MCRD San Diego  Military and Family Support Center

If you are approaching a permanent change of station, or PCS, you may have questions about your upcoming move. As part of the Military and Family Support Center, the Relocation Assistance Program provides services and resources to help make this transition as smooth as possible. Below is a list of resources.

• PCS planning – Most relocation assistance programs offer counseling/consultations to assist in the moving process. Those making their first military move, those making their first overseas move or those with challenging or complex situations should contact their installation Relocation Assistance Program office as soon as possible for information and assistance.
• Plan My Move is an online tool that helps break the moving process down into clear, manageable steps for all family members. This Department of Defense relocation tool provides details about housing, transportation, finances, family and more.
• Military OneSource offers a variety of 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.
• Loan Closet – Loan Closet offers basic household goods while your personal property is in transit. Typical items include pots and pans, dishes, silverware, irons, ironing boards and infant or toddler car seats. Generally, towels and bed linens are not available, so these should be packed in your express shipment. This service varies by service and installation.
• Workshops and briefings – Workshops vary from installation to installation, but you may find classes on housing options, moving with children, moving with pets or general moving preparation and resources.
• Predeparture briefings – Briefings may be called Smooth Move or PCS Briefing and provide essential information about your next duty station. Briefings can be critical in setting you up for success during the transition to your next duty station.
• Settling-in services – Welcome Wagon services or local area tours may be a part of your installation’s settling-in services. Overseas arrival services may include introductory language classes and cultural awareness training.
• Foreign-born spouse support – Whether you have questions or concerns about immigration and naturalization, learning the English language or how to use local transportation, the relocation program provides assistance, classes and referrals. Services may vary by service and installation.
• Emergency assistance – From time to time, emergencies occur while moving. The Military and Family Support Center has the resources to provide emergency financial assistance and referrals.
• Authorized housing flexibility options – The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act authorized housing flexibility options for eligible service members in receipt of PCS orders within the United States. This includes possible extended stays in government housing and early moving opportunities. For additional information and eligibility considerations, contact your military personnel office. Please note that application of these policies may vary across services.
• Spouse Reimbursement – The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act allows each service branch to reimburse spouses up to $1,000 for relicensure and certification costs resulting from relocations or PCS moves. This includes moves that cross U.S. state lines, as well as OCONUS to stateside moves. See this Military OneSource article on Transferring Your Professional License for more information and specific service branch policies.

The Information Referral and Relocation Program provides assistance and support to all service members and their families moving to and from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Services include monthly Welcome Aboard workshops, permanent change of station Smooth Move workshops and individual or unit-sponsorship training classes available upon request. In accordance with Marine Corps Depot Order, the Newcomers' Brief is a mandatory session. Sections/units will schedule attendance, and spouses and dependents are encouraged to attend. Welcome Aboard packages are typically issued when sponsor-initiated and individual-direct requests are submitted.

Lending Locker is a temporary loan of basic household goods at no cost. This service is available to anyone in transition, inbound or outbound, while waiting to receive a personal property shipment or relinquishment of quarters. Lending Locker items include cookware, dinnerware, utensils, fold-up cribs, highchairs, small appliances, fans, small table set with four chairs and air mattresses.

The Relocation Assistance Office can be reached at 619-524-5298/5732 or DSN 312-524-5298/5732. For more information, please visit the MCRD San Diego and Marine Corps Community Services websites.

Installation-Specific Information

The Relocation Assistance Services – The Relocation Assistance Office assists military and eligible Department of Defense personnel and their family members with relocating, enhancing their preparation skills and making the transition from one base, or one community, to another as smoothly and trouble-free as possible. The Relocation Assistance Office is located at Personal and Professional Development in Building 14. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The PCS Preparation Brief – The PCS Preparation Brief offers an overall view of the PCS process and is guided by the subject matter experts and representatives from the Distribution Management Office (which includes household goods), the Orders Section of the Installation Personnel Administration Center (which handles pay and entitlements), TRICARE, Disbursing Office, Personal Finance Management and Relocation Assistance. Attend a scheduled PCS Smooth Move workshop six months prior to your detachment date. To register, please call 619-524-5298 or DSN 312-524-5298. 

Pre-departure

Relocation assistance information includes assessment of needs. Attending a PCS Preparation or Smooth Move brief is strongly encouraged. Answers to individual questions are provided, and follow-up counseling appointments are made when necessary to provide more specific information. Call 619-524-5732 for more information.

Traditional mail-out Welcome Aboard packages are available upon request, as are electronic Weighted Airman Promotion Systems in those situations where time is a factor. You may wish to ask your sponsor to verify that one has been mailed (or emailed) to you, or you may submit a personal request.

Lending Locker 

The Lending Locker program is a temporary loan of basic household goods and available only to service members, dependents and Department of Defense civilians who are on PCS orders to or from MCRD. The Relocation Assistance Office is located at Personal and Professional Development in Building 14. The Relocation Assistance office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed on weekends and holidays. The check-out period for items is typically two weeks in the continental U.S. and four weeks if PCSing from outside the continental U.S. to MCRD San Diego.

Supplies are limited, so call ahead at 619-524-5298 or DSN 312-524-5298.