Relocation Assistance

Your Military and Family Support Center provides relocation assistance to help make PCS moves as smooth as possible. Resources include:

• PCS planning: Most relocation assistance programs offer consultations to help you with the moving process. If this your first military move, your first time moving overseas or you have challenging or complex circumstances contact your installation Relocation Assistance Program as soon as possible for support.
• Plan My Move: An online Defense Department relocation tool that provides you with customizable checklists and links to helpful resources for the tasks ahead.
• Military OneSource: A website and call center that offer 24/7 support for moving information and resources. Learn more about PCS basics and download this fact sheet 7 Steps to Make Your Household Goods Move a Smart Move. For comprehensive moving resources and information, including Defense Personal Property log in details, visit Moving Your Personal Property.
• Workshops and briefings: Workshops vary by location. You may find classes on housing options, moving with children, moving with pets and more.
• Predeparture briefings: These sessions provide essential information about your move and may be required for some populations.
• Special needs: If you have a child or family member enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, contact your installation EFMP-Family Support office to assist you.
• Settling-in services: Look for welcome programs or local area tours that may offered. Overseas services may include introductory language classes and cultural awareness activities.
• Foreign-born spouse support: Assistance includes information and referral to resources such as immigration and naturalization.
• Emergency assistance: Sometime emergencies occur while moving. The Military and Family Support Center has the resources to provide emergency financial assistance, as well as information and referrals.
• Authorized housing flexibility options: Eligible service members with PCS orders may be entitled to flexibilities such as extended stays in government housing and early housing eligibility. Contact your military personnel office for more information.
• Spouse licensure reimbursement: Your service branch may reimburse spouses up to $1,000 for relicensure and certification costs resulting from relocations or PCS moves. See this Military OneSource article Transferring Your Professional License for more information and specific service branch policies.

Permanent change of station — A PCS move can be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of your military career — new places, new faces and new challenges. However, for the service member or family who is not prepared, a PCS move can be a very unhappy time. Most of this unhappiness is caused by money problems associated with the PCS move. Here are some tips to help you plan ahead and keep you in control of your situation:

Relocation Tips

Start saving now. Any PCS move will require additional funds.

Make reservations for temporary lodging at the old and new duty station.

Request a sponsor by filling out a sponsorship request form which you mail to your gaining unit with a copy of your orders attached. See your sponsorship coordinator at your current command for assistance.

For citizenship and immigration services, contact the base Legal Office and inquire about the class on immigration and naturalization with follow-up counseling.

Camp Pendleton does not have post office boxes. You can either forward your mail to your new command until you get a permanent address or you can obtain a P.O. box from the Oceanside Post Office (see your local post office for details). You fill out an application at your local post office which they will forward to the Oceanside Post Office with your check for $32 (smallest size box for six months). The Oceanside Post Office will notify you of your P.O. box number and address or you can call the U.S. Post Office at their toll-free number. Don't forget to send out change of address cards!

Gather all important papers (to include vital records, school records and medical records) and important phone numbers and keep them handy throughout the move. Do not pack them. Carry them with you.

Make arrangements with the Distribution Management Office for packing and pickup of your household goods. You may want to inquire about the Do-It-Yourself Move method or a partial privately-owned vehicle DITY.

Check expiration dates on driver's licenses and identification cards.

Did you just receive PCS orders or just arrive at your new duty station? Let the Relocation Assistance Program help! We tap a variety of resources to guide you through your change in environment and to give you information about your new surroundings and community. Gather all important papers (to include vital records, school records and medical records), collect important phone numbers and keep them handy throughout the move. Do not pack them. Carry them with you.

Make arrangements with the DMO for packing and pickup of your household goods. You may want to inquire about the DITY Move method or a partial POV-DITY.

Check expiration dates on driver's licenses and identification cards.

Did you just receive PCS orders or just arrive at your new duty station? Let the Information, Referral and Relocation Office help! We tap a variety of resources to guide you through your change in environment and to give you information about your new surroundings and community.

Call Marine and Family Programs' Information, Referral and Relocation toll free at 800-253-1624.

Volunteers — Volunteer opportunities are available at Marine and Family Programs’ Marine Corps Family Team Building Branch. Contact the volunteer coordinator.

Youth Sponsorship — In coordination with Marine Corps Community Services' School Liason Office in Building 1160. This program is for kids ages 6-19. Kids ages 18 and 19 must still be in high school. Moving is a bittersweet experience for youth. They face apprehensions about moving and adjustment to new schools, friends and community. Through the Youth Sponsorship Program some of the stress of relocation can be reduced by having a pen pal to share experiences with. Call to ask your local Information, Referral and Relocation specialists for additional information.

Other Services Available — tapes and video tapes are available on most Marine Corps Installations.

For information about other programs within Marine and Family Programs, including Personal and Professional Development Branch, the Transition Readiness Program, Career and Personal Readiness Program, Financial Counseling or Retired Affairs, contact the Information and Referral specialists at Marine and Family Programs, 760-725-3400 or 800-253-1624.

Relocation Assistance

Marine and Family Programs’ Information, Referral and Relocation Assistance Office is located in Building 13150. Information and Referral provides Welcome Aboard packages, maps and numerous other resources to those who are relocating to Camp Pendleton. The Welcome Aboard Orientation is held from 8-10 a.m. on Wednesdays at the Mainside Pass and ID, Building 130132. Spouses are highly encouraged to attend. Seminars are provided monthly on sponsorship and PCS moves. Please call toll free 800-253-1624 or 760-725-5704/3400 for more information.