As many of us gear up for PCS season, you may be contemplating whether you want to choose a do-it-yourself/personally procured move (DITY/PPM) or go with military transportation.
DITY Move / PPM can give you more control, better timing, and real reimbursement potential when you want to manage your PCS move with confidence. Government Move can feel like the easier path because professional movers handle the heavy lifting and reduce the physical and scheduling burden.
Reimbursement / Profit is often the biggest question, and this guide will help you quickly compare savings, out-of-pocket risk, and the break-even point without the guesswork.
Documentation may seem stressful at first, but the process becomes much simpler when you know what paperwork matters and how to keep it accurate.
PCS Move Decision Factors like household size, move distance, timeline flexibility, stress tolerance, and valuable-item handling will help you choose the smoothest and smartest outcome for your situation.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO SOLELY WITH MILITARY TRANSPORTATION, THEN THE MILITARY WILL MOVE ALL OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS.
Now, as you make this decision, you probably have many questions. Perhaps you want to learn more about a DITY/PPM move because you have never done one before. Perhaps you want to know what the pros and cons are of each option. I am here to help provide you with some of those answers and resources.
You may think DITY means renting a U-Haul truck and moving your family and belongings to your next duty station. In some instances, you would be right, but DITY doesn’t always mean do-it-yourself.
Did you know you can still choose to pack your belongings, but have someone else do the loading, lifting and driving for you?
uShip allows you to post your moving needs online and look at quotes from vetted service providers. You can learn more about DITY/PPM moves through uShip, who has provided some great information on this option and some of the advantages of choosing to do-it-yourself (you can make money and receive extra time off for starters!)
I STILL WANTED TO KNOW IF DITY/PPM MOVES WERE EASIER.
I wanted to go a step further to find out why military families might choose a DITY/PPM move, and what they thought some of the advantages were. I went in search of military spouses who had experienced a DITY/PPM move first-hand. Through my research, I found that families chose to do DITY/PPM moves for a number of reasons. Some want to save money, some want to protect their valuables, and some found it more convenient and even less stressful.
I FOUND THAT MOST OF THESE FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY.
Marianne Weaver, a military spouse, says her family probably broke even in regards to financial costs. However, she had priceless valuables she just could not stand to see placed on a moving truck in the hands of an unaccountable transporter. For Marianne, a DITY/PPM move was the best option to ensure her things arrived in one piece at the other end of her PCS. I think we can all relate to this, as we have all probably had some items that just didn’t make it through a move – at least not in one piece.
Viola Angel, another military spouse, told me that for her it was about convenience. Her family chose to do a Partial DITY/PPM move so upon arrival at their duty station they would have the necessary items needed right away, such as toys for the kids and kitchen items. They let military transportation move the rest of their household items in which they could live without for a few weeks. For Viola, it was convenient knowing she would have needed items on hand.
“We found [the DITY/PPM move] fairly easy. We made sure we were well informed. We got advice from my husband’s unit on the pros and cons and realized the pros far outweighed the cons.”
Kerry Ellington, Military Spouse
This is not to say that all the spouses I spoke with had amazing experiences with their DITY/PPM moves. Some spouses had issues during their moves, but I found that many issues may not have been a problem with a few more resources, a little more advanced preparation, and some organization. uShip is a great place to find those resources, even if you are doing a military transportation move.
It is important to stay organized throughout any PCS move – uShip provides handy checklists to make sure you have everything covered. Check out this guide to the 5 Things To Do When You Receive Your PCS Move Orders. Resources are available for DITY/PPM moves, Partial DITY/PPM moves, and even for those who choose to do a military transportation move.
A DITY/PPM move may not be for everyone. As we have discussed above, it is important to start planning your PCS early. Look at the pros and cons of every option both you and your family have, and which of those options will best fit your needs. Make sure to educate yourself on all of these options and take advantage of the wealth of tools and resources that are available to you.
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