OCONUS to Separation – Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Travel/Transportation

You and your dependent(s) are permitted a transportation allowance from your actual residence to the new residence. Typically, PCS allowances are authorized and limited to the most direct route. You will bear the costs of travel by any indirect route for personal reasons.

Things to keep in mind…

Dependent Travel: Dependent travel may begin from a point other than your old duty station; however, reimbursement is limited to the cost from your old duty station to your new duty station. Travel by dependents may be performed concurrently, early, or may be delayed. If your dependents are NOT traveling with you, they are performing an en route at an earlier/later date, be sure to mark unaccompanied in Block 12 of the 1351-2 and complete a separate 1351-2 for their travel dates. Be clear on who is traveling when completing the DD1351-2

All travel and transportation must be completed within one-year from the date of your PCS orders. You will be responsible for authorized travel and transportation costs incurred after the one-year. 

Transportation Types (Block 15c of 1351-2): See example below

Reimbursable Expenses (Block 18 of 1351-2): See example below

The following is provided for your convenience and are the most common miscellaneous reimbursable expenses. The following list is NOT all inclusive. For additional items, see: JTR Chapter 5  -  05013.

• Ferry fares
• Tolls
• Parking fee (Reimbursement for parking POV at the terminal is limited to the cost of two one-way taxi fares.)

• Fees for first checked bag
• Excess accompanied baggage when it is authorized or approved
• Transportation terminal mileage
• Baggage handling tips (traveler with a disability)

Government Transportation

• Gas and oil
• Ferry fares
• Tolls
• Parking fees (when authorized or approved)

Rental Vehicle (when authorized on the orders in advance of travel)

• Gas or oil (prepaid fueling is not authorized)
• Tolls (when authorized or approved)
• Ferry fares (when authorized or approved)
• Parking fees (when authorized or approved)
• Toll-collection transponder (when authorized or approved)

En Route Per Diem (Lodging, Meals & Incidentals)

Per diem is a taxable allowance made up of lodging, meals and incidentals expenses (M&IE). You and your dependents are authorized Per diem while you are en route to your new residence. The en route portion of travel may require a separate 1351-2.

Meals & Incidentals Expenses (M&IE):​

The M&IE rate is payable to you without itemization of expenses or receipts for anything under $75. To determine the rate, visit Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO). You will be paid 75 percent of the meal rate on the first and last day of travel. For example, if $50 is the meal per diem, then only $37.50 would be paid.

Lodging (block 15e of 1351-2): See example below

The number of days you are authorized per diem is determined based on the distance between your old duty station and new residence. Lodging per diem is paid per the actual costs not to exceed the maximum rate, on the first day, but not the last. To determine the maximum rate, visit Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO).

Things to keep in mind...

• Paid/Itemized lodging receipts are always required.
• No per diem is authorized for travel less than 12 hours.
• When the total official distance is 400 or fewer miles, one day of travel time is allowed.
• If the distance is greater than 400 miles, divide by 350 to determine the number of authorized travel days.

Household Goods (HHG) Movement & Storage

You and your dependent(s) are permitted to transportation and storage of HHG. This is a taxable allowance and will require a separate 1351-2.  

Household Goods (Block 14 of 1351-2):

There are two ways the government may pay for HHG movement and storage:

1. If the government arranges for the movement of your household goods, you will need to contact the Transportation Office (TO) closets to your new location to arrange the allowance and storage of household goods. Visit, DoD Moving Portal to locate the nearest TO. The government assumes the responsibility of moving your goods and no claim reimbursement is required.
    
2. If you choose to personally arrange your move in lieu of using the TO, you will be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred (boxes, packing tape, rental truck, gas, etc.) not to exceed what it would cost the government to move your HHG  shipment through the TO.

• If you choose to move yourself, you will be taxed at the time of claim reimbursement. 
• All paid in full receipts are required.
• Insurance is not reimbursable on a personally arranged move.
• You must submit a signed memo from the TO stating what the move would have cost for the weight shipped.
• Temporary storage (storage in transit (SIT)) is limited to your actual storage costs. CONUS: authorized for 60 days initially with a maximum allowance of 150 days upon written request. OCONUS:  authorized for 90 days initially with a maximum allowance of 180 days upon written request.
• The maximum weight allowance is 18,000 pounds (an additional 2,000 for packing materials when uncrated or van line shipment).

Items That Cannot be Shipped:

These are the most common items but is NOT all inclusive. For additional information, please see: JTR Chapter 5, Table 5-89

• Motor vehicles, boats that cannot fit into a van (whether or not actually shipped by van), airplanes, mobile homes, camper trailers, and farming vehicles
• Live animals, birds, fish, and reptiles, please see: JTR Chapter 5, paragraph 054103 Pet Quarantine and Transportation
• Building materials
• Property for resale, disposal, or commercial use rather than for use by you or immediate family
• Privately owned live ammunition
• Hazardous articles including explosives, flammable and corrosive materials, poisons, etc.

Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Shipping

You may be permitted shipment of a passenger automobile, station wagon, light truck, or a similar vehicle that will be used primarily for your transportation. ​This is a taxable allowance and will require a separate 1351-2.

Shipment (Block 18 of 1351-2): ​ See example below

You can be reimbursed the shipment costs for one passenger vehicle. Work with your local transportation office to ensure proper shipment of your POV.​

Things to keep in mind…​

• Rental car is not reimbursable while awaiting POV arrival. ​
• You cannot transport or store a trailer, airplane, or any vehicle intended for commercial use.​

Drop Off and/or Pick Up (Block 18 of 1351-2): See example below

POV Drop off and Pick up is an entitlement that allows you to be compensated for your transportation costs to drop-off and pick-up your vehicle at the authorized Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). Reimbursement includes transportation expenses only for one authorized traveler limited to a round trip by way of the most direct route to pick-up or drop-off your vehicle at the VPC.