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Your 2026 PCS Move: What You Need to Know

MARADMIN 147/26·March 31, 2026·4 min read·Official source
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The Marine Corps published its 2026 permanent duty travel and PCS guidance on 31 March. This is the annual notice that walks Marines and civilian Marines through every phase of a PCS move. If you have orders in hand or expect them soon, this is the reference you need to start working through immediately.

Bottom line: Start your move planning and self-counseling at militaryonesource.mil as soon as you receive orders. Do not wait.

Who it affects

Any Marine, civilian Marine, or their family members executing a PCS move in 2026. Commanders at all levels are required to ensure every relocating Marine and civilian employee receives a copy of this MARADMIN.

What you need to do

The checklist below follows the sequence of a typical PCS move. Work through it in order.

  1. Contact your installation's Information, Referral and Relocation (IRR) program to sign up for the mandatory PCS Workshop. Spouses are encouraged to attend. Find your IRR office at https://www.usmc-mccs.org/marine-family-support/information-referral-and-relocation.
  2. Build a personalized PCS checklist at https://planmymove.militaryonesource.mil.
  3. Start self-counseling and initiate your household goods shipment at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/moving-personal-property as soon as orders arrive. Peak season runs from just after Memorial Day through mid-July. Book early.
  4. If this is your first PCS, you are separating or retiring, or you are moving a mobile home, visit your local Installation Transportation Office (ITO) before submitting any shipment application. Your entitlements may be different. Find your ITO at https://installations.militaryonesource.mil.
  5. If you are moving yourself (Personally Procured Move, or PPM): you receive 100% of the government's cost to move up to your authorized weight allowance, plus up to 90 days of commercial storage. You must use your Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) for PPM expenses on a routine PCS. Separatees and retirees cannot use the GTCC for this. For PPM details and how to file a claim, see https://www.logcom.marines.mil/Marines/Personally-Procured-Move.
  6. Declare your Professional Books, Papers, and Equipment (PBP&E) at the origin of shipment. The pro gear weight limit is 2,000 lbs for Marines of all ranks. An additional 500 lbs is authorized for spouse pro gear (employment or community support activities only; civilian employee spouses are not eligible).
  7. OCONUS moves: start Overseas Suitability Screening (OSS) within 10 days of receiving orders. Screening can take 60 days or more. Initiate it through a Military Medical Treatment Facility for all authorized dependents immediately. Continue planning your household goods pickup dates while screening is in progress. If your orders are modified or canceled, notify the transportation office right away. For OSS details, see MARADMIN 626/25.
  8. OCONUS moves requiring a Special Issuance Passport (SIP) or visa: submit applications to a DoD Passport Application Acceptance Facility as soon as possible. Processing takes 8 to 11 weeks. Find your nearest DoD Passport Agent through the DMO/ITO Passenger Travel Office on your installation.
  9. For commercial or government-contracted carrier travel (air, ship, train, or bus): you are reimbursed for up to two bags (70 lbs or less each, not exceeding 62 linear inches) plus one small carry-on per seat. Excess baggage beyond that is not reimbursable.
  10. File a customer satisfaction survey when you receive it after your move. Scores directly affect which moving companies get future contracts.

Remotely stationed Marines without access to on-installation support should contact Military OneSource at https://www.militaryonesource.mil.

Key dates

  • Now: Begin self-counseling and shipment planning as soon as orders arrive.
  • Within 10 days of orders (OCONUS): Initiate OSS for all authorized dependents.
  • Within 90 days of arrival: Welcome Aboard Brief attendance is mandatory for E-1 through E-6, W-1, O-1, and O-2. At OCONUS locations, all ranks and family members age 10 and above must attend.
  • Peak PCS season: Post-Memorial Day through mid-July. Schedule early to avoid the crunch.
  • SIP/visa processing: Allow 8 to 11 weeks from application submission.

Personal property claims

If your goods are lost or damaged, start at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-housing/moving/planning-your-move/file-a-claim-after-your-military-move.

For moves not handled through the standard system (called Direct Procurement Method moves) or if you still have questions on a standard claim, contact the Navy Personnel Claims Unit:

  • Phone: (888) 897-8217 or (757) 440-6315
  • Email: NorfolkClaims@us.navy.mil

POV shipment and storage (OCONUS)

Marines on OCONUS PCS orders may be entitled to ship or store one privately owned vehicle at government expense. Contact your local transportation office to confirm your entitlement based on destination. Prep guides are at:

  • Shipping your POV: https://www.ustranscom.mil/dtr/part-iv/dtr_part_iv_app_k_3.pdf
  • Storing your POV: https://www.ustranscom.mil/dtr/part-iv/dtr_part_iv_app_k_4.pdf

The official version

This guidance is MARADMIN 147/26. It references MCO 1754.10B (IRR Program), the Defense Transportation Regulation Part IV (Personal Property), the Joint Travel Regulations (February 2026 edition), and the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide (July 2025).

POC for property and passenger issues: Julie Hendrix, julie.hendrix@usmc.mil / usmcpersonalproperty@usmc.mil, (703) 946-7660. POC for passenger transportation policy: Mark Edwards, mark.a.edwards5@usmc.mil / usmcpassengertravel@usmc.mil, (571) 256-2751. POC for IRR: Lucinda Lorei, lucinda.lorei@usmc.mil, (703) 784-3870. POC for M&RA/MPO: SMB_HQMC_MPO@usmc.mil, (703) 784-9374.

This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.

Resources & references

The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.

  • Marine Corps Information, Referral and Relocation (IR&R) Program (MCO 1754.10B)Reference

    This order governs the Marine Corps IR&R program that provides mandatory PCS support to all Marines and their families. It is the authority behind the PCS workshops and Welcome Aboard Briefs described in this MARADMIN.

  • Defense Transportation Regulation Part IV Personal Property (DOD 4500.9-R Part IV)Reference

    This regulation covers the rules for shipping personal property during a PCS move. It is the source document for entitlements and procedures related to household goods shipments referenced throughout this MARADMIN.

  • Joint Travel Regulations (JTR)Reference

    The JTR is the authoritative source for travel entitlements and allowances for service members, their dependents, and civilian employees. This MARADMIN references it specifically for requirements around PBP&E declaration.

  • DOD Foreign Clearance GuideReference

    This guide provides guidance and clearance requirements for international travel and mission planning. It is relevant to Marines executing OCONUS PCS moves.

  • Information, Referral and Relocation (IR&R) Program website (MCCS)

    This is the MCCS web page for the IR&R program where Marines can find their local IRR office and sign up for the mandatory PCS Workshop. The workshop includes briefs from DMO, IPAC, Tricare, School Liaison, and other resources.

  • Plan My Move personalized PCS checklist tool (Military OneSource)

    Plan My Move is a Military OneSource tool that generates a personalized PCS moving checklist based on your current and gaining installations and your role as a service member or family member. If you are facing an upcoming PCS, you can use it to build a task list tailored to your specific move, then save, download, or print it for reference throughout the process.

  • Military OneSource relocation support

    Military OneSource is a government-supported portal offering military members and their families guidance on moving, housing, finances, deployment, and more. If you are relocating for orders or navigating a PCS, this site connects you to tools like Plan My Move and the Defense Personal Property System.

  • Military OneSource moving and personal property self-counseling portal

    This is Military OneSource's portal for the Defense Personal Property System, where you can schedule a move, track a shipment, or file a claim for personal property. If you've been called up and need to move your household goods, this is where you log in to get that process started.

  • Installation Transportation Office (ITO) locator (Military OneSource)

    This is the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS locator tool, which lets you search for specific offices and services, including the Installation Transportation Office, by installation, state, or ZIP code. If you need to find transportation support for a PCS move or other official travel, this is where you can locate the right office at or near your duty station.

  • Personally Procured Move (PPM) information and claim submission guide (LOGCOM)

    This LOGCOM guide explains what documents you need to submit a Personally Procured Move (PPM) reimbursement claim, how to submit it through MOL or by email, and what processing timelines to expect. If you moved yourself instead of using government-arranged transportation and want to get paid for it, this is where you start.

  • DTR Part IV Appendix K2 "It's Your Move" (PBP&E guide)

    This link is currently broken and leads to a USTRANSCOM 404 error page instead of the actual DTR Part IV Appendix K2 PBP&E guide. Until the link is fixed, you can try searching for the document directly on the USTRANSCOM website or contacting Transportation Policy for assistance.

  • Personal property claims filing guide (Military OneSource)

    This guide explains the types of compensation claims available when a military move damages or loses your personal property, and how to file each type. If you had a PCS move where items were damaged, lost, or the move caused extra expenses, this walks you through your options.

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