Naval Base Kitsap |Online Relocation Package | IT’S YOUR PCS
Every year it is estimated that one third of Active Duty Military members have to plan and execute a permanent change of duty station or PCS in military speak. The most important part of a PCS is to take charge, it's your PCS!! There's lots of help available but you are going to have to find it and ask for it. The military will also help with the moving expenses but you are going to have to know your allowances and your entitlements and you are going to have to request them and follow all the rules.
When it comes to a PCS you will find lots of people are going to want to tell you how to do it, they will tell you what the rules are, they will tell you what they could or couldn't do. As with anything else even though there are strict rules overseeing the military PCS process each command at each installation are full of individuals who will interpret the "rules" a million different ways so you need to know where to find the truth. Please remember that when a person was in the military 14 years ago the rules were not the same! We still have retired members telling current members that BAH is based on how many dependents instead of with or without! Now that is scary
I have been a Navy Spouse for 4 years and during that time I have moved three times. All three of the moves were cross the country - West Coast to East Coast, then East Coast to West Coast, then from the Mojave desert of California to the subzero terrain of Alaska. I am now "home" and will be able to stay here for several years. I want you to know that I know what you are going through, I know what it is like to move with short notice, and I know how much work it takes to have a successful PCS. I give you this information about me so you can begin to get to know me. Begin to have the confidence in me that a trusting relationship can begin to form. I know people do business with those they trust and I want to be the one person you can trust when it comes to any of your real estate needs.
Over the next 4 weeks I will be writing a series on relocation to Naval Base Kitsap.
Week One - Take Charge | Know Your PCS
Week one will feature four articles that will deal with the nuts and bolts of a PCS. You need to know what to do prior to your move. I will touch on the subjects of allowances, entitlements, planning a moving calendar to incorporate "to do lists", and research of your new area with an installation overview. We will also explore the local housing market and discuss the aspects of homeownership in Kitsap County.
Week Two - Close-up | Bremerton, Silverdale, Port Orchard
Week two will feature four articles about the place you are going to call home. We will look at the areas to reside, the local shopping scene, school district information and those special base amenities.
Week Three - Let's Have Some Fun | Out & About Area Attractions
Week three will be spent reading about the new area you will be calling home, the beautiful Kitsap Peninsula on West Puget Sound. This week I will be writing about local attractions, the local art scene, the parks and what there is to do around town and local.
Week Four - Make it a Vacation on the Navy | Day Trips and Mini Vacations.
I know that after I am settled in and have explored the local area I always like to find out what is on the out skirts. This week I will post some articles about what there is to do in the "Greater Puget Sound" area. Become a tourist in your own backyard and enjoy the so many Puget Sound attractions.
So hang on - we are in for a ride and when we are done we will be neighbors -
Let me be the first to WELCOME YOU to Naval Base Kitsap,
on the beautiful Kitsap Peninsula of West Puget Sound!
If you have any questions about real estate in Bremerton Washington, contact Jo Soss with Skyline Properties, Inc. at (360) 990-1433 or visit her personal website Puget Sound Real Estate Today Where you will be able to search for homes and find more Bremerton Real Estate information.
Click here for my ONLINE RELOCATION PACKAGE, but make sure to click here to register for the mailed out RELOCATION PACKAGE , which includes the Washington State Visitor's Guide (143 pages of information including maps), the 2007-2008 Seattle Visitor's Guide (113 pages), several other brochures and maps of the area. This RELOCATION PACKAGE is jam packed with over 2lbs of outstanding material! Free to you just for the asking!
Naval Base Kitsap |Online Relocation Package | Week One - Take Charge |
Know Your PCS
When I say "Take Charge" I mean it. There are so many military members that have no clue on what the move process is even though they have been threw it. A few months down the road they find out from speaking to someone else that they missed out on some huge entitlements. Remember it is your responsibility to request all of your benefits and to receive the full value of your entitlements.
First you want to educate your self about the basic relocation reimbursement programs.
Remember not to listen to rumors when it comes to your allowances. Allowances change from time to time and even if you are doing research on the internet there are a few .dod sites that are not update and do have the incorrect information. You need to physically check with the finance office on your installation for the exact amounts. Just remember that even there you might run into misinformation so book mark this link and read the information prior to your appointment. If you think something is not right then do the research in the Department of Defense, Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance website and the JFTR Portal located there then schedule a follow up appointment. Sometimes those involved either are mislead or don't know that an article has changed.
Department of Defense | Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance
Dislocation Allowance - DLA
• The DLA is intended to help with miscellaneous moving costs. It is paid once per PCS move.
Per Diem Allowance
• The Per Diem Allowance is to reimburse you and your family for the costs of meals and lodging when you travel to your new duty station.
Temporary Lodging Expense - TLE
• The TLE is to partly reimburse relocating members and families for the cost of meals and lodging incurred when temporary housing is needed
Advance Basic Pay
• This is basically an interest-free loan you can get when you make a permanent change of station move. You normally repay advance basic pay in 12 equal installments. This is not something I would advise.
Monetary Allowance - MALT
• The MALT is the amount paid when a member and/or the member's family drive to their new duty station, based on the Official Military Table of Distances.
House Hunting Trip Prior to Move
• You may request a permissive TDY for up to 10 days. There is no transportation or per diem paid, members are not charge for leave.
I have left off any type of dollar amounts for a reason. I feel it is the responsibility of the member to do the research and be prepared at the finance office meeting.
Once you have a copy of your official PCS orders you will want to make an appointment with your transportation office. The earlier, the greater your chances of moving on the timetable you desire. At this meeting there will be an explanation of your PCS entitlements. You will have to make some decisions on how and who will move you. Full government move or DITY (which needs approval) or a combination of both. We usually do the combination. We are never over our weight allowance for HHG (household goods) so we file a partial Dity to receive compensation on the weight of goods we haul in our POV (personal vehicle).
You many also qualify to use the online 24/7 Smart Web Move internet site and process the schedule of your HHG's online. Here you can handle the process at home from your computer. SmartWebMove is currently serving 80% of routine moves from station to station. However, if you don't qualify or don't want to participate you can just contact your Personal Property Office.
We have never been eligible for the SmartWebMove probably because we have alwaysbeen transferred from Marine Corps base to Marine Corps base but I know that is now changing and the SWM is handling Marine Corps moves too.
There you have the process. Now it is your responsibility to "Take Charge" and make sure that you and your family receive your full military benefits. The next article this week will address a moving calendar and some time-lines to help you get organized.
Till then.......Have a Fine Navy Day!!