Out-of-pocket costs during a PCS add up quickly: lodging, meals, fuel, tolls, pet fees, storage. A running log makes the paperwork afterward a short job instead of a weekend. This page is about the log. Which costs are reimbursable is decided by your orders and the rules in force, so ask your finance office.
Columns that work
- Date
- Vendor or place
- What it was for
- Amount
- Paid with
- Receipt kept (yes/no)
- Notes, such as who authorized it
Habits that help
- Photograph each receipt the day you get it. Paper fades.
- Write the purpose on the paper copy.
- Keep one envelope or folder only for receipts.
- Update the log at the end of each travel day.
Before you submit anything
- Ask your finance office which receipts and forms they need.
- Check your totals against your card and bank statements.
- Keep a copy of the full packet you submit.
Want this already laid out? The PCS Command Binder is eight printable PDF pages (10 pages in total) plus a CSV expense tracker: timeline, documents, household inventory, contacts log, move-day checklist, expense tracker, family and pets sheet, and arrival checklist. $12, one time, instant download.
Free and general: PCS checklist from orders to your first month.
More PCS guides
- Military PCS checklist PDF: what to print and what to put in it
- DITY / PPM move checklist: the records worth keeping
- PCS household inventory: how to record your belongings before the move
- PCS with kids and pets: a practical checklist
- What to put in a PCS binder: a simple setup
Rules, allowances and deadlines depend on your orders and change over time. Confirm them with your transportation office, finance office and official sources such as militaryonesource.mil. This page is general organizing guidance, not legal, financial or tax advice.