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I have seen the gamut of responses to the mention of PCSing. Everything from tears, to laughter, to anger, and for some even happiness. I fit somewhere among the first two. I would oscillate between tears and laughter. I hate being uprooted, but I enjoy the challenges. I have a friend who has been an Army wife for 12-years and she loves moving around. She loves starting over fresh. It’s just who she is.

Regardless of your response to PCSing, it’s a reality few military spouses can avoid. We are all on the same boat, or better yet, in the same moving truck.

When I started to research our first move, I came across a lot of interesting stories. The one that stuck with me the longest has been a woman who was unpacking her entertaining dishes only to find her toilet brush had been packed in the same box. later learned to throw out her old toilet brush and plunger and get new when she got where she was going. That’s one way to solve the problem!

I found the following pamphlet online to help us think through the possible pitfalls of PCSing and how to avoid some of them.

A successful move is not a matter of chance. It is the result of planning and hard work. At the center of these efforts is you - the shipper. If you expect a good move, you must play an active role.

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Ask questions. Read what you sign. Get involved.

Valuable Tips

• Have expensive and valuable items (artwork, collectibles, heirlooms, etc.) appraised. The government will not pay for the appraisals, but consider this part of your investment in the event of loss or damage.

• Use a video camera or take close-up pictures to record the condition of your furniture and to show what your expensive and valuable items look like. This will allow you to show the item as it was, if it is lost or damaged during shipment.

• Don’t ship small, extremely valuable items such as stocks, bonds, jewelry, coins/coin collections, and items of great sentimental value such as photo albums. Pack them in your suitcases and hand-carry them, as well as your purchase receipts, pictures and appraisals.

• Bear in mind that if you waive unpacking, the carrier is not required to return later to unpack or remove the empty cartons and crates. An unpacking waiver lets the carrier off the hook for completing the job, including removing empty cartons, packing materials and other debris.
  

• If at any time you decide to assist the carrier - that is, help load/unload the truck - you may relieve the carrier of any liability.

Army Pamphlet 55–2, DOD PA 13A, AFP 75-45, NAVMC 2668, COMDTPUB P4050.5, NAVSUP PUB 380