentals. You'll submit these with your travel claim. Digital copies work, but keep originals as backup.

Split your TLE days between old and new duty station to maximize coverage. If you're selling a house at your old station and house-hunting at your new one, you likely need days on both ends. On-post TLF (Temporary Lodging Facility) is often cheaper and stretches your TLE further.

The government pays you a set rate per mile for driving your privately owned vehicle (POV) to your new duty station. The current rate is approximately $0.22/mile for PCS travel. This is based on the official distance between duty stations, not your actual odometer.

A daily allowance for meals and incidentals while you're in travel status between duty stations. You receive a flat rate for each authorized travel day. First and last travel days are paid at 75% of the full rate.

Your dependents are authorized their own travel pay, including per diem and mileage if they're driving a separate vehicle. If your spouse drives a second car while you drive the moving truck, that's two mileage claims.

Based on the official distance between duty stations, you're authorized roughly one travel day per 350 miles. A 1,400-mile PCS gives you 4 travel days. You get per diem for each authorized day. If you drive faster, you still get paid for all authorized days.

If your orders authorize air travel, the government either books your flight or reimburses you. Rental cars at the destination may be authorized if needed to reach your duty station. Check what your orders specifically authorize — unauthorized expenses are not reimbursable.

The military ships one privately owned vehicle for free to most OCONUS duty stations. You drop it off at a Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) before you leave and pick it up at the VPC near your new station. Transit time is typically 4-8 weeks depending on destination.

An ongoing pay adjustment for service members stationed at high-cost OCONUS locations. COLA compensates for the difference in purchasing power between the U.S. and your overseas duty station. Rates fluctuate with exchange rates and local price surveys.

Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) replaces BAH for OCONUS stations. Unlike BAH, OHA covers your actual rent up to a cap for your grade, plus a separate utility/recurring maintenance allowance. If your rent is under the cap, you get what you actually pay — no pocketing the difference like with BAH.

Covers one-time expenses when securing overseas housing — security deposits, real estate agent fees, key money (common in Japan and Korea), and other legally required move-in costs. Separate from DLA. Comes in two parts: a flat-rate miscellaneous portion and a rent-related portion.

You can request an advance of up to 3 months' base pay before an OCONUS PCS. This is a loan from the government — you must repay it over up to 12 months (24 months in some cases). It helps cover the significant upfront costs of an overseas move.

Up to 90 days of storage at government expense during your PCS. Used when your household goods arrive before your housing is ready, or when you need to vacate before the movers come. Available at both origin and destination.

Long-term storage for extended overseas tours, deployments, or situations where you can't take all your household goods. Available for unaccompanied OCONUS tours and some other qualifying situations. Can last the duration of your orders.

Items placed in SIT or NTS count against your authorized weight allowance. If you store 3,000 lbs and ship 5,000 lbs, your total is 8,000 lbs. Make sure the combined weight stays within your grade-based limit or you'll pay excess charges.

SIT can be extended beyond the initial 90 days with approval from your transportation office. You need a valid reason — housing delays, construction, or other circumstances beyond your control. Apply for the extension before the 90 days expire.