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Tips for moving in the military

By JENNIFER MATTSON NCO Journal

bout every two to three years, Soldiers uproot from their current duty station to another one, sometimes overseas. To help make the process smooth, the U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command overseas moves for service members across the Department of Defense. Command Sgt. Maj. Cedric Thomas, command sergeant major of SDDC, said the command acts works to contract out individual Soldiers permanent change of duty station. We set up the contract to get the carriers to go out and move the Soldiers household goods, Thomas said. The contracts will do the packing, the loading and deliver it to the location. When Soldiers receive orders to move, they should link up with the transportation office or visit the move.

mil website, Thomas said. The peak season for all military moves is between May and August; during this time, it is critical that Soldiers who receive orders visit the website or their transportation office as soon as possible to help start coordinate their moves. As soon as they receive PCS orders, they need to request a pickup and delivery date as soon as possible, Thomas said. It will give them a better chance of getting the dates that they want. They cant wait until the last minute. If they wait until the last minute, theres a good chance they wont get the dates that they want and theyll have to accept whats available. If you wait until the last minute, your stuff may be four weeks behind you, especially if youre going overseas. Though early planners do tend to get the dates they request, all Soldiers need to be flexible with their move dates and list alternates. Soldiers should also create a personal calendar, a sample of one is available on move. mil, and compile phone numbers and a household goods checklist. A typical move coordinated with SDDC can take anywhere from a couple of days to two months, depending on whether or not the move is stateside, overseas or during the peak season, Thomas said. If Soldiers are unavailable during their move dates, they need to arrange for the proper paperworkto include a power of attorneyso that a representative, including their spouse, may act on their behalf with the mov Drill sergeant Sgt. 1st Class Demetrius Chantz, an instructor at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School, corrects Pvt. Stephen Colbert May 8, 2009. PHOTO COURTESY
OF U.S. ARMY

APRIL 2013

SDDC will not ship the following as part of your household goods: XX Personal baggage XXAutomobiles, airplanes, mobile homes, camper trailers, horse trailers and farming equipFollow weight alment lowances. These XX Live animals are based on rank XX Building materials and vary depending XX Privately owned, live ammunion whether depention dents are accompaXX Hazardous articles, i.e. explonying you. sives, poisons, propane gas tanks Do not transport Typically, a minimum of $100 is charged for being over your weight allowance. pests, hazardous materials or illegal items from one duty location to another. Local laws may also regulate and prohibit items for transport that are not included above.

Moving tips
Follow these tips to ensure a smoother move during the peak moving season (May through August): XX Create a personal move calendar with checklists, phone lists, to-do lists and links XX Your Transportation Office or your personal property shipping office is your primary point of contact for customer service XX Once you get orders, immediately start your moving process for a better chance to lock in your preferred pickup and delivery dates XX Requested pickup and delivery dates are not confirmed until coordinated with your TSP XX Pack, pickup and delivery dates are scheduled on weekdays in which you or your designated representative must be available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. XX A quick method for estimating your weight is to calculate 1,000 pounds per room. Another weight estimating tool can be found at move.mil XX Can request a free reweigh of personal property shipment if near or over your weight entitlement XX Move.mil is the Defense Personal Property System, or DPS, placing you in direct contact with your TSP to manage your personal property move. It is important to keep your phone number and email address information updated
For additional information, visit: http://bit.ly/ MilMove

When shipping firearms, you must comply with local and state laws as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regulations. Usually, you will have to make the firearm inoperable and ensure the specs are written on the inventory. Resource for shipping or storing your POV can be found at http://j. mp/movePOV Helpful web sites: State Wine Laws: www.wineinstitute.org ATF regulations: www.atf.gov DOD household goods move: move.mil Weight estimator form: http://j.mp/WeightAllow

Packing up your house

ing contractors. The move.mil website also has a calculator to help Soldiers figure out how much weight their household might be. Weight restrictions are in place and are based on a Soldiers grade. The move.mil website has online training that NCOs can use to become familiar with the moving process to help them when its time for their move and to help their junior Soldiers PCS. NCOs have to understand the move process to better help their troops, Thomas said.
Next month: in-garrison leadership

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