Military PCS: The CONUS vs OCONUS Playbook (2025 Rules + Weight Allowances)

What's the difference between CONUS and OCONUS PCS moves?

CONUS (Continental United States) moves happen entirely within the lower 48 states. OCONUS (Outside CONUS) moves involve Hawaii, Alaska, US territories, or overseas duty stations. The distinction matters because OCONUS moves trigger stricter weight limits, longer lead times, and different carrier requirements under the DoD's Global Household Goods Contract. CONUS moves typically book 4 to 6 weeks out; OCONUS moves need 8 to 12 weeks and often involve customs inspections, port staging, and ocean freight.

Your orders will specify the destination and whether the move is government-funded. Most active-duty PCS moves are fully reimbursed if you follow Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) rules, but the paperwork and timing windows differ sharply between CONUS and OCONUS.

Weight allowances: CONUS and OCONUS caps by rank

The DoD sets household goods (HHG) weight limits based on rank and dependents. OCONUS allowances are sometimes lower because of shipping costs and space constraints on military aircraft or vessels.

CONUS weight allowances (with dependents)

• E-1 to E-5: 9,000 lbs
• E-6 to E-9: 11,000 to 14,500 lbs
• O-1 to O-3: 13,000 lbs
• O-4 to O-6: 17,500 to 18,000 lbs

OCONUS weight allowances (with dependents)

• E-1 to E-5: 8,000 to 9,000 lbs
• E-6 to E-9: 10,000 to 13,000 lbs
• O-1 to O-3: 12,000 lbs
• O-4 to O-6: 14,500 to 16,000 lbs

Pro-rated gear (POV, unaccompanied baggage) is separate. Check your Joint Travel Regulations Appendix A for exact numbers tied to your rank and PCS type.

How CONUS PCS moves work

Most CONUS moves follow the standard Household Goods (HHG) shipment process. Your installation Transportation Office books a carrier under the DoD's contract, the carrier packs and loads, and delivery happens 7 to 21 days later depending on distance.

Timeline for a CONUS move

1. 60 days before move: Log into MilitaryINSTALLATIONS or DPS (Defense Personal Property System) and schedule your move counseling session.
2. 45 days out: Confirm pickup and delivery windows. The carrier calls 24 to 48 hours before arrival.
3. 30 days out: Start culling. Use goCubify's Smart Leave decision guide to figure out what costs more to ship than replace.
4. 1 week out: Pre-move survey (often virtual). Carrier estimates weight.
5. Move day: Full pack and load, typically 1 day for a 3BR home. Follow the move day first 90 minutes checklist.
6. Delivery: 7 to 21 days later. Inspect every box before signing the delivery inventory.

Claims window

You have 75 days from delivery to file a loss or damage claim through DPS. Document everything with photos and keep the weight ticket and inventory sheets.

How OCONUS PCS moves differ

OCONUS moves split your household goods into two shipments: unaccompanied baggage (UB) and household goods (HHG).

Unaccompanied baggage (UB)

350 to 600 lbs of essentials (clothes, linens, kitchen basics, kid gear) that fly with you or arrive within 2 to 4 weeks. Pack it yourself and label every box with your name, rank, and destination unit. UB does not count against your full HHG allowance.

Household goods (HHG)

Everything else goes into a 20-foot or 40-foot container. Surface shipment to Europe takes 6 to 10 weeks, to Asia 8 to 12 weeks. You will not see your furniture until the container clears customs and the host-nation carrier delivers to your new quarters.

OCONUS timeline

1. 90 days before orders: Start the move counseling process. OCONUS slots fill fast.
2. 60 days out: Submit any Non-Temporary Storage (NTS) requests if you are storing items CONUS while stationed overseas.
3. 45 days out: Confirm pack dates and UB weight limit. Separate UB items into a spare bedroom or garage bay.
4. 30 days out: Ship one POV if authorized (Japan, Germany, Korea allow one vehicle per family). Processing takes 4 to 8 weeks.
5. 2 weeks out: HHG pack and load. Container staged at port.
6. Arrival: Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) covers hotel costs while you wait for HHG delivery, typically 10 days but extendable.

PPM (Personally Procured Move) vs GHC: Which to choose?

A PPM (formerly DITY move) means you handle the move yourself and pocket the difference between what DoD would have paid and what you actually spend. A GHC (Government-funded Household Goods move under the Global Household Goods Contract) means the military books and pays the carrier directly.

When PPM makes sense (CONUS)

• You are moving under 5,000 lbs and own a truck or can rent a 20-foot U-Haul for under 1,200 dollars.
• Your distance is under 800 miles.
• You have help loading and unloading (family, buddies, or hired day labor).
• You keep every receipt (fuel, tolls, truck rental, packing supplies, lodging).

DoD reimburses up to 95 percent of what they would have paid a contract carrier (calculated using the GHC rate for your weight and distance). If you spend less, you keep the profit. If you spend more, you eat the overage.

When GHC is the better call

• You are moving over 8,000 lbs or more than 1,000 miles.
• You are moving OCONUS (PPM is almost never cost-effective for ocean freight).
• You have high-value items (antique furniture, grand piano, gun safe) that need professional packing and insurance.
• You cannot take leave for a multi-day road trip.

GHC moves come with full-replacement-value coverage up to 5,000 dollars per pound per article under the carrier's tariff. PPM moves are covered only by your personal renters or homeowners insurance, which typically caps claims at 1,000 to 2,000 dollars per incident.

Non-Temporary Storage (NTS): When to use it

NTS is free government storage for items you cannot take OCONUS or do not need at your next duty station. Common NTS scenarios:

• You are moving to base housing in Korea (600 sq ft) and need to store a king bed, sectional sofa, and dining set.
• You are going to a remote site (Thule, Diego Garcia) with furnished quarters only.
• You own a second vehicle but can only ship one OCONUS.

NTS is authorized for the length of your OCONUS tour plus 90 days. After that, you pay commercial storage rates (50 to 150 dollars per month for a 10x10 unit) or ship items to your next duty station at your own expense.

Before putting anything in NTS, run the math with goCubify's Smart Leave feature. A 300-dollar IKEA bed frame stored for 3 years costs more in NTS retrieval fees (typically 800 to 1,200 dollars) than buying new at your next base.

OCONUS customs and prohibited items

Every OCONUS destination has a list of prohibited and restricted items. Japan and South Korea ban most wooden furniture (pest risk). Germany restricts 110V-only appliances. Middle East postings prohibit alcohol, pork products, and any media with religious or political content.

Items that always stay CONUS

• Firearms (must be registered with host-nation police within 30 days if allowed at all; Japan bans private firearms entirely).
• Ammunition and reloading supplies.
• Propane tanks, gasoline cans, lighter fluid, charcoal.
• Lithium-ion batteries over 100 watt-hours (most e-bike and power-tool batteries).
• Marijuana and CBD products (federally illegal, even if legal in your departure state).

The carrier will not pack prohibited items. If customs finds them in your container, the entire shipment can be delayed 4 to 6 weeks while authorities inspect and re-clear.

How to file a claim after delivery

Damage and loss claims follow the same process for CONUS and OCONUS moves, but OCONUS claims take longer because the carrier is often a third-party freight forwarder.

Claim process

1. Day of delivery: Note every visible damage on the delivery inventory before signing. Take photos.
2. Within 75 days: Log into DPS and file a claim. Upload photos, receipts for damaged items, and repair estimates.
3. 30 to 60 days later: Carrier responds with settlement offer or denial.
4. If denied: Appeal through your installation's claims office. Service members can request a military claims adjuster review under 31 USC § 3721.

High-value items (jewelry, electronics, collectibles) should be hand-carried or shipped via UB with individual insurance riders. DoD liability caps at 5,000 dollars per pound per article, but proving the value of a 2,000-dollar guitar is hard without original receipts and photos.

6 mistakes that cost service members money on OCONUS moves

1. Missing the advance-notice window. OCONUS moves require 90 days lead time. Book late and you pay commercial rates out of pocket.
2. Mixing UB and HHG. If you pack a TV in your HHG container and it breaks in transit, the claim takes 6 months. If you pack it in UB and it breaks, you can replace it locally within 2 weeks.
3. Not weighing your PPM load. DoD requires certified weight tickets (empty and full) from a CAT scale or base vehicle-scale facility. No ticket = no reimbursement.
4. Storing the wrong items in NTS. Perishable, flammable, or pest-attracting items (food, candles, plants) are not allowed. If the storage facility finds them, they dispose of them and charge you a cleaning fee (typically 200 to 500 dollars).
5. Failing to declare high-value items. The carrier's standard liability is 60 cents per pound. A 50-pound TV is covered for 30 dollars unless you declare it separately and pay the additional premium (usually 2 to 4 dollars per 100 dollars of value).
6. Not researching host-nation vehicle import rules. Japan requires a Japan Automobile Standards (JAS) inspection. Germany requires TÜV certification. If your POV does not meet local specs, you pay 1,500 to 3,000 dollars in modifications or ship it back to CONUS.

Using goCubify for CONUS PCS moves

GHC contracts cover most PCS moves, but if you are doing a partial PPM (moving a small load yourself while the military ships the rest) or a full PPM, goCubify helps you compare DOT-vetted carrier rates in one place.

Scan your rooms with the app, get a binding quote, and book a carrier that meets FMCSA safety standards. The moving cost calculator shows you what a PPM will cost vs what DoD will reimburse, so you can decide whether to handle it yourself or let the government book it.

For OCONUS moves, the DoD contract is almost always the better deal because of the ocean-freight logistics. But if you are flying to your new duty station and need 500 lbs of essentials to arrive before your HHG container, goCubify's partner network can arrange a small air-freight shipment with delivery in 7 to 10 days.

Final checklist: CONUS and OCONUS

CONUS PCS checklist

• Schedule move counseling 60 days out.
• Confirm pickup and delivery windows 45 days out.
• Purge and donate items you will not need (use the Smart Leave guide).
• Take photos of high-value items before packing.
• Keep weight tickets if doing a PPM.
• Inspect and document damage on delivery day.

OCONUS PCS checklist

• Start move counseling 90 days out.
• Submit NTS requests 60 days out.
• Separate UB items into a staging area 45 days out.
• Research host-nation customs and vehicle-import rules.
• Ship one POV if authorized, 30 days before departure.
• Hand-carry high-value electronics and documents.
• Save every receipt for TLA and per-diem claims.

Military moves are complicated, but the DoD system works if you follow the timelines and keep good records. Whether you are headed to Fort Bragg or Ramstein, the key is starting early and knowing which items to ship, store, or leave behind.