Because who needs movers when you’ve got a rental truck, a scale ticket, and a suspicious amount of snacks?

If you’re a military family, you’ll PCS. That’s just life.
But if you’re really in it — maybe budget-conscious, a little Type A, or just extremely determined to control your own chaos — you’ll do what’s called a DITY move (aka PPM: Personally Procured Move).

I’ve done every PCS this way. And let me tell you — our first one? A full-blown baptism by fire.

*4 days on the road with way too big of a moving truck, and a cat who insisted he be the dashboard copilot…*

*Check out the Cat Corner for more on Ron’s first PCS move!

First: What Is a DITY or PPM Move?

A DITY/PPM move is when you move your own household goods instead of having the military hire a moving company.

Why would anyone do this?

You like control over your stuff.
You're tired of broken dishes and mystery boxes.
You want to potentially make money by getting reimbursed for doing it yourself.

Yes, that’s right — the military pays you to move yourself. You front the work, and you can get a reimbursement based on what it would’ve cost them to move you. If you’re under budget? You keep the difference.

🚨 Story Time: Our First PCS Was Trial by Cardboard and Chaos

We were two months post-deployment when we got our first PCS orders — an ADOS (Active Duty for Operational Support) position. For the uninitiated, that means a temporary active-duty Guard assignment… with way less notice than your typical Active Duty move.

We had three weeks (yes, three) to pack up everything in Vermont and move literally across the country to Kansas City. No moving company. No roadmap. Just Google, caffeine, and mild panic.

I researched every single thing on my own — from where to weigh a truck to what counted as reimbursable — because no one handed us a checklist. And I promise you, when you’re juggling last-minute logistics, weird acronyms, and a suspiciously heavy cat, you want to be prepared.

Here are some PCS pro tips before we dive into the steps of the PCS process!

🧾 Keep Every Receipt — Seriously

Every box. Every roll of tape. Every moving blanket or furniture cover. Keep the receipt.

Reimbursement can include:

Moving supplies (boxes, tape, rope, straps, etc.)
Furniture pads, mattress covers, dollies
Fuel for your moving truck
Tolls and weight scale fees
Rental equipment

Pro tip: Designate a folder, envelope, or pouch labeled “PCS RECEIPTS” — physical or digital.
Because when your soldier gets to their new base and heads into finance to do the post-move paperwork, they’ll need those receipts to get your money back. And trust me, you don’t want to be rifling through trash bags or random inbox folders trying to find a receipt for your $200 Home Depot haul.

⏰ You’ll Have a Designated Number of Days to Complete Your Move

Here’s something they don’t always tell you upfront: you’re given a specific number of days to complete your PCS move — and it’s based on mileage.

The military calculates how far you’re moving and assigns a travel window, including a departure date and a required arrival date at your new duty station. It’s not a “move at your own pace” situation — it’s a structured, clock-is-ticking kind of deal.

For example:

Our first PCS from Vermont to Kansas City gave us 4 days to pack, drive, and get there.
Our second PCS gave us just 3 days to haul ourselves and all our earthly possessions across states.
It doesn’t sound like much — and spoiler: it isn’t. Especially when you're factoring in pets, sleep, meal stops, weather, and where the heck you’re going to park a moving truck overnight.

It’s all doable, but it helps to know the timeline going in. And don’t worry — we’ll be covering PCS road trip survival in a future post. (Think: travel planning, hotel hacks, pet tips, and how to avoid sobbing into fast food napkins in a motel parking lot.)

📝 Side Note: A Permissive Leave PSA

Quick thing my husband wished he’d known during our first PCS:
Soldiers can take up to 10 days of permissive TDY (now often called “house hunting leave”) after reporting in — to return home, help with the move, and secure housing.

We didn’t know that.
So instead of having that breathing room, we rushed the entire move in a tight window, fully exhausted and scrambling.
Lesson learned: Ask your gaining unit about this option ahead of time — it’s not guaranteed, but it’s often available if you know to request it.

Now let’s chat about HOW to PCS.

🗂 Step 1: Get the Official Paperwork Done

Before you start wrapping wine glasses in old t-shirts, you need orders.
Once you have those in hand:

Head to your installation’s Transportation Office (or have your soldier log into DPS because as a Guard soldier you may not have a transportation office…we didn’t) to start the PPM process.
Tell them you're doing a full or partial PPM and get your move authorized.
You’ll be given a weight allowance, reimbursement estimate, and most importantly: instructions on how to file for payment.

Pro tip: Screenshot or print everything. You’ll need it later when the admin chaos begins.

📦 Step 2: Plan & Pack Like a Logistics Ninja

Packing is where your inner spreadsheet-loving self gets to shine.
Here’s how to level up:

🔹 Gather Supplies:

Boxes (ask on base, Facebook Marketplace, liquor stores — free is your friend)
Packing tape, bubble wrap, moving blankets, Sharpies
Ziplock bags for screws/bolts (tape them to furniture)
Labels — and more labels

🔹 Organize by Room:

Label every box with its contents AND the destination room
Create a must-have box with essentials for the first night (toilet paper, cat food, snacks, wine opener — trust me)

🔹 Load with Strategy:

Heavy stuff first, light stuff on top
Use every inch of space — think Tetris, but if Tetris gave you back pain
Keep valuables and sensitive documents with you

🚛 Step 3: Rent the Truck + Weigh It (Yes, Really)

You’ll need to rent a moving truck (U-Haul, Penske, Budget, etc.).
Choose a size based on how much you own — and then:

📏 Weigh Your Truck Empty

Go to a certified CAT Scale (you can find locations online)
Ask for a certified empty weight ticket
Do not load anything yet — this is your starting point!

📏 Then Load It Up & Weigh Again

After you pack, return to the same or another scale for your full weight
This is how the military calculates how much stuff you moved — which affects your reimbursement

Tip: Save both scale tickets. They’re not just receipts — they’re money.

💰 Step 4: File for Reimbursement (a.k.a. Do The Math)

Once you arrive at your new location, you'll need to:

Upload your weight tickets, receipts (rental truck, gas, etc.), and orders to the DPS system
Submit your PPM packet to your local finance office (or through your branch’s preferred method)
Wait patiently (or impatiently) for your reimbursement to hit

Your reimbursement is based on the estimated cost the government would’ve paid to move you. If your actual costs are less — you keep the difference. That’s why people sometimes refer to it as the "make-money move."

That said, it’s not guaranteed you’ll profit — but you can, especially if you pack efficiently and don’t go overboard on expenses.

🐾 PCS Pro Tips from a Seasoned DITY Veteran:

Take photos of everything: boxes, truck loading, receipts. Just in case.
Save every receipt: gas, equipment rental, tolls — you might be able to claim them.
Pack a “deployment-style” bag: You will forget where you packed your shampoo.
Make a plan for pets: Cats and cross-country road trips? That's a blog post all on its own - check it out over in the Cat Corner!

🎯 Final Thoughts

DITY/PPM moves aren’t for everyone — but if you're the kind of person who likes a challenge, wants more control, or just doesn’t want strangers touching your cat tree, it might be the way to go.

Yes, it’s work. Yes, it’s a little chaotic.
But when it’s all said and done, you might just walk away with a cleaner move, fewer broken dishes, and a little extra in your bank account.

PCS like a pro, my friend. You've got this.

Get Your FREE PCS Checklist Here

💬 Have you done a DITY move before? Got any tips, horror stories, or things you wish you knew? Drop a comment or shoot me a message — I love swapping PCS war stories (preferably over coffee or a bottle of wine). 😉

📦 How to PCS Like a Pro (DITY/PPM Style)