As soon as you get your orders to move, you’ll need to begin the planning process right away. You’ll have plenty to do, including making sure you’re following military rules and regulations. At Ace Moving and Warehousing, we can help you with several of the details you’ll need to plan out when you’re preparing to make a military transfer.

If you’re getting ready to conduct your first Personally Procured Move (PPM) or partial PPM, our military moving specialists are here to help. Not only do we have the equipment and resources to help you move to your next post efficiently, but we also have the experience necessary to help you plan and execute the process as smoothly as possible.

To get you started, we’ve outlined the steps you’ll need to take, along with helpful tips and tricks that’ll help you conduct a successful, low-stress military move. And as always, if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team!

1. Talk to Your Family, Especially the Kids

Moving can be an especially intense experience for children. There are a few steps you can take to help them navigate the emotional rollercoaster of packing up and shipping out.

You may want to seek out support groups designed to help military families deal with the unique psychological challenges of military life, including frequent relocations. Tell your kids about the move as soon as possible, and be sure to express how much you appreciate their support as you continue serving your country.

For more helpful tips, check out Moving With Kids? How to Plan and Execute a Successful Relocation.

2. Secure Your Family’s Important Documents

When you make a military move, there are certain documents you'll need to keep with you at all times. They include:

  • Your transfer orders
  • IDs, driver's licenses, Social Security cards, and passports for every member of your family
  • Marriage, divorce, birth, and naturalization certificates
  • Medical information and records for each family member
  • Housing information, including your insurance information and inventory
  • School and employment records
  • Vehicle documents

Be sure you keep these written materials in your vehicle. If you’re hiring a moving company, never put these critical documents in the back of the moving truck, as there’s always a risk something could go wrong.

Most moving companies prefer not to move highly personal and important documents anyway as they don’t want the liability. In addition to personal records, forms, etc., there are also several other items your movers cannot or prefer not to transport.

You can learn more about what those items include and how to move them in Hiring a Moving Company? Here’s How to Transport These 7 Things Your Movers Can’t Touch.

And for a full breakdown of all the things your movers won’t handle, refer to Atlas Van Lines’ list of non-allowables.

3. Reserve Your Truck Rental Right Away

When it comes to moving, certain times of the year are busier than others. Although we have an abundant supply of trucks and professional movers, we suggest you secure a truck and a team as soon as possible to help you move. When you call, make sure you reserve everything, including any equipment and packing supplies you may need. We can take care of the rest.

4. Don’t Count On Your Moving Date to be Set in Stone

If there’s anything we’ve learned about the military, it’s that moving dates can change depending on your orders. Therefore, we are prepared to be flexible if necessary. You may want to prepare yourself to be flexible, as well.

What this means for military personnel is that the fluctuation in schedule can be as little as a few days or last a few weeks. Be sure to inform your landlord or anyone else involved in your move that the schedule could change. You may end up moving sooner or later than you originally planned.

5. Know Your Weight Allowance

Before you begin packing the truck, you need to know what the maximum weight allowance is. Most military branches allow service members to ask their moving company or military transportation office for a re-weigh of their household goods, and they have a right to be present when that re-weigh is conducted. Knowing the weight limit will help you reserve the appropriate size truck when you call us.

6. Be Patient and Flexible

Part of navigating your relocation is being prepared for the unexpected. There are a lot of variables to consider when planning. Each of them can mean changes, delays, or even an expedited move. Don't finalize your personal plans until you have orders in hand.

Note: Summer is the busiest season for moving military personnel. Requested pickup and delivery dates may not be available if you move between May and August. Don't assume move dates are set until they are confirmed.

7. Take Inventory and Liquidate or Store What You Can

A key component to a successful move is knowing what you can take with you and what you may need to leave behind. There are plenty of moving apps that can help you record the name, description, and condition of everything in your home.

It's never too early to begin purging the stuff you don’t need. If there are items you rarely use and don’t want anymore, donate them to charity or have a yard sale. The less cluttered your move is, the easier it will be for you and your family.

Start with the larger items first and then work your way down to the smaller stuff. For more useful info, check out our tips for downsizing your home and tips for creating a home inventory before you move

If you do end up needing to store some of your belongings, you’ll want to brush up on what you need to know before renting a storage unit.

8. Seriously Consider Hiring Professional Packers

When you hire movers, you’re hiring the guys who’ll load your belongings into the moving truck and transport them to your new location. But if you only hire for moving (read: transport) services, you’ll be responsible for packing all of your belongings on your own. That job can be remarkably time-consuming and tedious, and if you don’t have experience packing, it’s easy to do it incorrectly and put your belongings at risk for damage.

That’s where professional packers can be a huge help. When you invest in full packing services, you’ll get a team of highly trained, professional packers who know how to safely and securely pack everything you own. They can even build custom crates to house anything that might not fit in a standard moving box.

When you arrive at your destination, your packers will unload the truck, bring your belongings into your new home, and here’s the best part: They’ll unpack everything for you. Plus, they’ll also collect all of the packing materials and get rid of them for you. How’s that for convenience?

For more info on the major benefits of this service, check out Planning to Pack by Yourself? 5 Reasons You Should Seriously Reconsider

9. Prepare for Delays in Household Transfers

The location of your new home will determine a lot of things, including how long it takes for your household goods to arrive. Even if you are only without your belongings for a few weeks, make sure you have the important items you'll need to live on. Be sure to pack an essentials bag for yourself and each person in your family, which should include everything you'd normally take on a lengthy vacation. 

If you're moving overseas, be prepared. It can take several months for your household items and vehicle to arrive at your new location. Check out our tips for planning and packing for international relocations for more helpful information on moving overseas.

10. Make Some Military Connections in Advance

Find a sponsor and other points of contact at your new installation to ensure you have future friends to turn to if you have urgent questions. Also, if anything is damaged or lost during the move, you'll need your insurance company information and your inventory on hand to file insurance claims. Know where and who to turn to for emergency information once you arrive on base.

11. Try to Avoid Last-Minute Decisions or Situations

Try to stay ahead of schedule and stay on top of every aspect of your move. If possible, avoid subjecting yourself or your family to any last-minute hasty decisions or situations that you didn’t think about. Ask other personnel for advice on planning and scheduling the move. Last-minute issues can quickly turn into big problems that are difficult to deal with.

Schedule Your Military Move With Ace Midwest Movers

If you’re getting ready for a military move from or to the Minneapolis or St. Paul, Minnesota area, contact Ace Moving and Warehousing today. We specialize in a wide variety of intrastate, interstate, and international moving services, including full packing services, custom move planning, climate-controlled storage solutions, and much more. We have everything you need to make your military move go as planned.

To learn more about how we can facilitate your military move, give us a call at 763-755-2045 or message us on our contact page. You can also request a quick, free quote online, and we’ll get in touch with additional information.