Updated on June 7, 2024
Those in the military know that frequently moving is a part of the job description. Most military families make a permanent change of station (PCS) every 2 to 3 years, and that does not include temporary duty assignments or deployment types of moves.
For PCS moves, you can choose a full household goods (HHG) move, a Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move, or a combination of the two, which is considered a partial DITY. Personally Procured Move or PPM is the official term for DITY military moves. Keep reading for all of the DITY move tips and tricks.
What is a DITY move?
As opposed to a full household goods move, where the government will hire a commercial contractor to pack and move you, a DITY move involves you making arrangements to transport your belongings and get reimbursed based on weight afterward. Handling the move yourself means you could use either a professional moving company of your choosing, portable storage containers, a rental truck, or your personally owned vehicle for transporting your belongings.
What is the difference between a full DITY move and a partial DITY move?
With a full DITY move, you will be responsible for moving 100% of your belongings. A partial DITY move involves the government moving some of your belongings while you are responsible for the rest. This can be a good option if you have oversized or heavy pieces of furniture you would rather not be responsible for moving. You can have the military move those cumbersome items, and you can still get reimbursed for the weight of the items you move.
What Are the Advantages of a Military DITY Move?
Whether you are doing an Army DITY move, a Navy DITY move, or any branch of service DITY move, there are key points and things you should know before you proceed with your move.
> A DITY move can be profitable to the individual moving. As of January 21, 2021, service members are reimbursed 100% of the government's estimated costs for moving their belongings. You get to keep the difference if you spend less than the government's estimated move costs. Remember that any extra money you save from the allowance will be taxable on your next income tax return.
> You get to set your schedule. Contracted government movers have tight schedules and can be booked out for several weeks, which may not work for a last-minute moving order. One DITY move trick is that you can space out the moving process instead of having everything picked up at once. Using a portable storage container for a DITY move lets you immediately send the things you need to the new place while placing your less-needed belongings into storage. This option offers less hassle on moving day, allowing you to unpack all the extra items at your own pace leisurely.
> You can be the one to handle and pack all of your belongings if you choose a DITY move. You can tuck your fragile items just right for a long-distance move and reduce stress, knowing everything was packed and handled correctly. Be sure to have all the necessary packing materials - moving blankets, plastic wrap, furniture pads, mattress protectors, etc.
DITY Tips and Tricks
> Authorization - The first step is to make an appointment with the Personal Property Office or Transportation Office on your base. During that counseling session, your moving options will be discussed. It is important to remember that the military will not reimburse you if you make an unauthorized DITY move. Using an online DITY calculator, you can estimate how much you could be reimbursed for a DITY move with the counselor.
> Total Weight - One important thing to remember is that you must stay within a maximum weight limit. Your rank and the number of dependents in your household determine your DITY military move weight allowance. No matter which option you choose, the government won't pay for goods exceeding that specified limit. Weight tickets are super important in the DITY move process. You will need one certified weight ticket for empty moving containers and another certified weight ticket showing the total loaded weight to receive reimbursement for your move.
> Reimbursement - With a DITY move, you will often get reimbursed for your move after the fact, so you will need enough cash flow to pay for everything upfront. Some advancements can help offset the upfront costs, so talk to your move counselor about these ahead of time. To receive full reimbursement of all of your DITY move expenses, including supplies, keep track of all your receipts.
Use 1-800-PACK-RAT for Your DITY Move
Although most people think that a DITY or PPM move means you'll be in charge of doing all the work yourself, you can get help! When hiring a moving company that uses portable storage containers like 1-800-PACK-RAT, you will have an experienced team on your side throughout this process.
For 20+ years, we have been helping our military members move and store their stuff, so call one of our experts to discuss all of our service options. We also offer a 10% discount to our military friends to thank them for their service to our nation. To learn more, check out our military relocation services and how the process works or give us a call and let our experienced team answer any and all questions you might have.