PCS
Throwback Thursday Classic Guest Post: Read Your Orders – Executing a Close Proximity Move
By Dr. G. Adam Jakubek*
I am in the process of a PCS from NH Jacksonville to Kings Bay, and noticed that my Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) would drop significantly based on the change in duty station zip codes. The BAH rates vary depending on your duty station zip code, not your address, so you could see a dip in a few hundred dollars if your duty station changes but elect to keep your home in your prior, higher BAH rate zip code.
I’ve had colleagues PCS to close proximity duty stations and elect to not move their family and miss out on keeping their BAH at their old duty station. Some examples I’ve seen where people see a drop in BAH are PCS moves from San Diego to Camp Pendleton, or the Bethesda/National Capital Area to places like Annapolis or Baltimore where rates drop by $200-300/month.
The current order writing system authorizes funding for a household goods shipment by default if your new duty station is farther than 30 miles away from your prior duty station, but you might prefer to make the commute if it means staying in your home, keeping your kids in the same schools, etc.
My current orders have the following statement attached:
‐ MEMBERS WHO RECEIVE PCS ORDERS WHEN THEIR OLD AND NEW PERMANENT DUTY STATIONS ARE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER (BASED ON A REASONABLE COMMUTE DETERMINED BY THE GAINING CO) MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A CLOSE PROXIMITY WAIVER AND RECEIVE BAH BASED ON THEIR OLD PDS LOCATION. SEE NAVADMIN 101/10 FOR WAIVER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES. GO TO: HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.NAVY.MIL/BUPERS‐NPC/ REFERENCE/MESSAGES/PAGES/DEFAULT.ASPX.
If you follow the instructions in the NAVADMIN, it is a relatively simple process, but the key is completing the request through your gaining command BEFORE you execute your orders. Your gaining command needs to endorse your request stating that your commute is ‘reasonable’ and you forfeit your household goods shipment, making it a no‐cost PCS move for the government.
Once you receive the signed endorsement letter from your gaining command, you forward that letter directly to your detailer. You’ll get an order modification that drops your household goods shipment funding and states that you’re authorized BAH at your prior duty station rate. Again, make sure you follow up with your detailer prior to checking out of your old command if you haven’t seen your order modification come through in NSIPS. Once you check into your new command PSD or Human Resources department with your modified orders, you’ll be locked into that BAH rate and cannot retroactively request funding for a household goods shipment if you decide to move later on in your tour.
Here are some useful templates to help you with this process:
Close Proximity Approval Letter
Close Proximity Request Letter
*The views expressed in this blog are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense or the United States Government.
How Long Do You Have to Stay in the Navy if Executing PCS Orders?
Question: If I execute PCS orders, how long do I have to stay in the Navy before I can retire or resign?
Answer: This is something called “retainability” and is detailed in paragraph 9 (on page 6) of OPNAVINST 1300.15B – NAVY MILITARY PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. Here’s the quick and dirty version.
It all depends on where you’re coming from and going to:
- Coming from OCONUS to CONUS = You must wait 1 year before you can get out of the Navy.
- Going to a CONUS operational billet = also 1 year.
- Coming from CONUS to a shore/non-operational billet = 2 years.
- Going OCONUS anywhere = You must serve the full tour length, which depends on your specialty and where you’re going. I could try to explain tour lengths, but it can get complicated. If you’re not sure what your tour length is, ask your Detailer.
More Sailor-Friendly Options for PCS Moves
MILLINGTON, Tenn (NNS) — Navy Personnel Command (NPC) leaders announced today that they are expanding options and capabilities offered to further improve the Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move experience for Sailors and their families. This comes only a few weeks after the release of MyPCS Mobile and more capabilities are expected in the near future.
As part of the Navy’s ongoing pay and personnel transformation efforts, NAVADMIN 184/19 announces a new pilot program in which participating Sailors can use the Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) for PCS move travel expenses. The initial pilot population includes Active Duty Sailors who are existing GTCC cardholders, executing CONUS-to-CONUS moves with less than 30 days of combined travel and Temporary Duty under Instruction, and who are single or traveling with accompanied dependents.
“We are providing Sailors with more choice and control during the PCS move process by providing them with the option to use their GTCC for PCS-related travel expenses,” said Rear Adm. Jeff Hughes, NPC commander.
“We want Sailors to have the funds necessary to support their move readily available either through use of a requested electronic funds transfer/direct deposit (EFT/DD) travel advance or by using the GTCC,” Hughes said, adding, “It’s their choice based on what works best for their particular situation.”
Participating Sailors may now choose to use either the GTCC or request an EFT/DD travel advance to support move related costs; however, both may not be used simultaneously.
Sailors who elect to participate in the pilot program may use the GTCC for temporary lodging at their old or new permanent duty station, fuel for privately owned vehicles (POVs) used as part of PCS travel, and for lodging and meals en route to their new duty station. Additionally, if the Sailor is entitled, the GTCC may be used for Dislocation Allowance (DLA) related expenses normally associated with the establishment of a new household.
This pilot period allows us time to evaluate the rollout through all phases of the PCS process, receive feedback from participating Sailors and commands, and fix any unknown issues prior to expansion to the widest possible population of Sailors in the near future.
Additionally, NAVADMIN 183/19 announces the release of Lean Orders and a PCS Entitlements Calculator. Lean orders is a streamlined, simplified, and plain language orders format, providing a Sailor and family everything they need to know to execute a move on a few screens on a mobile device. Lean Orders and the full text orders will both be available in MyPCS Mobile and on MyNavy Portal (MNP). A PCS Entitlements Calculator will also be available to provide Sailors a tool to easily determine their PCS travel entitlements. The intent is for a Sailor and their Command Pay and Personnel Administrator (CPPA) to use this tool during the initial PCS planning phase, which may influence what options the Sailor may pursue regarding advances or card use. It is also useful when a Sailor fills out their travel claim at their new permanent duty station to ensure the claim disbursement is the correct amount.
“Simplifying the PCS process for Sailors is a priority area of effort within the MyNavy HR Transformation effort,” said Ann Stewart, Director, NPC Pay and Personnel Management Department, adding, “All of these new services are a direct result of what we are hearing from Sailors and their families during numerous fleet engagements. We’re listening and rapidly improving processes and fielding capabilities to best resource our Sailors and reduce the administrative burden on them, so they can focus on readiness, lethality, and improving their life/work balance.”
It is vital that Sailors work with their CPPA and GTCC Agency Program Coordinator when pursuing available options for their PCS move planning and execution. The MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) Contact Center is also a 24/7 option and may be contacted via email: askmncc@navy.mil or by phone at (833) 330-MNCC (6622).
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PCS Move Improvements
I know no one wants to read a NAVADMIN, but this one details some pretty good changes for those PCSing:
UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 171240Z JUL 19
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 161/19
PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/JUL//
SUBJ/PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION MOVE IMPROVEMENTS//
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN provides Sailors and their families with information
to assist in planning and executing their Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
moves and provides information regarding upcoming improvements to the PCS
process and introduction of new tools.
2. Sailors can reduce out-of-pocket expenses during a PCS move by taking
advantage of the travel entitlements available to them in advance of their
move. Travel advances are designed to assist Sailors with PCS travel
expenses. This includes funding assistance for mileage, meals and lodging.
If you are about to make a PCS move, talk to your Command Pay and Personnel
Administrator (CPPA) to help you decide if a travel advance is the right
thing for you and your family. Special consideration should be given to
those moving to an overseas duty station or to a location with a higher than
average cost of living.
3. Spouse Licensure Reimbursement allows spouses to have certain employment
licenses or certification costs reimbursed up to $500 when necessary as a
result of a PCS move. See NAVADMIN 134/19 for more information.
4. Additional PCS move improvements are coming in three phases:
a. Phase One (July 2019).
(1) MyPCS Mobile is a mobile-enabled website accessible on personal
and work mobile devices, tablets, laptops and desktops.
Available now, this tool provides additional flexibility and access to a
personalized checklist tailored for an individual Sailors PCS move as well as
the ability to opt-in and immediately get on the waitlist for government
housing and childcare services at their new duty station for those Sailors
under Active Duty PCS orders.
Sailors can generate their checklist online at any time and tasks are listed
chronologically to improve the overall experience for Sailors and their
dependents. If a Sailor does not have a set of Active Duty PCS orders
presently, they can still explore the functionality of the checklist through
an on-line demonstration of the capability on MyPCS Mobile.
(2) Sailors will be able to login to MyPCS Mobile at any time through
the Navy App Locker at https://www.applocker.navy.mil or MyNavy Portal (MNP)
website at https://my.navy.mil. MNP will have quick links available on the
homepage Sailors can use to login to MyPCS Mobile and save the website as a
favorite on the browser of their choice. By downloading the Navy App Locker
for either Android or Apple devices, Sailors can quickly access the MyPCS
Mobile and other Navy-sponsored content. Sailors can access the MyPCS Mobile
website without a Common Access Card (CAC), using commercial grade Multi-
Factor Authentication (MFA) credentials for security.
(3) To set up CAC-free access, log into MNP on a CAC-enabled machine.
Your name should appear at the top of the page. Click on your name, select
my account, then select the instructions for CAC- free setup. Follow the
steps for either Apple iOS or Google Android to authenticate your identity
under the instructions tab. NOTE:
This is a one-time event and allows the user to establish their secure MFA
account to log into the CAC-less applications or websites. The mobile device
of the user must have access to either WiFi or cellular data services to
complete the process.
(4) PCS Entitlements Calculator is a tool to assist Sailors budget
for travel-related PCS expenses and it will be available on MNP with a
release date outlined in an upcoming NAVADMIN.
b. Phase Two (August 2019)
(1) A new format for PCS orders called lean orders will be released
in early August and available in MyPCS Mobile and on MNP for Sailors on
Active Duty PCS orders. This is a streamlined, simplified and plain language
orders format, providing Sailors and their families everything they need to
know to execute a move on a few screens on a mobile device. The full text
orders will also be available.
(2) In early August, some Sailors who have a government travel charge
card (GTCC) will have the option to participate in a pilot program to use the
GTCC for all PCS related travel expenses (in lieu of obtaining a travel
advance). Specifics on this new option will be outlined in an upcoming
NAVADMIN.
c. Phase Three (September 2019). Sailors will be able to complete a
fully electronic travel voucher using MyPCS Mobile on their mobile device.
Sailors will be able to upload receipts, complete a voucher that has been
prepopulated with basic information, electronically sign and provide it to
their CPPA for final processing.
5. These initiatives are just the beginning to Navy fielding a modernized
PCS move process that makes the overall customer experience better for
Sailors and their families.
6. Contact MyNavy Career Center at 833-330-MNCC/6622 or via e-mail at
askMNCC(at)navy.mil with any issues or to provide feedback.
7. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.//
BT
#0001
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//
Throwback Thursday Classic Post – How to Manage Your PRD and Not Get Stuck with a “Hotfill”
(I’m going to start re-posting some of the better and more popular blog posts on the site on Throwback Thursday. Much of the content is evergreen or requires minimal updates, and the blog has a much larger readership than when many of these posts first ran.)
There are many important dates in your Navy career. One of the most important and neglected dates, though, is your projected rotation date or PRD. Your PRD is the month and year that your current orders will expire and you are scheduled to rotate to a new command. If you don’t manage your PRD and pay close attention to it, you can find yourself with few career options and in a situation you never thought you’d be in. With that in mind, here are my tips for managing your PRD.
Know Your PRD
First, know when it is because many physicians don’t know their PRD. If you are in this crowd, the easiest way to find your PRD is to login to BUPERS On-Line and look at block 14 of your Officer Data Card:
The other way to find your PRD is to contact your Detailer because they can look it up in the detailing system. Many physicians don’t know their Detailer, so here is a link to a page with “Contact Us” in the middle.
Manage Your PRD
Once you know your PRD, the easiest way to manage it is with whatever calendar you use (an app, web calendar like Google Calendar, Outlook, a date book, etc.). Place reminders in your calendar to correspond with these time frames:
13-18 Months Before Your PRD – This is when you should start thinking about your next career move. Although the normal time period to request an extension (find a template here) at your current command is 9-12 months before your PRD, many physicians request an extension during this time period if they are sure they want to extend. This is also a great time to talk to the Operational Detailer about operational billets you might have interest in or the Senior Detailer about what I’ll call “alternative billets” like those at DHA/BUMED, BUPERS, global health engagement billets, NAVMEDWEST, NAVMEDEAST, etc. If you act on your PRD in this timeframe, you’ll be well ahead of the game.
9-12 Months Before Your PRD – This is the traditional detailing window where you contact your Detailer and Specialty Leader to negotiate your next career move. This is when physicians normally submit an extension request as well as explore potential billets for their next set of orders. The one caveat is that the availability of billets is often contingent on the results of the Graduate Medical Education Selection Board or GMESB. Since these results are not finalized until January, people with summer PRDs will find that they may have to wait beyond this time period to find out what billets are available and get orders.
6-8 Months Before Your PRD – This is when the list of billets that are actually available will solidify and most physicians will get orders. If you want to extend at your current command and you haven’t submitted an extension request yet, you should do that ASAP.
1-5 Months Before Your PRD – Many physicians will get into this period without orders. If it is because you were waiting on the results of the GMESB, you are probably fine. If you are in this period for another reason, you should get nervous. The truth is that unanticipated things always happen. Commanding Officers don’t endorse extension requests. Unanticipated openings cause a Detailer and Specialty Leader to have a “hotfill” billet. When things like this happen, a Detailer goes looking for officers close to their PRD to fill the need. If you are in this window without orders, you are low lying fruit for filling these needs. And just so you know, most of these “hotfills” are not in Rota or San Diego.
At Your PRD or Beyond – Physicians let their PRDs “expire” all the time. Sometimes it is because they submit an extension request that never gets approved because it gets lost somewhere in the process. Other times they don’t know when their PRD is. Realistically, there is often no consequence if your PRD expires, although some commands will pick up on this fact and get your attention by threatening to take away your computer access. The biggest threat, though, is the aforementioned “hotfills” that inevitably show up. If your PRD is expired, you are going to rise to the top of the list when the Detailer goes looking for people to fill that need. Have fun wherever that “hotfill” is.
The Bottom Line – Know when your PRD is and manage it according to the above timeline. This will give you the maximum chance of getting what you want and reduce the chance that you are selected for a “hotfill” you don’t want.
My PCS Checklist – Taking Stress Out of PCS
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The latest upgrade to MyNavy Portal (MNP) includes a checklist to guide Sailors and their families through their next Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move. My PCS Checklist allows Sailors to easily create their own personalized move checklist, and can be found in the Assignment, Leave, and Travel section of MNP under the Career and Life Events drop down menu.
There is no question that PCS moves are challenging, whether it is a single Sailor heading across country or a family moving overseas. The process of relocating can be a source of personal, financial and family stress and it requires a great deal of logistical planning. My PCS Checklist makes the process better. Sailors can now create their own personalized checklist by using an intuitive, web-based program, to guide them through the PCS process and help eliminate unnecessary stress.
“Creating the checklist is easy,” said Capt. Chris Harris, director, distribution management division, Navy Personnel Command. “Sailors answer a few questions in the online checklist, starting with their official detachment date, which automatically generates a personalized, step-by-step checklist that calculates the number of days to complete each item until their move from their current command. Sailors can print out their checklist at work or email it to a spouse, parent or anyone with whom they want to share the information.”
The checklist is broken down into four categories – Shipping Household Goods, Family Move, Money and Sailor Admin. Based on the detachment date selected, the checklist outlines necessary activities, due dates and includes tips and sources of support for each category. The program includes a taskbar that indicates how far along Sailors are in completing their activities and they will receive alerts to remind them to complete the tasks to stay on their PCS timeline.
“MyNavy Portal addresses one of the major issues Sailors face when managing their careers – they have to use too many websites to complete routine tasks for managing their careers,” said Dave Driegert, PMW 240 assistant program manager, Single Point of Entry for MNP. “My PCS Checklist is the newest tool for Sailors and joins other recently-available applications like MyRecord Web 1.0 and electronic Personnel Action Request (ePAR)/1306. MNP is growing all the time. In the months ahead, Sailors will be able to access an increasing number of new features and tools.”
Sailors should work with their command pay and personnel administrator if they have any questions concerning PCS policies and procedures. They may also contact MyNavy Career Center 24/7 at askmncc@navy.mil, or toll-free at 833-330-MNCC (6622).
In addition to PCS information, MNP provides Sailors links to other webpages and resources – all in one convenient location.
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Military Times – How to Execute a Military Move: Top 10 Rules to Get a PCS Done
Here is a link to this useful article:
How to Execute a Military Move: Top 10 Rules to Get a PCS Done
Potential Delays Associated With Personally Procured Moves OCT-DEC 2018
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (NNS) — NAVSUP is asking Sailors performing a Personally Procured Move (PPM) during October through December 2018 to be aware of potential impacts to the PPM overall process – from advance payment request to claims settlement.
The software used to validate, reconcile, and authorize payment for Sailors’ PPMs will be upgraded in December 2018. Settlement of PPM claims submitted for reimbursement during November and December may be delayed due to the system being taken offline. All PPM packages submitted will be prioritized based upon the date received and processed accordingly once the system comes back online.
Claim submission scenarios and more details are available online at https://www.navsup.navy.mil/public/navsup/hhg/time_to_move/ppm/.
For questions specific to your individual claim, call 888-742-4467.
Learn more from Navy Household Goods online at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/navyhhg
YouTube: www.youtube.com/navyhhg
Twitter: www.twitter.com/navyhhg
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/navyhhg
Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP’s mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/navsup and http://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.
Family PCS Travel Flexibility Expanded
WASHINGTON (NNS) — Navy has expanded the eligible categories for advanced dependent travel (ADT) and delayed dependent travel (DDT), personnel officials announced September 13.
For permanent change of station (PCS) moves within the 50 states, the policy allows for dependent travel of up to six months before or after the sponsoring Sailor’s PCS move in the following situations: spousal employment or education, dependents in elementary or secondary school (K-12), dependent enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, or caring for an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness. The previous approved policy that allowed DDT for the length of the school year is unchanged by this expansion.
For moves from the 50 states to overseas locations, only DDT will be authorized. For moves from overseas locations to the 50 states, only ADT will be authorized.
Sailors will only receive one housing allowance, either for their location or their dependent’s location, under delayed or advance travel. Sailors or dependents may be assigned government quarters if available, but may not displace a member or dependent in government housing.
Requests for DDT or ADT must be submitted to Navy Personnel Command (PERS-451).
For information and answers to questions on this policy, email NXAG_N130C@navy.mil.
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Guest Post: Read Your Orders – Executing a Close Proximity Move
By Dr. G. Adam Jakubek*
I am in the process of a PCS from NH Jacksonville to Kings Bay, and noticed that my Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) would drop significantly based on the change in duty station zip codes. The BAH rates vary depending on your duty station zip code, not your address, so you could see a dip in a few hundred dollars if your duty station changes but elect to keep your home in your prior, higher BAH rate zip code.
I’ve had colleagues PCS to close proximity duty stations and elect to not move their family and miss out on keeping their BAH at their old duty station. Some examples I’ve seen where people see a drop in BAH are PCS moves from San Diego to Camp Pendleton, or the Bethesda/National Capital Area to places like Annapolis or Baltimore where rates drop by $200-300/month.
The current order writing system authorizes funding for a household goods shipment by default if your new duty station is farther than 30 miles away from your prior duty station, but you might prefer to make the commute if it means staying in your home, keeping your kids in the same schools, etc.
My current orders have the following statement attached:
‐ MEMBERS WHO RECEIVE PCS ORDERS WHEN THEIR OLD AND NEW PERMANENT DUTY STATIONS ARE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER (BASED ON A REASONABLE COMMUTE DETERMINED BY THE GAINING CO) MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A CLOSE PROXIMITY WAIVER AND RECEIVE BAH BASED ON THEIR OLD PDS LOCATION. SEE NAVADMIN 101/10 FOR WAIVER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES. GO TO: HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.NAVY.MIL/BUPERS‐NPC/ REFERENCE/MESSAGES/PAGES/DEFAULT.ASPX.
If you follow the instructions in the NAVADMIN, it is a relatively simple process, but the key is completing the request through your gaining command BEFORE you execute your orders. Your gaining command needs to endorse your request stating that your commute is ‘reasonable’ and you forfeit your household goods shipment, making it a no‐cost PCS move for the government.
Once you receive the signed endorsement letter from your gaining command, you forward that letter directly to your detailer. You’ll get an order modification that drops your household goods shipment funding and states that you’re authorized BAH at your prior duty station rate. Again, make sure you follow up with your detailer prior to checking out of your old command if you haven’t seen your order modification come through in NSIPS. Once you check into your new command PSD or Human Resources department with your modified orders, you’ll be locked into that BAH rate and cannot retroactively request funding for a household goods shipment if you decide to move later on in your tour.
Here are some useful templates to help you with this process:
Close Proximity Approval Letter
Close Proximity Request Letter
*The views expressed in this blog are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense or the United States Government.
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