A message to DOD Personnel and their Families:

 Like many sectors, labor challenges in the moving and storage industry are driving tighter-than-normal capacity in the Defense Personal Property Program.  These challenges are compounded by competition with non-DOD clients (like corporate and residential customers) vying for the same services.   In many locations, DOD personnel must wait upwards of four to six weeks for available moving crews.  Demand is similarly high for rental trucks and storage containers used by customers interested in a Personally Procured Move.  Senior leaders across the DOD’s Personnel and Logistics communities are aware of the issues and are exploring options to solve relocation-related problems for military families. 

Steps you can take: 

  • Visit your Transportation Office as soon as you receive orders.  Don’t wait!
  • Whether this is your first move or your 15th, take advantage of counseling.  Your local transportation office is your best resource to understand the specific challenges and delays in your community.
  • If movers cannot be arranged to support your timeline, talk with your chain of command immediately to explore options—which may include changes to reporting timelines.
  • Be patient with your transportation office personnel!  They want to solve problems for you.  Contact your local transportation office if your moving plans change or if you have questions regarding your move once scheduled. 

In no case should a customer feel compelled to conduct a Personally Procured Move.  Similarly, no customer should feel compelled to leave family members behind to handle a household goods move on their own. 

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Dual Military (Mil-to-Mil) Move

Get an overview of the online moving process with pro tips from experienced customers and counselors.

Need more? Visit or call your local transportation office.

Tutorial

Dual Military (Mil-to-Mil) Move
  • 1 of 23
    Screen capture of the DPS homepage, showing users how to update their user profiles.

    Instructions

    If you haven’t logged in in a while you’ll be prompted to review your profile. Take this opportunity to confirm that everything is up to date. 

    Check out the FAQ for details about weight allowances, and examples of Mil-to-Mil move scenarios. Usually, the higher ranking member fills out DPS.

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    Pro-Tips:

    • You’ll also be asked detailed information about special items you might ship, like the make and model of your Motorcycle, and even the caliber and serial number of each of your firearms. Get this information organized now to save time later.
    • You don’t have to have an exact address at your new location to start the move process. Don’t wait to schedule your move! The longer you wait, the more likely that your preferred move date will be unavailable, especially if it’s during Peak Season. Lines can also get long at your local Transportation Office.
    • Turn off your pop-up blocker, otherwise the DPS window won’t be able to open.
  • 2 of 23
    Screen capture of the DPS homepage.

    Instructions

    Otherwise you’ll be brought to the DPS Homepage. Here you’ll find a snapshot of your current or past moves.

    Click "Start a New Move" to begin your application.
  • 3 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS, showing "Customer Information and Permanent Contact Address" link in the left-hand sidebar.

    Instructions

    Fill out your Customer Information and Permanent Contact Address. The "Permanent Contact Address" is an address that’s not part of this move. It needs to be a place where the Transportation Office could get in touch with you in case of emergency. This could be a friend or relative.
    Addresses are saved in DPS so you don’t have to fill it out each time you schedule a move.

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    Pro-Tip: You can check your progress in the Counseling Menu on the left side of the page.
  • 4 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to enter an "emergency contact."

    Instructions

    Enter an Emergency Contact who can act on your behalf during the move, if you’re unavailable. This person will have access to shipment status, and information.

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    Pro-Tip: A Letter of Authorization allows you to give another person permission to act on your behalf. Only the service member who has official orders can write this letter of authorization.
  • 5 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing the user how to enter "Orders information."

    Instructions

    Now you’re ready to enter your Orders information, which begins the move process.
    Here, indicate your rank, and whether or not you’re allowed PBP&E. This information allows DPS to calculate your shipment weight allowance, if it wasn’t part of your orders.

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    Pro-Tip: PBP&E is the "pro gear" or professional equipment you might need to ship. There are additional allowances for you and your spouse. It doesn’t count towards your weight allowance - just make sure you itemize it!

    A "Hard Copy" of your orders refers to the physical piece of paper that you received, and that your orders have officially been cut. You’ll need to scan and upload a PDF of your orders.
  • 6 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing users how to enter their "Orders Numbers" and "Date."

    Instructions

    Next, enter your Orders Number and Date.

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    Pro-Tips:

    • The location of your Orders Number on the orders, varies by branch. Typically, the Army and Navy list the number in the upper left of the document, while the Marines list a Standard Document Number (SDN) on the bottom right. For the Air Force, look in box 27 of your Orders form.
    • Your Orders date is the date the orders were cut or issued.
  • 7 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to enter information about Current Duty Stations.

    Instructions

    Enter address of your Current Duty Station (the one you’re leaving), and your New Duty Station (the one you’re going to). Click the orange box, then enter only the first 4 letters of the city to locate the address.
  • 8 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS, showing how to select oder and shipment types.

    Instructions

    Specify your authorized Order Type, and indicate what type of shipment you’d like to create. Next, upload a copy of your Orders document.

    Upload both sets of Orders for you and your spouse.

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    Pro-Tips:

    • Can’t find your type? Check out the category "Various" to see miscellaneous move types.
    • Even though you’ve uploaded your orders in DPS, it’s a good idea to reach out to your Transportation Office after you submit your application, to make sure they have everything they need to book your shipment.
  • 9 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to upload orders.

    Instructions

    To upload your orders, click Browse to find the document on your computer. Then you must click upload to save the document to the DPS system. You’ll receive a message in green that your Orders were successfully uploaded.
  • 10 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to enter information on your new Duty Station.

    Instructions

    Next, enter your new Duty Station and indicate whether or not you’re moving with dependents (including a spouse).
  • 11 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to enter any additional information required.

    Instructions

    Finally, in the Additional Information section, you’ll specify if you need to ship a motorcycle, or need to remove any items from Non Temporary Storage, left over from a previous move.

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    Pro-Tips:

    • A POV is your Personally Owned Vehicle, and in this context, a Mobile Home is an RV.
    • Not all locations, in particular OCONUS, allow you to ship a motorcycle and a POV.
  • 12 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing the "entitlement summary" page.

    Instructions

    The Entitlement Summary allows you to review and certify the information you entered is accurate.

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    Pro-Tip: Your weight allowance is listed here in the second paragraph.
  • 13 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to "Create New Shipment."

    Instructions

    Now that you’ve entered your Orders information, you must "Create New Shipment" specific for those orders. Select the type of shipment you want to create, like "HHG", and specify whether or not it will be a Personally Procured Move (PPM).

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    Pro-Tip: You can create more than one type of shipment per Orders. For example, you can schedule an HHG shipment for the majority of your belongings, and an additional PPM shipment for the ones you’ll move yourself in your car. You just have to repeat this “Create New Shipment” process for each shipment.
  • 14 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing the Household Goods Move (HHG) summary.

    Instructions

    Then you’ll get some helpful information about a Household Goods (HHG) move. Later on, there will be PPM specific information, if you choose this to be a PPM shipment.

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    Pro-Tip: Print this information and keep it handy. You may not always have access to DPS throughout your move.
  • 15 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to select desired moving dates.

    Instructions

    Set your desired moving dates. No matter what dates you enter, your moving dates are not confirmed until you speak with the Moving Company. During peak season there may be black out dates, or other circumstances that prevent your desired dates from being scheduled.

    Next, enter the pick-up and drop-off addresses. You can enter additional pickups near your old or new duty stations.

    Add a Releasing Agent from your list of Points of Contact, someone who can sign for your pick-up or delivery, if you’re unavailable.
  • 16 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing basic screen

    Instructions

    First, define shipment weight. Use the Weight Estimator Tool on Move.mil to get an idea of what your belongings weigh and identify if you have special items like a Jacuzzi or piano.

    Next, enter the following information in the ‘Additional Information’ section:
    Spouse name
    Rank
    Branch of service
    Orders Number
    Total estimate weight for the shipment

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    Pro-Tips:

    • Your Pro Gear, up to 2,000 lbs, doesn’t count towards your estimated weight.
    • You’ll need to enter the make, model, serial number, and caliber for each firearm.
  • 17 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to enter information about shipping firearms, if applicable.

    Instructions

    Here, indicate if you are shipping any firearms. You must provide detailed information about each firearm you’d like to ship.

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    Pro-Tip: Here, indicate if you are shipping any firearms. You must provide detailed information about each firearm you’d like to ship.
  • 18 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing an estimate on how many days you have to pack and move.

    Instructions

    Now, let’s decide on the scheduling of your shipment. You’ll get an estimated number of days for packing and shipping, so you can plan your travel accordingly. Everything is an estimate until confirmed by your local transportation office and the moving company.

    If you have a preference, here’s where you can let us know your favorite (or least favorite) Transportation Service Provider (TSP) also know as a Carrier or Moving Company.
  • 19 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing moving day responsibilities.

    Instructions

    It’s time to go over moving day responsibilities for you and your TSP.

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    Pro-Tip: Print this page! It details all the information you need for moving day. You may not have access to DPS at all times during your move.
  • 20 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS, showing a summary of the information you've provided about your move.

    Instructions

    A summary of your shipment is then provided. You have to certify that you’ve read and agree that everything is accurate, so double check important items like your email address, and type of shipment.
  • 21 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to locate a Personal Property Office (PPO) for counseling.

    Instructions

    Here you’ll choose a Personal Property Office for counseling. They will be your main point of contact during your move. You’ll need to contact them after submitting your shipment on DPS. They’ll need the signed forms generated on the next page.

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    Pro-Tip: Use the Office Locator tool if you need help choosing a counseling office.
  • 22 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to upload documents

    Instructions

    On the Shipment Submit Page, review and sign your forms (DD 1299 and DD 1797 etc.). Next, select the orange Upload Documents button and use the above steps to upload your shipment documents, including your spouses order.

    NOTE: Be sure to select miscellaneous document as a type when uploading your spouses order.
  • 23 of 23
    Screen capture of DPS showing how to "submit" your forms.

    Instructions

    On the Shipment Submit Page, click the Submit button and confirm the submission when prompted.

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    Pro-Tip: After you hit submit, email the Transportation Office you selected for counseling and let them know that you’ve created a shipment in DPS. They may need additional information from you before your shipment is approved.