DS is assigned SNA and will likely stash at his NROTC unit in California after graduation until his training begins in Pensacola. As parents, we plan on paying for car transit as his car is too sketchy for a cross country road trip. We wanted to get a new car, but seems to be less than ideal timing given supply chain shortage. So-question. Will Navy pay airfare for his move if we do this? Please advise-thank you.
Navy Relocation Expense
- Thread starter Lucy
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This is a rather complicated question. More experienced posters will surely contribute. Start by reading at PPM, HHG, and Partial PPM moves in the Navy. Essentially, the Navy will pay for the move and (if done strategically) your son can actually make money on the move.
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The Joint Transportation (JTR) regulations and what your DS’ orders say will determine his entitlements and benefits.
He should find out from his unit what HHG office/SATO office(s) service his unit and coordinate his move and PCS relocation, and contact them with questions, being very nice and explaining it’s his first rodeo. Those folks know every aspect of the JTR entitlements and how best to use them. There are also some nuances related to that very first PCS move from accession point to first duty station.
Eventually, he will become a pro at all this. There should be an outbound move counseling session, where he indicates whether he intends to travel by POV (gets per diem and mileage, based on max of x miles/day) or flies, whether he is shipping household goods, whether he is doing an express shipment (small shipment of necessities, fast delivery, no furniture), etc. The government will schedule a flight per their contract rate through SATO (scheduled airline ticket office).
New officers have been reporting to Pensacola from NROTC, USNA and OCS for decades. Part of his journey to being a JO is diving in, asking questions (cadre are old hands at this) and learning the ropes.
If he is in the market for a car when he gets to FL, have him Google “NFCU car buying service.” I can’t tell you how many times we sold a car in HI or on one coast, flew to new duty station on other coast, had pre-purchased a car at the discounted rate via the car buying program, went from airport to dealership and picked it up. USAA discontinued this service about a year ago, but NFCU still offers. You don’t have to finance with them, but their car loan rates are usually very good. No haggling.
Even cooler, the big automotive companies such as Ford have car buying programs with great prices when you are stationed overseas. I drove a “beater” car in Naples with Italian specs and had PCS orders to the Bay area. Sold my car to an incoming family, set up my new car buy, picked it up at a dealer near SFO airport right after I flew in.
He should find out from his unit what HHG office/SATO office(s) service his unit and coordinate his move and PCS relocation, and contact them with questions, being very nice and explaining it’s his first rodeo. Those folks know every aspect of the JTR entitlements and how best to use them. There are also some nuances related to that very first PCS move from accession point to first duty station.
Eventually, he will become a pro at all this. There should be an outbound move counseling session, where he indicates whether he intends to travel by POV (gets per diem and mileage, based on max of x miles/day) or flies, whether he is shipping household goods, whether he is doing an express shipment (small shipment of necessities, fast delivery, no furniture), etc. The government will schedule a flight per their contract rate through SATO (scheduled airline ticket office).
New officers have been reporting to Pensacola from NROTC, USNA and OCS for decades. Part of his journey to being a JO is diving in, asking questions (cadre are old hands at this) and learning the ropes.
If he is in the market for a car when he gets to FL, have him Google “NFCU car buying service.” I can’t tell you how many times we sold a car in HI or on one coast, flew to new duty station on other coast, had pre-purchased a car at the discounted rate via the car buying program, went from airport to dealership and picked it up. USAA discontinued this service about a year ago, but NFCU still offers. You don’t have to finance with them, but their car loan rates are usually very good. No haggling.
Even cooler, the big automotive companies such as Ford have car buying programs with great prices when you are stationed overseas. I drove a “beater” car in Naples with Italian specs and had PCS orders to the Bay area. Sold my car to an incoming family, set up my new car buy, picked it up at a dealer near SFO airport right after I flew in.
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ProudDad17
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This reminded me of DS' recent experience. He commissioned this spring via NROTC and was driving from his unit to San Diego for BDOC. He ended up having a great time and his girlfriend at the time made the trip with him.
I believe lodging along the way was a flat rate per night, depending on the zip code where he stopped. I think some nights he saved money there, but other nights went over. Meal per diem was reasonable. He made out pretty good on the mileage, since he has an economical car. I remember he was only expected to drive about 360 miles per day, so he had plenty of time for some detours and sightseeing along the way.
To answer OP's question, yes, he had the choice to fly or drive, paid for by the Navy.
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Standard move time is 300 miles per day. The Per Diem is the standard that the rest of the military (and defense industry) uses and is defined in the JTAR (Joint Travel Regulations) which are available online. The member needs to get expertise in this as they will be applying for it and signing travel claims. For instance, what is described above is also known as a "DITY Move" (Do It Yourself) and its its own rules and regulations.
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When you move your stuff yourself, it’s called a DITY (“ditty,” do it yourself) move. You get reimbursed for moving your own stuff, have to go through the weighing routine, etc. It is a taxable event, so whatever the military cuts you a check for, it will also be reported as a taxable benefit. You also have to be sure to have your own personal property insurance.
Sone people swear by DITY. I was always happy to use the regular HHG benefit, especially as I acquired more stuff. The military pays for a top of the line move (untaxed benefit) for a max weight limit tied to pay grade and dependency status: all new packing materials, unlimited mirror/framed art boxes, wardrobe boxes, china/glassware boxes, specialty packing (I have a baby grand piano that is a world traveler), movers must deliver to designated room, and can be required to unpack every box and remove all packing materials, as well as assemble beds. I am not fond of wrestling large mattresses up a flight of stairs with DH, not our best marital moments. I was the type to keep them until that was done, with all boxes taken away and everything in neat stacks in their assigned rooms. That also ensured any damage was noted right then with mover present.
Sone people swear by DITY. I was always happy to use the regular HHG benefit, especially as I acquired more stuff. The military pays for a top of the line move (untaxed benefit) for a max weight limit tied to pay grade and dependency status: all new packing materials, unlimited mirror/framed art boxes, wardrobe boxes, china/glassware boxes, specialty packing (I have a baby grand piano that is a world traveler), movers must deliver to designated room, and can be required to unpack every box and remove all packing materials, as well as assemble beds. I am not fond of wrestling large mattresses up a flight of stairs with DH, not our best marital moments. I was the type to keep them until that was done, with all boxes taken away and everything in neat stacks in their assigned rooms. That also ensured any damage was noted right then with mover present.
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Unofficial but usually reliable source:
www.military.com
Looks like the official move.mil platform is migrating 1 Nov:
move.mil
Military One Source is an official DOD resource site for all kinds of things:
www.militaryonesource.mil
8 Tips to Prepare for Your First PCS Move | Military.com
Looks like the official move.mil platform is migrating 1 Nov:
Navy | Move.mil
Military One Source is an official DOD resource site for all kinds of things:
Preparing for Your PCS or Military Move | Military OneSource
Get immediate moving help, access planning tools and browse moving resources and more. Plus, get PCS assistance from the Military and Family Support Center.
www.militaryonesource.mil
I will have DS check into the NFCU car buying service and decide if he wants us to ship his 20 year old jalopy or go NFCU. At this point, he has no stuff except clothes and uniforms and a sword 
and no GF so the rest should be simple. If NFCU has a better line on the car supply, that would be great. We buy cars every 15 or 20 years, and, as luck would have it-hard to find.
and no GF so the rest should be simple. If NFCU has a better line on the car supply, that would be great. We buy cars every 15 or 20 years, and, as luck would have it-hard to find.I'd recommend you store or sell the old car (unless it's a sentimental thing). Have him do something smart like buy a new KIA, Hyundai, or Mitsubishi for $15K or less, with their 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. I've made 700 mile trips in the Mirage G4 I bought my daughter - wasn't comfortable, but loved 40 MPG.I will have DS check into the NFCU car buying service and decide if he wants us to ship his 20 year old jalopy or go NFCU. At this point, he has no stuff except clothes and uniforms and a sword
Yes, he wants to join Navy Federal Credit Union (lowest car and mortgage loan rates he'll find), and USAA (lowest and best car insurance he'll find). Don't use their car buying service, as the dealers who contact him won't budge on price, and yes, you can beat their prices by shopping around.
Dunno if it applies to JOs in their first school, but enlisteds in technical school (in a pipeline, or non-prior service) status aren't allowed off-base during something crazy like the first two or three months. Plenty to do on Pensacola NAS - you can rent boats and fish Big Lagoon, swim in Pensacola Bay, rent sailboats and cruise Bayou Grande. You can spend a whole weekend in the Naval Aviation Museum, and another 3 or 4 weekends wandering the old forts on PNAS. If you ship his jalopy anyway, there's an auto hobby shop on base where he can tinker in his precious little spare time.
There used to be bus service on base that would get a person from the main gate to downtown. Plenty to see in down town. If he gets out to P'cola beach, and he's Catholic, he might be interested to see The Cross in the Sand (and continue on to Fort Pickens). Pensacola was the first Spanish settlement in North America, and the first mass ever was said in the new world was on Pensacola beach.
Oh, and most importantly. HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND! HE HAS KNOWN HER HIS WHOLE LIFE, AND THEY ARE ENGAGED AND HAVE A WEDDING DATE ALREADY PICKED OUT. INVITATIONS ARE PRINTED AND BRIDESMAID DRESSES HAVE BEEN BOUGHT. He needs to name her, and decide on her bio. Back in my high school days, nearly half the senior females would get jobs on PNAS Mainside, or volunteer there (or get fake IDs and sneak into the O-Club), in hopes of bagging themselves a pilot. One skipped graduation so she could marry her pilot, who was shipping the next day. Watch An Officer and A Gentlemen, as well as Surviving the Game with him - he'll feel a little like both Richard Gere and Ice-T at times.
Good luck!
I love it. College GF broke up - not compatible with EOD passions-quick way to blow up your relationship pun intended. DS made final EOD 20 interviews but got pilot instead. I think he is oblivious to the female thought process when comparing SNA to EOD. Hah. I will run silent and deep and have my brother who is a retired naval aviator to warn him about the women-bro saw many a casualty during a flight instructor billet in Pensacola. Maybe college GF will reconsider-although aviation is possibly just as dangerous or more so than EOD. Thank you for the reminder on the topic.
Read the JTR, know the JTR. Processing a travel claim is usually done with gaining command personnel office. They will make mistakes, and it's on the servicemember to catch them (lest you miss out on money or get overpaid and have an unexpected pay deduction in your future). If something sounds fishy, ask for the regulation.
Plenty of ways folks find to net positive during moves (i.e. executing a DITY move and beating the per diem rates), but it's important to follow regulations and not just the gouge; all of it can be audited.
Important to fill out the Passenger Reservation Request and *wait* for SATO to buy tickets for air travel. Buying your own tickets can and for the most part will result in non-reimbursement by the government. If SATO is late, you have to wait. Gaining command will figure out the time difference (i.e. roll into next class or whatever).
There might be some cost overruns or stuff to pay up front until the travel claim is processed. You can save up or request advance lodging allowance, dislocation allowance, and/or advance pay. Identify potential overruns, and decide if you want to request any of those; there is a lead time.
Plenty of ways folks find to net positive during moves (i.e. executing a DITY move and beating the per diem rates), but it's important to follow regulations and not just the gouge; all of it can be audited.
Important to fill out the Passenger Reservation Request and *wait* for SATO to buy tickets for air travel. Buying your own tickets can and for the most part will result in non-reimbursement by the government. If SATO is late, you have to wait. Gaining command will figure out the time difference (i.e. roll into next class or whatever).
There might be some cost overruns or stuff to pay up front until the travel claim is processed. You can save up or request advance lodging allowance, dislocation allowance, and/or advance pay. Identify potential overruns, and decide if you want to request any of those; there is a lead time.
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Thank you. This will help us have a good discussion to make sure DS is plugged in - if we read something here and ask him and he is unaware, he is pretty good about following through and getting the scuttlebutt. But with all the build up to service assignment, graduation and commissioning in December, I am not sure he has planned out this piece.He needs to do it himself, but this is enough info to get him going.