Military Movers
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With your PCS orders in hand, it’s easy to feel the stress and pressure whether it’s your first or tenth move. At Bell Moving and Storage, we understand how overwhelming a military relocation can be on the entire family. Most military members and their families relocate every 2-3 years, but some move even more often. That’s 10x more often than civilian families!
Whether your next duty assignment has you changing states or transferring out of the country, we offer the stress-free moving services you can count on. Bell Moving & Storage looks forward to taking the stress out of your move and thank you for your service.
Whether your next duty assignment has you changing states or transferring out of the country, we offer the stress-free moving services you can count on. Bell Moving & Storage looks forward to taking the stress out of your move and thank you for your service.
What Is a PCS Move? | Understanding Military Moving Services & Your Options
A military PCS move refers to a Permanent Change of Station, or an ordered relocation to a new duty station. This is a long distance move for an assignment that lasts at least 20 weeks. Almost all of the cost of military moving services are covered by the government.
Military members, civilian employees, and their households have two options:
Military members, civilian employees, and their households have two options:
- Arranging a PCS military relocation through government-approved military movers known as Transportation Service Providers (TSPs), or
- Receiving reimbursement for the cost of a Personally Procured Move (PPM) which is essentially a DIY relocation.
Other important terms to understand are CONUS (CONtinental United States) and OCONUS (Outside the CONtinental United States). These types of PCS moves have different rules that apply.
Bell Moving and Storage is the Cincinnati moving company you can count on whether you’re choosing full-service military movers or opting for a PPM move and moving within the country or internationally. You can even choose a combination of both options – using a moving company in Cincinnati for help with some aspects of the relocation while handling the rest yourself.
Bell Moving and Storage is the Cincinnati moving company you can count on whether you’re choosing full-service military movers or opting for a PPM move and moving within the country or internationally. You can even choose a combination of both options – using a moving company in Cincinnati for help with some aspects of the relocation while handling the rest yourself.
PCS Move with TSP or Military Movers
Letting the government arrange moving services is, of course, the most straightforward option for moving in the military. This option starts with submitting a request to United States Transportation Command. The government then arranges packing services and shipment of your belongings to your new location.
Military members using TSP movers must be aware of weight restrictions that vary by rank. A household goods move (HHG) also has some limits on what can be included and what must be covered at your own expense.
There are drawbacks to moving with a TSP contractor. While you won’t have to worry about surprise expenses if you stay within the weight limit, there’s a greater risk of damaged or lost belongings as your items are unpacked into a warehouse. You also wait longer for your belongings with an uncertain timeline for pickup.
Military members using TSP movers must be aware of weight restrictions that vary by rank. A household goods move (HHG) also has some limits on what can be included and what must be covered at your own expense.
There are drawbacks to moving with a TSP contractor. While you won’t have to worry about surprise expenses if you stay within the weight limit, there’s a greater risk of damaged or lost belongings as your items are unpacked into a warehouse. You also wait longer for your belongings with an uncertain timeline for pickup.
PPM Move
A personally procured move is a good option if you want to do the packing and moving yourself – or have more control over the moving process and your belongings. With a PPM military move, the government reimburses you 100% of what it would have paid TSP movers. This reimbursement is based on the weight of your household goods.
To apply for a PPM move, you need to schedule an appointment with your Personal Property Office (PPO) and get the forms you will need including the DD Form 2278 (Application for Move and Counseling Checklist), Form 1038 (Advance of Funds Application and Account), and others. You will need to be authorized for a PPM move and must work out details with the PTO representative if you decide to do a partial PPM move by hiring your own military movers.
You will have the freedom to make your own arrangements such as renting a moving truck, buying packing supplies, or hiring movers. Many expenses can be put on a Government Travel Charge Card to streamline this process.
To apply for a PPM move, you need to schedule an appointment with your Personal Property Office (PPO) and get the forms you will need including the DD Form 2278 (Application for Move and Counseling Checklist), Form 1038 (Advance of Funds Application and Account), and others. You will need to be authorized for a PPM move and must work out details with the PTO representative if you decide to do a partial PPM move by hiring your own military movers.
You will have the freedom to make your own arrangements such as renting a moving truck, buying packing supplies, or hiring movers. Many expenses can be put on a Government Travel Charge Card to streamline this process.
Partial PPM Move
Most service members opt for a partial PPM relocation. This may mean a PPM move (with our without Cincinnati movers to help) and a HHG shipment using a government-furnished moving company. You can also choose between a PPM move that you handle entirely on your own or a personally procured move handled by military movers you choose and hire.
There are many benefits to a partial PPM relocation:
There are many benefits to a partial PPM relocation:
- You can move on your timeline and choose your moving day
- You can do as much work yourself as you want
- You can keep money from your allowance that you save
- You can maintain control of items that can’t be replaced like heirlooms
Cost of a Military Move
You may pay nothing for military movers or you may have some out-of-pocket costs depending on your rank, the type of move, what you are moving, and other factors. As a general rule, the government pays for your military relocation by contracting a Transportation Service Provider or reimbursing you 100% of what they would pay a TSP – with some exceptions and subject to certain allowances.
Here is a brief overview of PCS moving reimbursement programs.
Here is a brief overview of PCS moving reimbursement programs.
Dislocation Allowance (DLA)
This is an annually updated rate< paid once during a PCS move to help cover miscellaneous expenses while relocating.
Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT)
This is a $0.22/mile (as of July 2022) mileage reimbursement for up to two vehicles when a service member relocates with dependent family members.
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
TLE partially offsets the cost of lodging and meals for military members and family when temporary accommodations are necessary with a rate of up to $290 per day.
Advance Basic Pay
This benefit allows service members to receive an interest-free advance of up to three months’ basic pay which is repaid over 12 to 24 months.
Advance Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)
This is an advance against projected OHA. It is designed to cover the difference between the BAH and a non-base rental home.
Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA)
Available with OCNUS PCS moves, MIHA is an allowance that reimburses the expense of living in a privately leased or owned home overseas. It addresses the cost to make a home habitable, modifications for security, and rent.
Per Diem Allowance
A per diem amount is calculated based on the ages of travelers, number of travel days, and current CONUS standard per diem rate. This allowance reimburses the expense of lodging and meals while traveling to the new duty station.
Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA)
TLA offsets the expense of meals and temporary housing while waiting for permanent housing with OCONUS moves.
Advance BAH
Some branches allow military members to receive an advance on BAH to help with a move into off-base housing.
What Will Cincinnati Military Movers Not Pack?
A PCS move is different than a standard household move for many reasons. There are many regulations that must be followed including what movers are authorized to pack.
Moving companies are prohibited from packing certain items during a military move. This includes:
Moving companies are prohibited from packing certain items during a military move. This includes:
- Hazardous materials including certain cleaning and hobby supplies
- Building materials including wood for hobby woodworking
- Vehicles
- Live animals
- Household goods for commercial use or resale
- Ammunition
Cincinnati Military Moving Services
Bell Moving & Storage offers local and long distance relocation services for military members in all branches. We perform PCS moves and assist with PPM relocations throughout the country and internationally. Our full service, trained movers do it all including packing services and storage services to make your military moving experience as stress free as possible.
A large share of military relocations we perform are to and from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base just outside Dayton in the Cincinnati area. Wright-Patt is one of the largest Air Force bases with over 30,000 Airmen, contractor, and civilian employees. Call our Air Force movers today for a free quote for your Wright-Patt PCS move!
We also serve other branches and military bases including Camp Atterbury Army Base in Edinburgh IN, Fort Campbell near Clarksville TN, and Fort Knox in Kentucky.
A large share of military relocations we perform are to and from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base just outside Dayton in the Cincinnati area. Wright-Patt is one of the largest Air Force bases with over 30,000 Airmen, contractor, and civilian employees. Call our Air Force movers today for a free quote for your Wright-Patt PCS move!
We also serve other branches and military bases including Camp Atterbury Army Base in Edinburgh IN, Fort Campbell near Clarksville TN, and Fort Knox in Kentucky.
Military Moving Resources
- Moving (Military OneSource). This is the official Department of Defense moving portal with step-by-step guides and helpful resources. Use this site to start planning a PCS move.
- Military Installations (OneSource). Get in-depth information about U.S. military installations including cost of living, schools, family services, and more.
- Military Installations Homes.mil. This service connects military members and their household with rental home listings near U.S. bases.
- PCSmyPOV. Schedule drop off and pick up if you are storing or shipping a personal vehicle as part of a PCS move.
- School Liaison Contacts (Department of Defense Program). Find a school liaison in your new community whose role is to assist military families with a variety of school-related issues.
- School Liaison Contacts (Department of Defense Program). Find a school liaison in your new community whose role is to assist military families with a variety of school-related issues.
- PCS Military Move Checklist (Military.com). Printable checklists for things to do ahead of your next move.
- Weight Estimator Tool. This provides average weights of standard items and helps you compare your entitlement allowance with your estimated shipment weight.
Bell Moving & Storage Is Your Best Cincinnati Military Mover!
The best military moving companies make all the difference in making the military family moving experience easy and worry-free. Bell Moving & Storage has served the Ohio Valley for a century with the expertise, customer service, and dedication you need. Contact our Cincinnati military movers today for a free estimate and military discount to discuss your upcoming relocation and how we can ease your concerns.
