Jason,
Basically how you handle your move your Household Goods (HHG) is up to what your orders state. Typically there are four types of moves:
(1) DITY (Do it yourself move) where you get payed up front a portion of the moving costs based on your estimated weight. You take your Ryder/Uhaul or your own car/truck and get it weighed at a weigh station empty, and then after you pile all your stuff in, go back and get it weighed full. So basically you have a weight ticket to provide the gov't with when you put your claim in. The accounting folks take this info, and basically pay you for the distance you moved from one duty station to the next (or in your case, your home of record on your entrance into the military). For someone with not a lot of stuff, this is a really good way to go. Some thoughts on this subject:
AUTO INSURANCE: I don't know what your Auto Insurance policy is, but USAA and some others cover the Ryder trucks, so you don't have to buy the extra insurance from the rental company.
RENTERS INSURANCE: Also, if you have a home ownders or renters insurance, that will cover all the contents of the move in case of an accident or the goods are stolen in transit.
DISCOUNTS: Finally, make sure you mention that it is a military move, you will more than likely get a nice discount. In my last move I did a partial DITY, and played Ryder off against Penske and got a lower price quoted. It also pays to reserve in advance.
(2) The other move is where the Navy hires a moving company for you, and you set up a pack out date. The movers will come and pack up your stuff and inventory it, and move it to the next destination for you. Some thoughts on this:
- PENCIL WHIPPING: Be really careful on how they inventory your items, the movers have a tendency to write down every minor little scratch or mar on you furniture and personal posessions. You have a remarks section where you can counter their comments. A good idea is to take a camcorder and walk around and video tape your stuff, especially high value items.
- DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE: If you can't be at your move personnally, you can designate an individual that has the authority to either ship and/or recieve your goods, family, friends, basically anyone you trust to do the job right.
- STORAGE: The military will store your household goods for you at the next duty station for up to 90 days (may be 120 now), and after that you can request an extension for another 90 days.
- ADVANCE SHIPMENT: This is basically a low weight shipment that you can send in advance of your household goods with the movers, usually low weight, but people use it to move pots/pans/linen and other items that may be needed while waiting for the rest of your HHG to catch up with you, really useful for overseas.
- THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MOVERS: They driver will always say to you, "Yes sir, I will be there on Monday", you hear this statement, just laugh. Your driver is required to be at the destination by a certain date, and no earlier, so he can stop along the way and visit people, while you are at the destination sitting in an empty apartment trying to get the Household Goods office to find out where your belongings are.
If you have a question about something, call the HHG representative. The movers are there for you, they tend to want to get the job done early, and get out of there. Especially when they drop off your stuff, you can make them unpack everything, since they are getting paid for it, but usually they press you to head out the door.
Watch what you are signing, and if you have a question, once again call the HHG Rep, they can clear stuff up.
(3) PARTIAL DITY - this is basically where you do a combination of both moves, where you have the Navy hire movers to transport some of your belongings, and you take the rest.
(4) POV (PERSONALLY OWNED VEHICLE) MOVE - the military will move your auto for you when you go overseas (Hawaii, etc) but back in CONUS, you are stuck doing it yourself.
I don't honeslty know what your entrance requirements are, but I would assume that you aren't going to be able to move anything till after OCS, and that still depends on if you are only staying Pcola for API, that short a period and the Navy won't pay for a move there. This is just conjecture on my part, maybe some else who went through OCS can shed some light on it. As for the vehicle at OCS, I remember reading an earlier post about people bring their car, and stashing some stuff in it (kinda impractical with a CJ7), but it might come in handy if you get liberty, suddenly you become very popular if you are the only one with a set of wheels...
Just some general thoughts and ramblings from my 10 Navy moves to date...
