PCS Tips & Tricks

This is a list of things I recommend - or at the very least consider - before you leave the States.

Granted, you’ve probably PCS’d ten times more than me, but still…there may be something on my list that you hadn’t considered.

Last Updated 7/11/2010

Things to Consider Before Moving

PAPERWORK

  • Put together a moving book – a big 3-ring binder with slash pocket folders to keep track of all your important papers.
    • PCS orders, command sponsorship orders, marriage license, car title, vet records, health records, shot records, household good storage & shipment records, etc.
    • If you do this now, this can transition to your NEO book once you’ve arrived
  • Make 2 copies of everyone’s passports & visas.
    • Leave one copy with family in case of emergency. God forbid, should anything happen while you’re here – natural disaster, Kim Jong Il, etc. – your family back home can add your name to the State Dept’s list of Americans to account for. True – you’ll already be on the Army list, but think of this as a back-up.
    • Keep one copy in your moving book. Should your passport get lost, you’ll at least have proof of one until your replacement arrives.

FINANCES

  • Make sure all your debit & credit cards have expiration dates beyond your DEROS date.
  • Get a 2nd back-up ATM card from your bank.
  • Bring your checkbook.
    • The AAFES oil contractor will take US dollars or American checks.

CELL PHONES

  • Call your cell phone company about placing your account on a military hold (if you prefer).
  • Leave your US cell phones at home to be stored!

VEHICLES

  • Leave your large SUVs & trucks at home. Korean roads are small & narrow.
  • For the car you’re having shipped, get a tune-up, oil change, transmission service, etc. before you leave.
  • Since they won’t let you leave anything in your car while it’s being shipped, add things like jumper-cables to your household goods shipment.

CLOTHING

  • Buy yourself several good, quality bras – especially if you’re a larger size.
  • For any male in the house with a shoe size of 10 or higher, make sure you have enough good shoes to last your tour.
  • For any females in the household with a shoe size of 8 or higher, same goes.

FAVORITE OR DAILY ITEMS

  • Look around & make a list of all the products or foods you can’t live without.
    • Email me if you want to see if something is sourceable here. If not, you’ll need to find out if you can order it online.
  • If there’s no one at home who can forward items to your APO box, set up a ShipIt APO account.
  • Don’t cherry-pick your DVD’s. Bring them all! Take them out of the cases & put the discs in a big disc holder to save space.
  • If you take vitamins or supplements that you can’t get from GNC, stock up. Vitamins are on the black market list here & can’t be shipped in.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STATES

  • Before you leave, schedule a romantic date night or weekend. Don’t skimp on this. Go all out – dress up, fancy restaurant, cushy hotel.
  • Get a good haircut & have a picture taken from all sides.
  • Besides getting all the shots you’ll need, ask your doctor for a small prescription of antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea. Enough for everyone in the family.

What I Did, Take it for What It’s Worth

  • Buy a super small DVD player. I found one the size of a hardback book at WalMart for $30 & put it in your checked bags.
    • Your household goods won’t arrive for roughly 60 days & Korean TV leaves something to be desired.
  • Buy space bags – even the knock-off ones from WalMart will work - to use for your luggage. You’ll be able to get twice as much in each piece of luggage.
    • I put my favorite bed pillow in a space bag & still had plenty of room for tons of other stuff.
  • I emptied out one room just to put all the stuff to be shipped to Korea. This way the packers couldn’t accidentally mispack something.
  • Then before the movers arrived I wrote “KOREA” in big black sharpie letters on every box. This way the movers would know for sure what box to put on the Korea manifest, what box to put on the storage manifest.

If You’ve Never Traveled / Lived Overseas Before

  • For the first two weeks, don’t get any tap water near your eyes or mouth.
    • Keep in mind, the same will go for your pets. Just boil & completely cool their water first.
  • Brush your teeth with bottled water. And yes, Korean bottled water is fine.
  • Keep your eyes closed tight in the shower or when washing your face.
  • When cooking with water, if you’re baking or boiling – you can use the tap water.
  • Slowly over time as your body begins to adjust to the new environment, you’ll be able to shower & bathe like normal.
  • But still stay away from drinking tap water.
    • The pets will be able to drink it without issue.
    • And your lease should come with monthly bottled water delivery.