Bremerton WA - Naval Base Kitsap Military Relocation.  I have been doing a lot of research the last couple of months on our own PCS (permanent change of station) and while speaking with Jay this morning a light went on. Maybe I will blog about it.  I did write several blog articles last year during the Military Relocation contest and even turned that month long series into a blog of its own - NavalBaseKitsapRelocation.com.  I don't update it but use it as a stand alone type of information site. 

With Jay having chose his next set of orders and receiving his next duty station we will be planning our PCS over the next couple of months.  Jay is stationed in Anchorage, Alaska at the moment.  We have two households, one in Anchorage and one here in Bremerton, Washington.  We will continue to have our home here in Bremerton because I have my business here and since his next tour of duty is a sea rotation he will be deployed more than home over the next 3 years. 

We are headed to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where Jay will be HMC for one of the units of the 2nd Marine Division.  He is very excited at these orders because he first started his Navy Corpsman career as an HN with 2/2 a few years back.  He is now going back as a Chief.  I didn't know Jay then so this will be the first time I travel to North Carolina.

We will be arranging our 'pack out" in Anchorage for some time in October.  We will ship our household goods to North Carolina, we will ship a vehicle to North Carolina and we will ship his Kawasaki Brute Force 4-wheeler here to Washington. 

After driving to Alaska on that move we have decided to fly to North Carolina via a 30 day leave in Washington.  Jay has to report no later than December 6, 2009.

So this is the first of several posts I will write with the PCS experience.  At this point I am just in the investigation stage and have printed out the "calender of events" from the Military HomeFront web site.  I will be using several on-line sources and will be following the information from my own articles. 

My first step is to use the Military HomeFront's  Plan My Move module and print the calendar and the "to do list". 

My calendar has most of the activity starting in August - so stay tuned.

I will also be following my Naval Base Kitsap Online Relocation Package

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. 

If you would like to work with a real estate professional that knows the PCS process here in the Naval Base Kitsap area contact Jo Soss with Skyline Properties, Inc. at (360) 990-1433 or visit her personal website Puget Sound Real Estate Today or her localism blog West Sound Live where you will be able to search for homes and find more Bremerton Real Estate information.