Supporting the Relocation, Travel, and Lifestyle Needs of the American Military Family

Include enough time in your travel plans to ensure a safe journey to Kings Bay.  Your safety is always our number one priority.  Always keep your sponsor and command informed about your travel plans, and notify them in advance if possible or as quickly as practical should an emergency or emergent situation arise that might prevent you from arriving safely and/or on time.

If you get married, have a new born child, or adopt a child before you PCS, you MUST inform your Chain Of Command, and follow the procedures exactly as you are given them. The military WILL NOT Pay for travel and housing of your family members, if you do not follow proper procedures. Your Service Record Page 2, MUST have all family members recorded prior to executing your PCS Orders.

Effective 1 August 2005, the Department of the Navy has directed the mandatory use of the web based program "SMARTWEBMOVE" for all Navy members departing the Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia areas who are in receipt of PCS, Retirement, Separation, or Local Housing assignment orders.  

The only exceptions to the mandatory use of "SMARTWEBMOVE" will be for military members who request Non-Temporary storage, or movement of a privately-owned-vehicle (POV), or movement of a privately-owned-boat (POB), or movement of a Mobile Home.  Also, at this time DOD civilians are exempt from this program and must continue to schedule their moves with the Personal Property Office (PPO), by arranging an appointment for entitlement counseling and application. Regardless of the application method, please schedule your move no less than four weeks prior to your desired pack-out date.

The Personal Property Offices located at SUBASE Kings Bay, NAVSTA Mayport, and NAS Jacksonville will provide walk-in service and/or appointments only for those moves that cannot be accommodated by the SMARTWEBMOVE program.


BEFORE YOU MOVE

A successful move is the result of planning and hard work. The service member and their family members MUSTbe proactive in the relocation process. After you receive your orders, it's important to get information about what you need to do before the move and immediately following it. One of the first things you can do is contact your installation Fleet and Family Support Center and Personal Property Office for assistance in planning your move.

SPONSORSHIP

The Navy Sponsor Program directs a sponsor for service members undergoing a PCS move. The designated command sponsor will be the direct connection to the service member's new command, and the community surrounding the installation. The designated command sponsor should make contact with the service member prior to their transfer from the detaching duty station. The sponsor from your new command will send you a Welcome Aboard Package containing materials relative to the command and local community. If you have not been contacted prior to your scheduled transfer date, request the detaching duty station assist you in contacting your next command to identify your designated sponsor.

FINANCES

Review your family budget for your move addressing travel costs for lodging, food, fuel, and emergency vehicle repairs. From your research using the Standard Installation Topics Exchange Service (SITES), you should be able to estimate the funds required for deposits on utilities and housing. Be CAUTIOUS in requesting and accepting Advance Pay and Advance Dislocation Allowance (DLA). Service members run the risk of being overpaid if proper procedures are not followed.

• Area Financial Management Programs

WHAT ARE HOUSEHOLD GOODS?

Household Goods are the personal property associated with your home and/or storage unit, and all personal effects belonging to you and your family members, on the effective date of your Permanent or Temporary Change of Station Orders.

WHAT ARE NOT HOUSEHOLD GOODS

Airplanes, automobiles, trucks, vans and similar motor vehicles; camper trailers and farm equipment. (There is a separate entitlement for your privately owned vehicle when moving to, from, or between overseas duty stations.)

Live animals not required in their performance of official duties, including birds, fish, and reptiles.

Articles of household goods acquired after the effective date of PCS Orders.

Cordwood and building materials.

Property for resale, disposal, or commercial use rather than for use by the service member or family member.

Privately owned live ammunition, powder, primers, or igniting devices.

UNACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE

Unaccompanied baggage is those items required immediately upon arrival at your destination, pending receipt of your household goods. The items are packed and shipped separately from your household goods, and mostly include seasonal clothing, linens, cooking utensils and dishes, baby cribs and infant care articles, and health and comfort items. Any professional books, papers, and equipment needed immediately to perform official duties, should be included in this shipment.

INVENTORY OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS

Take digital pictures or videotape the condition of ALL your processions showing their physical condition prior to shipment. This visual record will be used in claim processing for damages incurred during shipment.

Separate your property by shipment and ensure it is clearly marked prior to the shipper's arrival. As an example, place all unaccompanied baggage shipment in one room, away from those furnishings being placed in storage. This minimizes the potential to have items improperly packed or discarded.  **WARNING** DISPOSE OF AS MUCH TRASH AS POSSIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR OF YOUR HOME PRIOR TO THE SHIPPER'S ARRIVAL, OR RUN THE RISK OF IT BEING PACKED AND SHIPPED.

Separate your professional items, such as, official papers, reference books and manuals, instruments, tools, and equipment needed by technicians or mechanics, uniforms, safety articles, devices, and clothing, professional society or organizational material, from your possessions, since these items are weighed separately. Ensure the inventory clearly identifies these professional articles.

Remove all old carrier markings and stickers from furniture and boxes.

Identify contents left in drawers and ensure they are recorded on the inventory.

DISCONNECTING UTILITIES

Leave your utilities on until you have closed on your home or completed the final walkthrough of the rental property or Navy Housing. Notify the utility companies to terminate those services under your name, and provide them a forwarding address for sending the final bill or a refund of your security deposit.

INSURANCE

Your Household Goods are insured for loss or damage by the government up to $40,000.00 on a single claim. You must decide whether to purchase additional insurance through the government or private insurance company to meet your personal property needs.

• Area Home Insurance

Notify your auto insurance carrier that you will be moving to another state and provide them a forwarding address, or contact telephone number in case of emergencies.

• Area Automobile Insurance

Cancel your Renter's Insurance policy and provide them a forwarding address. You may receive a refund based on the date you cancel the policy.

PERSONAL RECORDS

Hand carry important family records such as: Marriage License, Birth Certificates, Power of Attorney's, Will's, Life and Auto Insurance Policy's, PCS Orders, TRICARE Cards, etc.

• Area Attorneys

Ensure your Service Record Emergency Information (Page 2) is current with ALL your family members listed, and that ALL your family members are enrolled in DEERS.

PERMISSIVE TDY FOR HOUSE HUNTING

Department of Defense authorizes a maximum of 10 days "Permissive TDY" for service members with PCS Orders to look for a new home in the area of their new duty station.

TRAVEL PLANNING TO NEW DUTY STATION

You can plan your route from your present duty station to your next duty station using a variety of methods: conventional fold-out maps, Trip Tickets, if you are a AAA member, web based or stand alone software, such as, Map Quest and Microsoft Streets & Maps. What every your preference, plan your route carefully taking into consideration the time of year for weather conditions. Make reservations at your layover points along your route to receive the best rates. If your direction passes a military installation, schedule a layover there at their temporary lodging facility to save costs. There is a publication titled Temporary Military Lodging Around the World that lists ALL military installations throughout the world, with directions to the installations and contact phone numbers to schedule reservations for service members under PCS Orders. This publication is available for purchase at any Navy Exchange, AAFES, or Navy Exchange Online.

• Area Hotels

Ensure you keep all your receipts, tolls, lodging, and fuel for filing with your Travel Claim at the completion of your PCS move.

Traveling with small children can be a challenge and require frequent stops to allow them to stretch their legs and move about. Bring along coloring books, games, and a personal DVD player to watch movies is ideal to keep the kids occupied.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN TRANSIT

Call TRICARE or visit the local TRICARE Service Center to understand the procedure of getting emergency care between duty stations. TRICARE has divided the continental United States into regions, and points of contact vary in each region.

REPORTING IN PROCEDURES

All military members should make the Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) their first stop when they arrive on base.  During normal working hours, PSD is the check-in point for service members assigned to all Kings Bay Commands, except Submarine Group 10 transient personnel. Make sure you have your Original PCS Orders, and travel receipts to submit with your Travel Claim.

Check in at your command's quarterdeck if you arrive after normal working hours.  Make sure you have your original orders endorsed and that you report to PSD the next working day. PSD is loacted in Building 1052.

LENDING LOCKER

Newly arriving service members and family members should be aware that the Fleet and Family Support Center, Relocation Assistance Program, have Hospitality Kits, which include essential items needed for the PCSing family while they are awaiting the arrival of their household goods or departing from the Kings Bay area. Also available are limited number of portable mattresses, cots, high chairs and play pens.

MOVING HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR RETIREES

The government will pay for the shipment of a retirees household Goods to his official home of record, the place where they initially entered or called to active duty, or any location in the United States; although restrictions apply to Hawaii and Alaska.

Retirees have one year from their official retirement date to complete their final move. Retirees can request some or all their household goods be placed into storage for a year at government expense, which includes shipment to the storage facility, storage costs, and subsequent shipment to the selected home. Extension of this entitlement past one year is on a case-by-case basis, and has to meet extenuating circumstances. All extension requests MUST be in writing and sent to the installation Personal Property Office.

Retirees are entitled to receive a Mileage Allowance and Per Diem expenses for their last military move.

MOVING HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR SEPARATING SERVICE MEMBERS

The government will pay for the shipment of a separating service members household Goods to from their last duty station to their official home of record. Storage is not to exceed 6 months, and is subject to the weight limitations based on pay grade and number of family members.

• Area Self-Storage
• Area Truck and Trailer Rentals