A 90-Day PCS Planning Checklist

A PCS becomes easier to manage when the household separates official requirements from personal decisions and assigns each task a deadline.

Use Plan My Move (opens in a new tab) to create an official customized checklist. This article provides a simple household timeline to use alongside transportation, finance, personnel, housing, and gaining-installation guidance.

About 90 days before departure

• Read the orders carefully and identify anything missing.
• Attend required levy, reassignment, or installation briefings.
• Contact the transportation office and learn the current move process.
• Create a household move folder for orders, receipts, inventories, and contacts.
• Estimate the move budget and set aside a cash buffer.
• Research the gaining installation through MilitaryINSTALLATIONS (opens in a new tab).
• Contact the gaining housing office before making housing commitments.
• Review school, childcare, healthcare, EFMP, and spouse-employment needs.
• Decide which items should travel with you rather than in household goods.
• Begin reducing items you do not want to move.

If moving overseas, begin passport, medical, command-sponsorship, pet, vehicle, and country-specific requirements as early as possible.

About 60 days before departure

• Confirm household-goods dates and understand what the movers will not accept.
• Photograph valuable items and record serial numbers.
• Request school and medical records using secure methods.
• Review TRICARE moving guidance at TRICARE (opens in a new tab).
• Submit childcare requests when eligible through MilitaryChildCare.com (opens in a new tab).
• Give required notice to a landlord or property manager.
• Arrange temporary lodging and consider cancellation terms.
• Develop a travel route and backup plan.
• Service vehicles and check registration, insurance, and roadside coverage.
• Research pet transportation and lodging restrictions.

Do not schedule every event with no buffer. Transportation dates and official requirements can change.

About 30 days before departure

• Confirm final-out and clearing appointments.
• Verify travel reservations and authorized arrangements.
• Reconfirm household-goods dates, addresses, and contact numbers.
• Separate uniforms, medications, documents, electronics, and essential children's items.
• Update addresses with financial institutions and important services.
• Arrange utility termination and startup dates.
• Refill prescriptions when authorized and prepare for care continuity.
• Confirm school withdrawal and enrollment documents.
• Prepare an arrival plan for keys, lodging, meals, pets, and transportation.
• Review current entitlements in the Joint Travel Regulations (opens in a new tab) and installation guidance.

During the final week

• Keep orders, identification, records, medications, and valuables with you.
• Photograph the condition of the residence after cleaning.
• Complete a final household inventory.
• Verify mover paperwork before signing.
• Keep receipts related to authorized travel and the move.
• Confirm emergency contacts and the gaining-unit reporting process.
• Pack food, chargers, clothing, and supplies for delays.
• Back up important digital records securely.

Never place passports, orders, medical records, jewelry, irreplaceable items, or essential medication in household goods.

During travel and arrival

• Protect documents and receipts.
• Follow official reporting and travel instructions.
• Inspect lodging and housing before accepting responsibility.
• Document damaged or missing property promptly.
• Contact the gaining transportation office for the current claims process.
• Complete installation in-processing and update local services.

Military OneSource maintains official PCS and military-move guidance (opens in a new tab), including moving claims and family resources.

Keep one master tracker

Use five columns:

A PCS checklist works only when each item has an owner and confirmation. Review the tracker together once a week, then more frequently during the final two weeks.