Advice For Your Upcoming PCS: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

PCSing is an inescapable event in the military life.

It can be a stressful time, especially for those who have never done it, and there's quite a bit to learn before your move. Of course, just like with anything, your experience could be completely different from someone else's. Hopefully, by reading the good, the bad, and the ugly, you can avoid first-timer mistakes, and learn how to manage your PCS to the best of your ability! 

The Good:

1. You will make it through the PCS, and everything will be okay! 

2. Everything works out how it's meant to be, so don't stress over the small things. 

3. Most things are replaceable. If it isn't replaceable, pack it with you and don't let the movers touch it. 

4. Take your own inventory of your household goods so you know exactly what you have for your own sake.

5. You and your spouse are on the same team, so lean on each other for support. 

The Bad:

1. Sadly, people aren't always honest, so don't trust that your grandmother's pearls won't be stolen if you choose to let the movers pack it. 

2. Prepare for the unexpected. Sometimes things happen and it's important to have a back up plan and extra savings in the event of an emergency. 

3. Plans can change quickly, so you need to be ready to make quick decisions. 

4. Learn to let go. Your items could be damaged, broken or go missing. It happens to the best of us!

5. No matter how prepared you think you may be, there could always be something that goes wrong. Try to stay positive, but don't be naive to the fact that you could encounter problems.

The Ugly:

1. It's likely you and your spouse will argue. After all, there's a lot of stress associated with a big move. 

2. You may have to purge belongings that you don't necessarily want to get rid of. 

3. You can't trust the movers to be gentle with your items. 

4. Be prepared for disappointment when your belongings arrive. You never know what condition your household items may arrive in. 

5. You aren't in control now matter how much you think you are. 

These words of advice aren't meant to scare you, but rather to help you prepare for your big move. Asking for help and learning from others are very beneficial as you prepare to PCS because you could learn something new! Just remember, as long as everyone arrives safely at your next duty station, that's all that matters! Take a deep breath and try to enjoy what time you have left at your current duty station. Remember what we mentioned earlier — everything will be okay!