Moving in the Military: Ft. Jackson

PCS just came through and we are heading to Ft. Jackson, SC baby!

     Today we are going to touch base on some tips and tricks when moving in the military. The video running on screen and in the background will be the three towns close to Ft. Jackson. Namely, Hopkins, Forest Acres (Columbia), and Elgin. Popular landing spots for families electing to live off base.

     Now, there are plenty of guides and how to’s when it comes to Uncle Sam telling you where to go and how to get there. But let’s take a look at some ticket items that you may not have heard before. Like did you know that when prepping your home for a pack out they will move your trash! Yes, your trash specifically. So, be sure to have your trash taken out on moving day or you can expect those dirty diapers and Panda Express to show up with bells 3 months later.  

     Don’t just clean your house before you move! Clean your items too. Bathroom items are exposed to bacteria that will grow and multiply during transit. Consider things like your toilet paper stand, soap dispenser, trinkets, and pictures. This isn’t just limited to bathroom things, trash cans and car seats are among the top offenders to collect all sorts of icky’s that can be gross if not harmful 90 days later. 

     Label everything! When putting away all of your belongings it is important to be a little more specific then “Office” or “Kitchen”. Albeit a bit tedious at first it’s not a bad idea to label boxes Kitchen 1 or Kitchen 2 then have a google sheets or excel page breaking down what important things are in that designated box.

     When doing it like this, you can pull up your live sheet and use your computers (CTRL+F) function to find items you may need sooner rather than later when you get to your new home. Be sure to include all serial numbers for guns, televisions, appliances and any other applicable items in this with pictures as well to have a standing record in case things get lost in the move. 

     Our last tip is to have a non-packout room of belongings that you don’t want moved so they don’t get caught up in the mix on moving day. If you have a specific room it is very easy to inform any help that things in this room stay. This may cause a bit of clutter on moving day but you will be thankful you kept it simple the following days before your move completely.

     If you receive PCS and are looking for a realtor to assist you in your move click ( HERE ) to get in touch with a member of my team and we can help make your transition smooth, stress free, and memorable. 

     Moving is stressful enough. Take these tips and and feel free to use some or all of them to ease the stress that is moving. For more information, I found these sites to be helpful. 

• https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Permanent-Change-of-Station-(PCS)-OCONUS?serv=120#:~:text=Permissive%20TDY%20(PTDY)%3A%20PTDY,for%20and%20Assignment%20to%20Housing 
• https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/plan-to-move/moving-tips/ 

I’d like to add an extra special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. O’Neil for talking with me on these items not readily available via the internet to help all those reading. I wish you the best of luck in your upcoming move and hope that you guys and your beautiful family enjoy your time spent at your next home. Thank you for your service!

Written by Jonathan Tiedman