Kids and pets do not follow the move timeline, so the plan needs its own page. This list is general. Requirements for pets, schools and housing vary by country, state and installation.
Kids
- Request school records and note any transfer requirements for the new district.
- Ask the gaining installation about school liaison and youth programs.
- Pack a comfort bag each child keeps with them: favorite items, snacks, entertainment.
- Tell children the real dates and keep their routines as steady as you can.
Pets
- Check pet transport and housing requirements for your destination before you book anything.
- Ask your vet for records and any health paperwork required for travel.
- Make sure tags and microchip details have your new contact information.
- Pack food, medication, a leash and a few days of supplies where you can reach them.
The first week
- Unpack the kids' rooms early.
- Find the nearest vet and pediatric care.
- Walk the neighborhood together.
- Keep a short list of numbers on the fridge.
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
- Military moving expense tracker: keep receipts from day one
- 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.