If you have Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders and have determined that a DITY (do-it-yourself) move is your best money-saving solution, there are a few things you’ll need to know:
First, we recommend that you take full advantage of the Relocation Readiness Program at the base you’re relocating to. You’ll find this a huge help in acclimating you and your family to your new home. Through the Relocation Readiness Program, you’ll find ways to make military moving easier, like newcomer orientation, welcome packets, and general information about the area.
Second, if you’re planning military moving in the form of a Self-Procured DITY relocation, it’s important that you follow the proper guidelines to ensure government reimbursement:
There may have been a time when moving to Fort Wainwright, Alaska was cheapest when it was done in a rental truck. Times have changed. With the advent of ‘you pack, we drive’ services like ABF U-Pack, you can still get prices similar to truck rental, but you don’t have to drive. That’s a big deal when you’re talking about the trek up the Alcan Highway to Fort Wainwright in a rental truck. There’s a reason Fort Wainwright is home of the “Arctic Warriors” – obviously it can get COLD and icy in the winter months…may not be the ideal conditions for driving a truck full of all your earthly possessions.
Bonus: Where moving to Fort Wainwright takes most moving companies 20-30 days, U-Pack averages 11 business days.
Military moving is a little more involved than “normal” household moving – especially when there’s reimbursement involved (weight tickets etc.). When you add moving to Alaska to the mix, it gets even more complex.
In the next few weeks, we’ll talk about the specifics of moving to all of the military installations in Alaska…but today, let’s start with moving to Elmendorf Air Force Base.
My moving to Elmendorf AFB recommendation Of course, if you're searching for moving companies, I recommend using U-Pack for your move – even if you intend on driving. I’m going to guess that driving up the Alcan Highway will be much more enjoyable in your own vehicle than in a rickety ... Read More
Military Move with U-Pack When you’re doing a military move, it can sometimes be a “hurry up and wait” affair. You may know that you’re moving from Camp Pendleton in two weeks, but not know where. You might also know that you’ll be moving to Fort Campbell, but have no idea when. This can create quite a problem with most moving companies. It’s easy to get movers in Fort Hood, Texas but if you find your destination is Fort Greely, Alaska they may not be so readily available – then you’re out of luck.
That’s part of what makes ABF U-Pack such a great military moving solution. Since ABF has 290 service centers located across the United States, we can handle your move to virtually anywhere you need to go – including Fort Greely, Alaska (it’s just an added bonus that it’s affordable and ... Read More
Are you moving to Fort Hood and don’t know where to start? Let me make a suggestion – start with getting a moving quote from ABF U-Pack and compare the savings to other Fort Hood moving companies.
More than likely you’re already familiar with DITY moving (do-it-yourself). But, just in case, I’ll give you a quick run-down:
DITY Moving to Fort Hood Basically, if you’re moving to Fort Hood and are approved for a DITY move (also called a personally procured move), the military will reimburse you, up to an authorized weight limit, for moving your household goods on your own. If you’re able to find an economical way to do it yourself, and it ends up costing less than your military ... Read More
If you are among the soldiers or families moving to Fort Carson this year, you’ll be glad to know there are affordable moving solutions available.
Moving to Fort Carson – Put Money Back in Your Pocket. Here’s how it works: The military offers monetary incentives to eligible service members who do a ‘do it yourself’ (DITY) move. The amount you’re allowed for your DITY move to Fort Carson is based on your authorized weight limit, which depends on rank and number of dependents (you can get this information from your local TMO office).
If your move ends up costing less than your authorized weight limit allows, you get to keep what’s left over! Sound good? Keep reading...
Moving to Fort Carson – The Way to Save. If you’ve gotten a ... Read More
Weight Tickets – Military Relocation If you’ve been to upack.com, you probably already know that your U-Pack price is based on the amount of space you use in the trailer rather than the weight. We understand that when you’re doing a military relocation, you’re required to get certified documentation of the weight – in the form of empty and full certified weight tickets. We can get them for you. When you call to make a reservation, just tell us you’re doing a military relocation that requires certified weight tickets and we’ll make sure you get them.
The U.S. military provides the DD Form 2778, Standard Form 1038 and DD Form 1351-2, and your moving company will need to provide Certified Empty and Loaded Weight Tickets. If you have specific questions about requirements for a military relocation, your best resource is your Personal Property Transportation Officer (PTO). They can go over the DITY move ... Read More
If you’re in the military or you’re a military spouse, you’re no stranger to moving. In fact, you may be able to write your own moving guide by the time your military career is over.
If you’re new to the military, take notes, the following information might come in handy.
The United States military gives the option of a DITY (do-it-yourself) move – a program that allows eligible military members to move their household goods at the governments’ expense. No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you – it comes out of the government’s pocket, not yours. A DITY move allows you the abil... Read More
