question about the details of how the Navy moves a newly commissioned Ensign to their first place (in my sons case he will be going to NNPS in Goose Creek). he is being told he will be "moved from his hometown" but hes not at his hometown as hes being required to work (stashed) at his school unit which is 7hour drive from hometown. he was also told that he has 1 day to move from the moment he leaves the school unit to the time he arrives at NNPS. this seems literally impossible to drive 7 hours, arrive at home, pack his belongings, rent a truck and drive 5 hours to SC. does this sound feasible ? why is the move time so short? maybe a weekend can be added in berween?
He should talk to the officers and senior enlisted staff at his unit, no doubt seasoned with numerous military moves among them. There is also a lot of help online. He will soon become a pro at this. Let him figure it out. Everyone knows he is new, everyone was new at one point, and it all gets worked out. He is going to figure this out time and time again throughout his career.
Some thoughts that might helpful clarify:
- The first military move to a permanent duty station can be from the Home of Record (HOR), the place from which he entered military service, to the new duty station.
- The travel time is calculated in driving miles per day, which has a cap for safety reasons. The travel time allowed from his HOR or authorized origination point to the duty destination in SC is apparently 1 day, per the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) for that distance in miles.
- He can take the time he needs to get there, as long as he reports in by the required day and time, but when he submits his travel claim after reporting in, he will be compensated for one travel day.
- Is he entitled to a military Household Goods (HHG)? Written orders usually say this. He may be entitled to have movers come and pack up a shipment; he doesn’t have to be there, he can designate you. I went to my first duty station in Spain from a short-term school in Norfolk, and I was entitled to a HHG shipment up to X lbs based on my O-1 paygrade from my HOR in GA. My dad was my designated rep. They knew what to point the packers at.
- When you rent your own truck, it’s called a DITY move, now called PPM. Travel time allowed for compensation purposes is the same.
He can figure this out with the help of cadre. Hundreds of NROTC and SA and OCS grads launch to their first duty stations every year. It’s always a bit painful at the start, but he will get the hang of it.
Get immediate moving help, access planning tools and browse moving resources and more. Plus, get PCS assistance from the Military and Family Support Center.
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Learn about the basics of moving in the military. Get answers to common questions, view special circumstances and access DOD resources and support.
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The Defense Department recently launched a new landing page on MilitaryOneSource.mil designed to serve as a replacement for its previous information hub, Move.mil.
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This podcast discusses personally procured moves, or PPM, as well as scheduling your move, submitting your moving expenses and more for a successful PCS.
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And what
@GWU PNS said!