Most PCS lists online are one long page. A binder works better because each part of the move has its own sheet. Here is the set of pages that has worked well for military households, in the order you will use them.
The pages worth printing
- A master timeline from orders to arrival, with space to write your real dates.
- A documents sheet: orders and amendments, IDs, vaccination and school records, vehicle and insurance papers.
- A household inventory, room by room, with serial numbers for high-value items.
- A contacts and appointments log so every call has a name, a date and what was said.
- A pack-out and move-day checklist you can carry through the house.
- A receipt and expense tracker that you start before you leave.
- A family, kids and pets sheet.
- An arrival and first-month checklist.
Why paper still helps
- No signal needed at the pack-out, the gate or the hotel.
- You can hand a page to a spouse, a packer or a friend helping with the move.
- Nothing to log into when you need your orders number in a hurry.
Keep it accurate
- Write dates in pencil until they are confirmed in writing.
- Treat any week markers as suggestions. Your orders, unit and transportation office set the real rules and deadlines.
- Do not rely on a template for entitlements or allowances. Ask your finance and transportation offices.
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
- DITY / PPM move checklist: the records worth keeping
- PCS household inventory: how to record your belongings before the move
- Military moving expense tracker: keep receipts from day one
- 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.