Joint Base Langley-Eustis  Moving

For comprehensive information on military moves, check out the Moving Guide section at Move.mil. The Moving with the Military Overview provides information about household goods shipping and storage, automobiles, and pets. Information on moving allowances and special items can be found under Entitlements/Guidelines. There are also links for retiring and separating members, specific service branch information and more.

You may also want to check out the Tools and Resources section for other valuable information on privately owned vehicles, weight estimators and locators, household goods insurance and ideas for helping children cope with the moving process.

The Defense Personal Property System is the online system you can use to request and manage your household goods shipment(s). For how-to guides to assist with your application, go to Move.mil.

Moving with your pet includes researching airline requirements and quarantine restriction laws in your new location. Many airlines have requirements for size, weight, breed, number of animals, kennel construction, documentation and seasonal limitations. Small pets may be shipped on military flights, but availability and regulations frequently change. Contact your local Personal Property Office to request specific country instructions. Military OneSource can make your move easier with helpful tips, resources and hands-on information related to moving with pets and more. For additional information see Pet Information under the Moving Guide tab on Move.mil.

As soon as you receive your permanent change of station orders, it’s important to coordinate your move immediately by following the 7 Steps to Make Your Household Goods Move a Smart Move.

In addition to planning your move, you can start getting your house and family ready. Clean up and get rid of junk. Hold a yard sale or donate serviceable items you no longer need. Gather important family records. Remember, in overseas areas, houses are generally much smaller than those in the United States and the electric current may be different.

If you are moving overseas, begin to plan what items will go in unaccompanied baggage, in your household goods shipment and in long-term, Non-Temporary Storage, or NTS, storage – check with your sponsor or overseas housing office to assist in determining what items to ship.

You’ll also want to log onto the Defense Personal Property System, the online system you use to request and manage your household goods shipment(s). For how-to guides to assist with your application, go to Move.mil.

1. You are required to be present at your residence between the hours of 0800 - 1700. DO NOT leave your residence during the delivery day. Your delivery can commence (START) between the hours of 0800 - 1700.
If personnel begin a job prior to 1700, they can work until 2100.

2. Check off each item on your inventory as it is received. Ensure that the condition is the same as it was at origin if not, annotate the discrepancy on your inventory sheet.

3.  Ensure you inspect ALL items on your High Value inventory document at time of delivery. Loss and damages must be annotated on Statement of Loss or Damage.

4. All items will be placed in the appropriate room on a one-time basis. Pre-determine the location of the placement of your large furniture items.

5. All items that were disassembled by carrier personnel at origin must be reassembled by them at destination.

6. Crates for items received at delivery must be kept by member/employee for future move of same item(s).

7. You are entitled to have your shipment unpacked. It's up to you how much or how little you wish to have done. At a minimum, consider having the crew unpack your standup wardrobe boxes, linen boxes and some dish packs.
Hanging clothing and linens can be easily placed in closets/cabinets. Some dishes and glassware can be placed in cabinets or on the kitchen counter. In addition, you can then place the items in the dishwasher, if available, for washing prior to using them. If you desire to unpack yourself, the TSP is NOT REQUIRED to return to collect empty boxes/containers, packing material, etc.

8. At the conclusion of the delivery, the driver will complete a DD Form 1840/1850 or Statement of Loss or Damage at destination, where he will annotate any discrepancies that might have occurred during the move. Driver will take
the original and one copy, leaving three copies for you. Please ensure that you annotate an estimated dollar amount for your loss/damage. As you complete the unpacking, check everything over thoroughly. If you discover any additional
damage or missing items, annotate your findings on the DD Form 1840R/1850R, which is the reverse side of the form. Please put an ESTIMATED dollar amount of the damage in block 14c. The DD Form 1840/1850 must be turned in to the
Claims Section of your Installation Legal Office within 70 days of delivery.

You have nine months to complete filing your claim. (IT IS NO LONGER TWO YEARS).

NOTE: For Air Force only you may call 1-877-754-1212 or DSN 986-8044 or visit https://claims.jag.af.mil.
DO NOT send your claim to the transportation office. The Langley Claims Office no longer adjudicates claims, nor provides claims briefings. You can find detailed Full Replacement Valuation information on the Defense Personal Property website: https://move.mil/moving-guide/claims or the Claims web pages of your particular service branch.

Further information and inquiries can be obtained from respective service military claims office.

• For Army personnel contact Claims Office, Ft Eustis JAG VA, 757-878-3536, Ext.228.
• For Air Force personnel contact Claims Office, Langley JAG VA, 757-764-3277/3278.
• For Navy personnel contact Claims Office, Norfolk JAG VA, 757-444-5274.
• For Coast Guard personnel contact Claims Office, Chesapeake, VA, 757-523-6940.
• For Marine personnel contact Claims Office, Quantico VA, 703-693-7191.

9.  For further information, please consult the following website:  https://www.move.mil.

Household Goods Outbound Move Tip

1. Secure all valuables, i.e. currency, jewelry, credit cards, wallets, purses, cell phones, glasses, etc., that are not part of your shipment.

2. Be prepared - have all items that are to be shipped clearly identified to carrier personnel upon their arrival. DO NOT leave your residence during the packing or pickup. You are required to be present at all times during your move. The job can commence between the hours of 0800 - 1700. If personnel begin a job prior to 1700, they can work until 2100.

3. Ensure that all cartons have the general contents listed on the exterior, along with your name. It is the service member/ DoD employee (YOUR) responsibility to disconnect all computers, stereo equipment, TVs, etc. Electronic components, such as TVs, DVD/CD Players, VCRs, Computers, etc. must have the make and serial numbers listed on the exterior of the carton and also on the inventory. If you have not yet disconnected your electronic items, turn your TV to the TV Guide channel and take a picture. For other electronic items, take pictures of the digital displays. This will provide you with irrefutable proof that the items were in good working order prior to being disconnected and packed. Since the carrier personnel may not have seen the electronics in operation, they could list the condition as "MCU," which is mechanical condition unknown, or "ECU", electronic condition unknown. You are highly encouraged to annotate "all items in good working order" in the Remarks/Exceptions area at the bottom of the inventory page, just above the signature block.

4. Carefully check your inventory prior to signing it. Ensure that the condition listed for your items is a true reflection of the actual condition. Furniture with cushions or fabric will likely be coded as "soiled", with a code of "SO". Think of "SO" as meaning "SAT ON". It merely means that the item has been used. Should you see a code of "ST", that indicates that the item is stained. If you do not agree with the way the condition listed, annotate your opinion of the condition under "Remarks/Exceptions". Exception codes for finished surfaces (wood, metal, particle board, etc.) will be shown on the inventory for dents, scratches, etc. and the location of each. Once again, use the Remarks/Exceptions" for anything that you disagree about. You should also ensure that the make, model and serial numbers for electronics and high value items are annotated on the inventory. For overstuffed furniture, the type of material, color, number of cushions, etc, should be indicated on the inventory. Ensure that the inventory is legible, and that you receive a copy. Safeguard it, as you will need it when your property is delivered.

5. Change to Professional Books, Papers and Equipment: Effective 1 May 2014
a. Military member's PBP&E will be limited to a maximum net weight of 2,000 pounds with no authority to waive the limitation.
b. Civilian employee's PBP&E are HHG and are part of the PCS weight allowance. PBP&E may be moved but the maximum net weight allowed is 2,000 pounds and the authorization for PBP&E must be included in the member's orders.
c. PBP&E have been redefined. "PBP&E includes HHG in a member's/employee's possession needed for the performance of official duties at the next or a later PDS", and includes:

• Instruments, tools, and equipment peculiar to technicians, mechanics, and members of the professions;
• Specialized clothing such as diving suits, astronauts' suits, flying suits and helmets, band uniforms, chaplains' vestments, and other specialized apparel not normal or usual uniform or clothing; 
• Communication equipment used by members in association with the MARS (see DoDD 4650.2); 
• Individually owned or specially issued field clothing and equipment;

d. Excluded from PBP&E:

• Personal computer equipment and peripheral devices. 
• Memorabilia including awards, plaques or other objects presented for past performance (includes going away gifts). 
• Table service including flatware (including serving pieces), dishes (including serving pieces, salvers and their heating units), other utensils, and glassware. 
• Other items of a professional nature that will not be necessary at the next/subsequent PDS, such as text books from previous schools unrelated to future duties, personal books, even if used as part of a past professional reading program or course of instruction and reference material that ordinarily would be available at the next/subsequent PDS either in hard copy or available on the Internet. 
• When PBP&E weight is unobtainable the constructive weight is now 7 lbs. per cubic foot.

e. Member's Dependent Spouse
• General (500 pounds)
• This weight allowance is not applicable to a civilian employee's dependent spouse.
• PBP&E includes HHG in a spouse's possession needed for the spouse's employment or community support activities at the next or a later destination.
• The following items are PBP&E:

• Reference material,
• Instruments, tools, and equipment peculiar to technicians, mechanics, and members of the professions, and
• Specialized clothing such as diving suit, flying suits and helmets, band uniforms, nurse uniforms, chaplains' vestments, and other specialized apparel not normal or usual uniform or clothing.

6. If you are shipping a washing machine and/or dryer, it is your responsibility to disconnect them from all power/utility sources. Ensure that the carrier personnel insert a washer pack (for top load washers) to stabilize the tub during transit before the machine is removed from your residence. All items disassembled by the agent or carrier personnel should be indicated on the inventory as "CD" (Carrier Disassembled).

7. Prior to carrier personnel's departure from your residence, please do a walk-thru of residence to ensure that all items to be shipped have been packed and loaded on truck.

8. Crates for items must be kept after your household goods delivery and reuse crates for future move of same items.

9. For further information, please consult the following website http://www.move.mil