There are numerous steps in the Permanent Change of Station (PCS) process. Through various agencies the Department of the Air Force provides guidance and counseling to assist service members and their families in making the best choices.

To further ease the process of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, the Secretary of Defense has directed the Department to:

• Permanently increase standard TLE maximum coverage from 10 to 14 days for CONUS moves and allow up to 60 days of TLE if a service member is in a specified Military Housing Area with a housing shortage, that went into effect in October 2022.
• Increase the Dislocation Allowance (DLA) for E-1 to E-6 service members, to further help offset personal expenses for PCS moves. DLA payments for all service members will be paid automatically one month prior to their move date to pre-empt out-of-pocket expenses. This went into effect October 2022. 

For more information, please visit: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3167769/dod-announces-immediate-and-long-term-actions-to-help-strengthen-the-economic-s/

Modifications to the Defense Personal Property Program

In a memorandum dated May 20, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to change how the Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) is implemented to better serve military families.

USTRANSCOM was directed to take the following actions during the 2025 PCS season and beyond:

• Implement adjustments to the GHC reimbursement rates of personally procured moves (PPM) from May 15, 2025, through September 30, 2025, to reflect market rates at 130% instead of 100%.
• Hold the GHC and Tender of Service (ToS) programs accountable for meeting their key performance indicators and provide weekly updates to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) and the Office of the USD for Personnel and Readiness (P&R).
• Fully leverage both the GHC and legacy ToS program to ensure maximum coverage for moves during the 2025 peak season.
• Offramp non-serviced GHC customer shipments into the ToS program based on capacity shortfalls.
• Review and, if appropriate, implement Economic Price Adjustment provisions in the GHC contract.
• Develop and implement ToS rates, as required, to ensure vendor capacity.

For more information on the Memorandum Directing Immediate Modifications to the Personal Property Program, please visit: https://media.defense.gov/2025/May/20/2003719625/-1/-1/1/MEMORANDUM-DIRECTING-IMMEDIATE-MODIFICATIONS-TO-THE-PERSONAL-PROPERTY-PROGRAM.PDF

Air Force Reserve Service members on Drill status are not authorized government funded PCS moves.

Department of the Air Force Instructions 36-3003, Military Leave Program
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-3003/dafi36-3003.pdf

Department of the Air Force Manual 36-2102, Base-Level Relocation Procedures
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafman36-2102/dafman36-2102.pdf

Air Force Personnel Center
https://www.afpc.af.mil/Assignment/

Joint Travel Regulations (JTR)
https://www.travel.dod.mil/Policy-Regulations/Joint-Travel-Regulations/

DFAS-Travel Pay
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/travelpay/checklists/

DFAS- Claim Status
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/travelpay/information/

Weight Allowance Calculator
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/pcs-entitlements/

Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT)
https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/travelpay/armypcs/malt/

“It’s Your Move” Armed Forces Members Guide
https://www.ustranscom.mil/dtr/part-iv/dtr_part_iv_app_k_1.pdf

Military One Source
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/

Exceptional Family Member Program
https://www.afpc.af.mil/Exceptional-Family-Member-Program/

DoD Overseas Station and Housing Allowance Process Guide
https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jul/13/2003034513/-1/-1/0/DOD_OVERSEAS_STATION_AND_HOUSING_ALLOWANCE_PROCESS_GUIDE.PDF

DoD 7000.14 R, Volume 7A, Chapter 26
https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/archive/07aarch/07a_26a.pdf

Air Force Civil Engineer Center
https://www.afcec.af.mil/What-We-Do/Housing/UnaccompaniedHousing/

Air Force Housing
https://www.housing.af.mil/  

HOMES.MIL (Off-Post Housing)
https://www.homes.mil/homes/DispatchServlet/Back?Mod=HomesWelcome&SSRedir=true

Military and Family Readiness
https://www.afpc.af.mil/Military-and-Family/