2025 PCS Questions Linger: Military Families May Have the Answer

When Army spouse Angela Johansen and her husband received short-fused Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders this summer, they expected some stress, but not the spiraling costs, confusing policies, and logistical issues that followed when they opted to move themselves. “This wasn’t a choice we made lightly,” Angela explained. “We felt compelled to handle the move ourselves, given the situation with HomeSafe Alliance. We’ve dedicated significant time, effort, and many late nights packing, all while facing an already demanding schedule.”

While deeply personal, the Johansen family’s story highlights the gaps emerging in the wake of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) June 18, 2025, decision to terminate its Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) with HomeSafe Alliance.

Angela’s husband, an E-7 stationed at Fort Bragg, had originally received orders for a “by-name request” to report to Fort Knox by September 10. That date was unexpectedly moved up, with a new reporting window as early as August 15. “He may have lost out on the special assignment if he had disputed the reporting timeframe,” Angela shared.

To avoid the widespread issues already reported with HomeSafe Alliance, the Johansens chose to complete a Personally Procured Move (PPM), hoping to avoid delays that could jeopardize the assignment. Just five days after the Johansens opted to begin the PPM process, the contract with HomeSafe was officially canceled.

The Cost of Doing It All Yourself

While reimbursement for PPMs is typically calculated based on 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC), that amount was significantly reduced under the GHC through HomeSafe. Since reimbursement rates for PPMs are tied to the rates paid to movers, many military families moving themselves faced steep out-of-pocket costs.

The DoD’s May 20 directive to increase PPM reimbursements to 130% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) was meant to help ease the burden during the PCS transition period. But Angela says that local offices aren’t following through. “When my husband asked about the 130%, he was told, ‘We have not received any guidance on that.’ Our DD Form 2278 still lists 100%. I was quite disappointed. That memo made me believe we might actually be reimbursed for all our hard work. Now I’m worried we’ll have to come out of pocket, just like so many other families.”

Those out-of-pocket expenses are already adding up. Packing supplies alone cost the Johansens over $1,000. They also spent nearly $2,900 upfront to make their home rental-ready—painting, upgrading the security system, and more. “We were advised that we’d have better luck finding tenants if we vacated by August 1,” Angela said.

With their home now vacant, they’re staying in an Airbnb until mid-September—another $3,100 expense. “We were forced to put a down payment on our personal credit card just to secure the spot,” she said. “It was cheaper than military lodging, so availability was limited. But we couldn’t put it on my husband’s Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC), because those balances are due within 30 days.”

The GTCC Catch-22

The GTCC, intended to ease the financial strain of government travel, is becoming a barrier for many military families. Because Angela’s husband holds a GTCC, the Joint Travel Regulations prohibit them from receiving any advance on their PPM reimbursement aside from Dislocation Allowance (DLA). “If he didn’t have a GTCC, we could have gotten some funds in advance,” Angela explained. “Instead, we’re expected to put everything on the card and then wait.”

But the 30-day payment window creates a catch-22. “Many moving companies require a deposit just to book the move,” Angela said. She received a downpayment quote of $7,000 to secure her move, and it was likely that the DLA amount wasn’t sufficient to cover that cost.

If her husband were to put this down payment on his GTCC and the move itself didn’t happen within a month, he might be forced to pay off the GTCC himself before getting reimbursed to avoid reprimand. If her husband didn’t have a GTCC, he could have received a partial advance based on their projected reimbursement rate.

More Than Just a Move

The complications of this PCS are made worse by what the Johansen family is juggling behind the scenes. “This year has been brutal,” Angela said. “We’ve had to travel multiple times to see my husband’s father, who’s battling two types of cancer. My own father is fighting recurring cancer, and my mother-in-law is also ill. These personal crises compound the stress.”

Even as a dual-income family, the unanticipated costs are straining their finances. “Had we hired professionals, the going rate for packing this volume of goods (likely requiring five people for two days) would have been approximately $3,000 in labor costs alone,” said Angela. “We absorbed that financial burden and the considerable stress, ultimately saving the government that expense. Reliable systems are essential for military families to not just cope, but to flourish amidst constant change and challenge, rather than pushing us to our breaking point.”

Moving Forward

Military families like the Johansens are doing everything they can to meet mission demands, despite facing confusing policies and unexpected costs. But they shouldn’t have to navigate these challenges alone or in silence.

While some turbulence was expected following the termination of such a large-scale contract, stories like Angela’s underscore the importance of ensuring military families don’t continue to shoulder the burden of systemic change. As the PCS Task Force prepares to submit its recommendations to DoD by September 5, it’s critical that those solutions prioritize the lived experiences of a military family during a PCS move.

NMFA appreciates that DoD has established a PCS Task Force to address urgent PCS issues and develop recommendations for reform. We urge the Department of Defense and USTRANSCOM to take the following immediate actions:

• Ensure the PCS Task Force hotline is fully staffed and equipped to provide accurate, timely responses to families with urgent questions.
• Implement clear guidance at the local level on updated PPM reimbursement rates, in line with Secretary Hegseth’s May 20 memo.
• Review GTCC policies to ensure they align with the financial and logistical realities of families executing a PPM.

We appreciate that the PCS Task Force was created to address longstanding challenges in the moving process, but they need to hear directly from the families most affected. NMFA would like to share what we’re hearing from military families and work collaboratively with the PCS Task Force as they seek real, lasting solutions.

Are you a military family experiencing PCS issues this summer?

If so, we want to hear from you. Your story helps inform our advocacy and makes sure decision-makers understand the real-world impact of policy gaps and miscommunication.