Militarily Speaking PCS Survival Guide Episode 2: Planning the Move - DITY, PPM & the Decisions That Actually Cost You

 

In Episode 2 of our PCS Survival Series, Militarily Speaking hosts Tom McLean, Jodi Vickery, and VA loan expert Mel Aguto break down the biggest planning decisions in any PCS move: how to talk to your kids, on-base vs. off-base housing, and the critical HHG vs. DITY/PPM move choice. Plus: the one thing you should absolutely not do the moment orders arrive. 

 

Delivering the News: Kids, Family & Friends

One of the hardest parts of PCS life isn't the paperwork – it's the conversation. Once orders are in and the immediate admin steps are underway, you have to tell your family. And how you do that matters.

Talking to Your Kids

Age shapes everything about how you frame this conversation. Young children need simplicity and routine reassurance – make clear that their toys, their pets, and their routines are coming with them. Older kids and teenagers need honesty and, more importantly, to feel heard.

Don't minimize what they're losing. Don't say 'it'll be fine' as the first thing out of your mouth. Acknowledge that leaving friends, a school, maybe a sports team — that's a real loss. Let them feel that. Then you pivot to what's ahead.

— Mel Aguto, Senior Loan Officer & VA Loan Expert, Armed Forces Bank

Where possible, involve older kids in the planning process. Let them look up the new city, explore activities available near the new duty station, and weigh in on what kind of neighborhood you're considering. Giving kids ownership in the move makes a measurable difference in how quickly they adjust.

Extended Family and Friends

This conversation with loved ones can easily get overlooked with all the different moving pieces of a PCS move. Especially for OCONUS moves, leaving family behind can feel significant for everyone involved. Be direct, be kind, and come to that conversation with a concrete plan for staying connected: scheduled video calls, planned visits, shared family apps. People handle difficult news far better when there's structure attached to it, not just 'we'll figure it out.'

 

On Base vs. Off Base: How to Decide

Few decisions in a PCS move are as personal as where you'll live. There's no universal right answer – it depends on your installation, your family situation, and your financial picture

Your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is the financial foundation of this decision. On base, it's typically paid directly to cover housing costs. Off base, you keep what's left over after rent – or spend more if the local market runs above your allowance. Know your BAH rate for your new duty station before making any commitments.

The Waitlist For On-Base Housing Apply for on-base housing the same day your orders arrive, even if you're not certain you want it. At many installations, waitlists run 6 to 12 months or longer. Applying early preserves your option while you explore off-base alternatives. You can always decline, but you can't retroactively move up the list.

For families considering buying at the new duty station, a VA Loan is one of the most powerful and underutilized financial benefits available to service members. Armed Forces Bank is an approved VA Loan lender – having an expert who understands PCS timelines and military family needs in your corner can make a significant difference in the homebuying process.

 

HHG vs. DITY Move vs. PPM Move: The Big Financial Decision

This is the question military families ask most during PCS planning – and the answer has real financial consequences either way. Here's what you need to know before you decide.

What Is an HHG Move?

HHG stands for Household Goods. In an HHG move, the government arranges and pays for professional movers, contracted through the Defense Personal Property System, to pack, transport, and deliver your belongings. You manage the schedule and inspections; the government handles the logistics and cost.

What Is a DITY Move? What Is a PPM Move?

A DITY move (Do It Yourself) is now more formally called a PPM move, which stands for Personally Procured Move. The concept is the same: you take responsibility for moving your own household goods, and the military pays you an incentive – a percentage of what it would have cost them to move you. Anything left over after your actual moving expenses is yours to keep.

You can actually profit from a DITY or PPM move — and that's why it's appealing. But whether it makes financial sense depends enormously on your situation: the size of your household, how far you're moving, and whether you have the time and capacity to manage the move yourself.

— Jodi Vickery, Co-Host & Military Spouse

Use a PPM / DITY Move Calculator Before You Decide

Before committing to a DITY or PPM move, be sure to run the numbers. A DITY move calculator or PPM move calculator allows you to:

• Estimate your government weight allowance based on rank and dependency status
• Calculate your incentive payment from the government
• Compare that against your estimated actual moving costs

A DITY move estimator is available through the Defense Travel System. Independent military resource sites also offer their own versions. Using a PPM move calculator before you commit is essential, as small differences in weight or distance can flip the math significantly.

Know Your PPM Weight Allowance Weight limits for a DITY or PPM move are determined by your rank and dependency status and typically range from 5,000 to 18,000 pounds. Exceeding your authorized weight allowance means paying the overage out of pocket. Your DITY move calculator will help you estimate this before you start loading any truck.

 

Risks of a DITY / PPM Move That Families Underestimate

Timing is the biggest underestimated risk. Moving yourself takes longer, and if something goes wrong – a truck breaks down, hired help cancels, items are damaged – the resolution falls on you. With a government-contracted HHG move, there's a formal claims process for damaged goods. With a PPM move, your coverage depends entirely on what insurance you've arranged in advance.

Can I Do a Partial PPM? (Hybrid DITY Option)

Short answer: Yes. And for many families, this is the smartest approach. A partial PPM lets you move some items yourself while the government moves the rest. This works especially well if you have a few high-value or fragile items you'd rather personally transport, or if you want to ship a vehicle separately. Talk to your Transportation Office (TMO) about whether this combination makes sense for your situation and authorized weight.

 

Both Jodi and Mel have seen the same mistakes happen again and again. The most common – and costly – happens in the first few days after orders arrive.

The #1 Mistake: Moving Too Fast Financially Do not sign a lease, do not buy a car, do not make large purchases, and do not give notice on your current lease until you fully understand your reporting date, your housing situation, and your complete financial picture. Give yourself at least a week before making any financial commitments.

Families who rush into signing a new lease while still under a current one end up paying for two homes simultaneously. Others buy a vehicle they think they'll need for the move — and add a monthly payment they never accounted for. The urgency of a PCS feels immediate, but most decisions don't need to happen in day one.

One more mistake worth calling out: posting about the move on social media before notifying your command. Orders can be sensitive depending on the assignment. Get your notifications done in the right order; notify family first, then chain of command, before anything goes online.

 

Build a PCS Timeline — and Use Your Installation's Resources

The most experienced military families build a timeline backwards from the report date, put it in a shared document or app, assign every task an owner and a due date, and review it weekly. The PCS process has too many moving parts to keep all of it in your head.

Also: use your installation's Relocation Assistance Program (RAP). It exists specifically for this. RAP offers counselors, workshops, and connections to resources at your gaining installation – at no cost. Free help from people who know exactly what you're going through. Use it.

 

Episode 2 Key Takeaways

1.  Have honest, age-appropriate conversations with your kids – and involve them in the planning process. Ownership in the move helps them adjust faster.

2.  Weigh the on-base vs. off-base decision carefully based on your specific family needs, BAH, installation amenities, school quality, and the waitlist reality.

3.  Run the numbers on HHG vs. DITY / PPM moves using a DITY move calculator or PPM move estimator before you decide. Small differences in weight and distance can flip the math.

4.  Do not make major financial commitments in the first week after orders arrive. No leases, no big purchases, no giving notice until your full financial picture is clear.

 

PCS-ing soon? Armed Forces Bank moves with you.

With physical branch locations and on-base ATMs across 10 states, plus VA Loan expertise built for military PCS timelines, Armed Forces Bank is designed for families who move. Talk to us before your PCS — not after

 

Up next - Episode 3: The Actual Move 

What gets reimbursed, how DLA and per diem actually work, common financial mistakes military families make — including a few Jodi and Mel have made themselves.