Page 16 - Aerotech News PCS Special May 2023

16 May 19, 2023 www.aerotechnews.com
Facebook.com/AerotechNewsandReview
What should I do with all my stuff?
Aerotech News
by stuArt iBBErsoN
Aerotech News
You’ve got your orders in hand, and you are excited about your new assignment.
But as you look around your living space, you start to wonder — what am I going to do with all this stuff?
Whether PCSing from one stateside base to another, or from stateside to an overseas location, there are multiple options avail- able.
You may first want to consider downsiz- ing — a PCS move is the perfect opportunity to sort through your possessions and decide what to keep, what to donate and what to throw away (see related article on Page 15).
The government will pay to move your household goods, your unaccompanied bag- gage, your professional gear, and privately owned vehicle (see related article on Page 20) to your new duty assignment.
However, the amount of household goods (by weight) you are allowed to ship is de- termined by The Joint Travel Regulations [https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/ perdiem/JTR.pdf#page=268] issued by the Defense Department. The weight allowance will vary depending on rank and whether you are single or have dependents.
More information is available at the
Transportation Management Office or by visiting www.militaryonesource.mil.
Household goods
Household goods are all the things you will need to set up home at your new duty station, and are typically shipped by moving companies under contract to DOD.
You will need to schedule an inspection so the com- pany representative can estimate the total weight of your household goods and submit and estimate to the government.
Once this is done, you will
Courtesy photos
also need to schedule a pick-up date — when you PCS out and once you arrive at your new assignment, a delivery date.
1. Items that you need to do your job, such as your professional books, papers, and equipment, do not count against the weight limit for your household goods ship- ment. Make sure you separate those items from the rest of your belongings, and clearly mark the boxes in which they are contained.
2. The service member may request that professional books, papers and equipment belonging to his or her spouse be shipped at government expense on a PCS move. If approved, the weight limit is not to exceed 500 pounds for your spouse’s belongings.
See STuFF, Page 32