With so many moving companies around, it can be hard to choose the one that’s right for your military move. You might need a few different moves – government contract, personally procured, or personally procured with no cost. This blog will discuss how to prepare for military movers and find the best military moving companies.
Yet, having sufficient information about how military moving works will give you the upper hand in any given situation and empower you to make future moves easier with time. When you’ve been in the military for a while, it probably seems like you’ve had to move your gear countless times. But even if this is your first time moving with the military, either as an infantryman or an A-10 pilot, see if any of these tips will help make your life easier when you finally get that.
Since military orders start when you receive them, the process of moving can begin immediately.
How do you plan a military move?
The process of planning a military move begins with understanding the basics of how it works. The first thing to figure out is whether you’re authorized for an official, government-funded move or if you have to procure one and pay in advance personally. Only those on active duty can be given a free military relocation under what’s known as DoD (Department of Defence) Moves authorization; members of the National Guard may not qualify for this type of transfer because they aren’t subject to orders from headquarters. Suppose your status qualifies you for such coverage. In that case, typically, there will be assistance provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) MWR Moving Services that includes packing materials such as boxes, bubble wrap, and wooden crates, along with transportation services offered through contracted movers.
Suppose you have to plan and pay for all of the logistics yourself. In that case, it’s best to be prepared in advance by contacting a professional mover that can advise what kind of boxes are available or needed, how much square footage your belongings will require during transit, and other factors such as whether there is an elevator at your new residence if you’re moving into a high-rise building.
The Government Contract Move
Regarding the government contract move, some unique situations can arise, and they will require special handling. For instance, if a service member is moving their spouse or children to another duty location with them, then those family members may be able to receive DoD MWR Moving Services at no cost; however, any unaccompanied military retiree of E-l0 retirement grade or higher cannot use these services since this would count as a PPM (Personal Procured Move discussed below)
“Personal Procured Move,” also known as Privately contracted move
Personal Procured Move (PPM) can be a military move where the service member moves themselves or their family on an authorized PCS at government expense. This is also known as the “Pre-Paid” move, and it must meet certain criteria to qualify for this. For example, the service members cannot have any household goods that exceed weight allowances (except those exceeding 100 pounds which are not subject to HA charges). If they do, then there will need to hire a moving company that does charge by weight. There may also be other conditions such as whether they’re authorized for MWR Moving Services or if they’ve received orders in writing from an approving authority such as CMC or JTF Commander.
It’s important to consider the different types of moves, Government Contract Move and Personally Procured Moves (PPM).
How to find the best military moving companies
There are many factors to consider when choosing best moving companies for military moves. The most important is whether they will meet your needs and what you need concerning DITY or TMO permits if required. If by chance, there’s something that you’re not sure about, then it may be worth checking online reviews from past customers. This way, you can get an idea of how reliable their services have been in the past and what type of experience previous customers had with them so that you know if they’ll work best for your specific situation.
Conclusion
Suppose you are a member of the military or know someone who is; one of your biggest concerns when moving maybe how to make sure that all items arrive safely. There are three ways to move with the U.S. government as an option for those eligible – Government Contract Move (GCM), Personal Procured Move, also known as Privately contracted move and “Personal Property” which includes household goods like furniture and other personal property not covered by GCM or PPM options. It’s essential to investigate these different types before deciding what will work best in your situation.
