What's the actual cost of moving your family during military postings?

Get everything in writing before you move - that's the one thing that'll save you from surprise bills and disputes later. The military covers permanent change of station (PCS) moves, but what they actually pay depends on your rank, the distance, and whether you're moving household goods or selling and replacing them. Most of the costs are handled through the military's transportation office, though you'll typically get a weight allowance rather than a blank check. For a family move, you're usually looking at the military covering the full cost of shipping household goods up to your weight limit, temporary lodging, and travel to your new duty station.

Where families get surprised is with out-of-pocket expenses. If you exceed your weight allowance, you're paying the difference. Storage fees, pet transportation, vehicle shipping - these add up fast and aren't always fully reimbursed depending on your branch and situation. You might also face moving day costs like tips to movers or last-minute supplies. Some folks end up spending a few hundred to a couple thousand extra, depending on how prepared they are and whether they have to move at short notice.

The reimbursement process itself takes time. You'll file claims for things like travel costs and temporary housing, but expect to wait weeks or months for that money to come back. Keep receipts for everything and stay in close contact with your transportation office - they can walk you through what's covered and what isn't. Every branch handles this slightly differently too, so asking your sponsor at the new duty station what people typically deal with can give you a realistic picture for your specific move.