Every PCS season, we get some version of the same question from military families: should I let the government handle our move, or should we do it ourselves and take the payout? It is a genuinely good question, and the honest answer is that it depends on your situation. Both options have real advantages. Both come with tradeoffs that are worth understanding before you commit.
Here is how we break it down for the families we work with.
The Government Move: Hands-Off, But Not Entirely Without Stress
A government move, sometimes called a GTC move, means the military coordinates and pays for your relocation directly. You work through your installation’s Transportation Office; they connect you with contracted movers, and those movers handle packing, loading, transport, and delivery. Your out-of-pocket cost is zero.
That sounds straightforward, and in many ways it is. You are not renting a truck, tracking receipts, or figuring out weight tickets. The financial risk sits with the government, not with you. If something arrives damaged, you file a claim through the appropriate channels rather than absorbing the loss yourself.
What people sometimes underestimate is that hands-off does not mean stress-free. Government move schedules are not always flexible. Delivery windows can be wide. Pack-out dates get assigned rather than chosen. And the quality of contracted movers varies more than most families expect going in. We have heard plenty of stories from service members who came through Jacksonville with a government move and still ended up dealing with damaged furniture, delayed deliveries, and claims processes that dragged on for months.
That is not a reason to avoid a government move. For many families, it is absolutely the right choice. But going in with clear expectations matters.
The PPM: More Work, More Control, and Potentially More Money
A Personally Procured Move, still commonly called a DITY move, flips the model. Instead of the government arranging everything, you take responsibility for executing the relocation yourself. You hire your own movers, rent your own truck, buy your own supplies, and manage your own timeline.
In return, the government pays you a reimbursement based on what the move would have cost them through their contracted system. That figure is called the Government Constructed Cost, or GCC. If your actual expenses come in below that amount, you keep the difference. That gap is real money, and for families who plan carefully, it can be significant.
There are a few things about the PPM financial structure that are worth knowing before you decide.
The reimbursement covers 100 percent of the GCC. If you document your expenses properly, those documented costs are reimbursed tax-free. Any net profit above your actual costs is subject to standard federal tax withholding, so it is not completely free money, but it is still money in your pocket that you would not have with a government move.
You can also request an operating advance, typically up to 60 percent of the estimated GCC, through the Defense Personal Property System or your local Transportation Office. This helps cover upfront costs so you are not paying entirely out of pocket and waiting for reimbursement afterward.
Where the PPM Gets Complicated
The financial upside of a PPM is real. So is the workload.
You are responsible for the physical labor of packing and loading, or for hiring and coordinating people to help you. You are driving the truck or managing the logistics of a private moving company you contracted yourself. And you are entirely responsible for the paperwork.
That last point matters more than most people realize. To receive your full reimbursement, you need certified weight tickets, both empty and loaded, obtained at a certified weigh station. Miss one, do it in the wrong order, or lose a ticket and your payout gets reduced or denied. You also need to save every receipt for every moving-related expense: truck rental, fuel, packing materials, labor, anything you plan to submit for reimbursement. The government does not take your word for it.
Damage is another consideration. In a PPM, you are absorbing the risk. If something gets broken, you are not filing a claim with the government. That is a meaningful difference from a government move, especially for families with valuable electronics, furniture, or other items that are difficult to replace.
The Partial PPM: A Middle Option Worth Knowing
Not everyone realizes there is a middle ground. A partial PPM lets the government move the bulk of your household goods through their contracted system while you handle a portion of the move yourself, typically a trailer or carload of items. You receive a proportional payout for the goods you moved independently.
This option works well for families who want some financial benefit from the PPM without taking on the full workload and risk of a complete DIY move. It is worth asking your Transportation Office about if neither full option feels right for your situation.
How All Ways Moving Fits Into This
Whether you are doing a government move, a full PPM, or a partial PPM, there is likely a role for a private moving company somewhere in the process.
For PPM moves, some families hire us to handle the packing, loading, and transport while they manage the documentation and reimbursement side themselves. We work with service members on PPM logistics regularly and understand what that process requires. We know how weight tickets work, what documentation the government expects, and how to structure the move so your reimbursement reflects your actual costs.
For government moves, families sometimes hire us for things the contracted mover does not cover, such as moving specialty items, handling a vehicle, or bridging a short-term storage gap when delivery is delayed, and they need somewhere secure to keep their belongings in the meantime.
We also offer short-term storage for military families dealing with the gap between move-out and housing availability, which is one of the most common friction points in any PCS regardless of which move type you choose.
The point is that a government move and a PPM are not your only two variables. How you prepare, who you work with, and how you document the process all shape how smoothly things go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for military families, a government move or a PPM?
There is no universal answer. A government move is lower effort and carries no financial risk, but less flexibility. A PPM gives you more control and the potential for a cash payout, but requires significantly more planning, physical work, and documentation. Families with tight timelines or large households often lean toward government moves. Those with the time, flexibility, and organization to manage the logistics often find PPMs worthwhile financially.
How is the PPM reimbursement amount calculated?
The government calculates what your move would have cost them using their contracted rates for your weight allowance and distance. That figure is the Government Constructed Cost. You receive a reimbursement based on that amount. Documented expenses are reimbursed tax-free, and any profit above your actual costs is subject to federal tax withholding.
Do I need weight tickets for a PPM, and how do I get them?
Yes. Certified weight tickets are required for your PPM reimbursement. You need one empty weight ticket, taken before you load anything, and one loaded weight ticket after everything is on the truck. These must be obtained at a certified CAT scale or weigh station. Missing or incorrect weight tickets can significantly reduce your payout.
Can I hire a moving company for a PPM move and still get reimbursed?
Yes. You can hire a private moving company like All Ways Moving to handle packing, loading, and transport as part of your PPM. The costs are documented as moving expenses and factored into your reimbursement. You manage the overall coordination and paperwork while we handle the physical side of the move.
What is a partial PPM and who should consider it?
A partial PPM allows the government to move the majority of your household goods through their contracted system while you personally move a portion, such as a trailer load or a carful of items. You receive a proportional payout for the goods you moved yourself. It is a solid option for families who want some financial benefit without taking on the full responsibility of a complete DIY move.
Where do I go to start the process for either move type?
Log into the Defense Personal Property System at move.mil or visit your installation’s Transportation Office. For families at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, the Distribution Management Office handles household goods scheduling. Starting the process as early as possible gives you more scheduling flexibility and reduces the risk of running into peak season backlogs.
Planning a PCS Move In or Out of Jacksonville, NC?
At All Ways Moving, we work with military families throughout the Jacksonville area on government moves, PPM moves, partial PPMs, and everything in between. We understand the documentation requirements, the timelines, and the specific pressures that come with a military relocation.
We offer full-service packing and moving, short-term storage for housing gaps, vehicle shipping coordination, and transparent pricing with no surprises on moving day.
Get your free military moving quote today. Visit allwaysmovingnc.com or give us a call to talk through your options. A PCS does not have to be one of the most stressful things your family goes through. With the right preparation and the right team behind you, it can actually go pretty well.
