No matter if you are PCSing to somewhere new or going TDY to a far off land or anywhere in between, the military seems to always have families on the move! Don’t get lost in all of the lingo! We are here to help with all of your military moving terms and acronyms!

On the Move Acronyms & Terms:

• Accompanied Tour – A tour of duty with family members
• CONUS – The continental U.S., or CONUS, is the 48 connected states and District of Columbia.
• Deployment – Temporary relocation of a military unit.
• DITY – Do-It-Yourself move, or a personally procured move (PPM), which can save a service member a lot of money moving. This is often associated with moving during a permanent change of station.
• DPPS – The Defense Personal Property System is where you schedule and manage your shipments.
• FOB – Forward operating base. A temporary, secured operational position that supports strategic goals and tactical objectives
• HHG – Household Goods
• Hold Baggage – Unaccompanied baggage or personal belongings
• Housing Office – Responsible for managing base housing
• ITO – Installation Transportation Office (Army)
• OCONUS – Anywhere outside of the continental U.S.
• PCA – Permanent Change of Assignment
• PCS – Permanent change of station. The relocation of an active-duty service member to a different duty location. Service members may PCS every few years.
• POC – Privately Owned Conveyance. A service member’s personal vehicle that is not owned by the government.
• POV – Privately Owned Vehicle
• PPM – Personally Procured Move. A move a service member plans and conducts on their own, instead of having the military do it. PPM expenses may be reimbursed by the military.
• PPSO – Personal Property Shipping Office (Navy & Marines)
• Remote – An overseas assignment, usually 12 to 18 months; in which families cannot accompany the active-duty member.
• Sponsorship Program – Military program in which volunteers greet and help members who have been assigned to a new duty station or unit.
• TDY – Temporary duty station. A temporary assignment at a location other than a service member’s permanent duty station.
• TDY/TAD – Temporary Duty – military duty or active duty away from the unit of assignment normally for a period of 139 days or less.
• TMO – Traffic Management Office
• Unaccompanied Tour – A tour of duty without family members.

More than likely, your military family will be on the move many times throughout your journey! We hope that you have a bit more knowledge with all of these terms and acronyms to keep your move running smoothly and that you aren’t saying Whiskey Tango Foxtrot any more!

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