Have you received official orders for an OCONUS PCS? Here is what to expect from each shipment and what to pack in unaccompanied baggage, household goods and non-temporary storage. As well as what items to not pack.
Shipping all your items is one of the most stressful aspects of a military move. For an OCONUS move, there are several shipments: Household goods (HHG shipment), non-temporary storage (NTS shipment), and unaccompanied baggage (UB shipment).
For PCSing overseas for the first time, this can be extremely overwhelming! When we received our orders for Germany, I didn’t even know where to start! As I researched these different shipments and decided on packing lists, I immediately became more overwhelmed!
The more I read, the more anxious I became!
Honestly, the entire OCONUS PCS process is overwhelming. One of my best pieces of advice is to create a PCS binder. This will help keep the whole process organized. Check out my free PCS binder printables to help you get started!
Related Post: How to organize the best PCS Binder
Now that you have received official PCS orders for your overseas move and the entire family has been cleared with EFMP, you can start scheduling the movers. Here is a breakdown of what items should be in your household goods, unaccompanied baggage, non-temporary storage, and when to schedule the movers.
The army hires out professional movers. It is possible you may have different local movers for each shipment. These movers should be full-service movers bringing their own packing materials and moving equipment.
Unaccompanied Baggage (UB)
The Unaccompanied Baggage Shipment can also be referred to as the express shipment. (Honestly, this is quite misleading. For the most part, the UB is shipped like household goods.) It can take up to three months for them to arrive.
This timeline largely depends on your overseas PCS’s location and the shipping process.
We received our UB and HHG together for our PCS to Germany.
Unaccompanied baggage typically has a weight limit of 1000 lbs, and household furniture is not allowed, with the exception of baby furniture. My 18-month-old’s crib was the only piece of furniture in our UB shipment.
When to ship your unaccompanied baggage
You have two primary options as to when you want your unaccompanied baggage shipped.
If you schedule your unaccompanied baggage to be picked up weeks prior to the household goods, the hope is that you will receive the unaccompanied baggage much sooner at your overseas PCS. Giving you the possibility of having some of your items before you receive your household goods.
If you want to have some of your household items up until the last minute, you can schedule the pickup of your unaccompanied goods for later.
Ultimately, it is personal preference, but keep in mind that even with the best of plans, you will receive your items whenever they arrive.
We decided to keep our unaccompanied baggage up until the last minute. This was especially helpful during the “camping phase,” as it allowed us to use many of our needed baby items as well.
Tip: Depending on your new overseas assignment, you may be able to rent military loaner furniture.
There are so many factors that affect when you will receive your belongings. Keep in mind that you may be staying in temporary housing, such as a hotel room, for several weeks before moving into your new home.
What to pack in your unaccompanied baggage
Consider your unaccompanied baggage your “camping essentials.” Deciding on what to pack in unaccompanied baggage may vary per family, season, and PCS, and it can also differ from that of other military spouses.
Here are some items I prioritized in my UB based on household category.
Kitchen supplies & household items
- A pot & pan
- Cooler bag
- Bottle & wine opener
- A few kitchen utensils
- Two knives
- Small appliances with 220v
- Oven mitt
- Foil & plastic wrap
- Ziplock bags
- Couple Rubbermaid containers
- Couple water bottles
- Paper dish sets
- Foldable camping chairs
- Folding table
- Phone chargers
- Cleaning supplies
- Broom
- Vacuum
- Dust clothes
- Cleaning supplies
Clothing items
Deciding on what to pack in accompanied baggage can be season-dependent.
We were moving from North Carolina to Germany during the Summer; therefore, we primarily packed summer clothes.
- Service members military uniforms
- Bags/purses
- School clothes
- Workout clothes
- Seasonal clothes
Tip: If you are moving to Germany in the winter, check out my post on How to dress for winter in Germany, packing the essentials
Bed & Bath
- Sheets
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Air mattresses or sleeping bags
- Toiletries
- Towels
Babies & Kids items
- Baby crib
- High chair
- Indoor & outdoor toys
- Playpen
- Books/puzzles/games
Misc
- School supplies
- Office items needed for work
- Small bag with tools
Additional tips for what to pack in your unaccompanied baggage
The moving company will likely confirm the time and actual pickup date of your shipment with a text message.
Household goods shipment
Household goods are all of the belongings you wish to ship for your upcoming PCS move overseas. This includes everything except the items you will place in your unaccompanied baggage, carry-ons, and storage.
The professional household movers will schedule one to two pack dates to box the entire household goods shipment and load it into the crate in the moving truck. The crate should be sealed on the premises. The number of movers may vary; we have always had three movers for every moving process.
It is a good idea to be present throughout this entire process.
The movers will give you a copy of their inventory packing lists. Every item will have a number. Be sure to include this in your PCS Binder. You will need all of these documents for a claims process.
Non-Temporary Storage
Non-temporary storage (NTS) is a really nice option for those moving to overseas locations.
It is important to note that these storage facilities are often not climate-regulated.
When to schedule your Non-Temporary Storage (long-term storage)
Scheduling your NTS pickup can be more flexible than the HHG and UB pickups because you’re not concerned with the timeline for receiving the NTS shipment overseas. Your items will likely be sent to a local storage facility.
It truly depends on how long you want to use those stored items before the move. The movers picked up our NTS and HHG shipments the same week.
What to pack in your Non-Temporary Storage
To decide this, you first need to have an idea of your new home.
- Will you be living on post
- Will you have a yard
- Will you be able to use 110 voltage electronics (Europe runs on 220 voltage)
- What is the size of your new house
Light fixtures
Many lamps and light fixtures run on 110v
Kitchen Appliances
Sadly, almost all of my kitchen appliances had to be moved into NTS because they run on 110v.
Our German kitchen is tiny, so the reality is we wouldn’t have had room for these appliances
Major appliances
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Refrigerator
We are using military loaner appliances (washer, dryer, and refrigerator) for our permanent housing overseas.
Furniture
Lawn maintenance tools
Guns
We basically had the movers pack up our entire garage.
Additional tips for your NTS shipment:
Dedicate a specific room for storage for all of the items. This will help you visualize the items and ensure the movers pack them.
Tip: Use a particular colored package tape to help organize all of the NTS items.
What not to pack
These are the items you plan on traveling with. If traveling by plane, keep in mind the weight allowance for each bag.
Tip: Before the movers schedule the first shipment, make a packing list of all the items you want to carry with you. I suggest placing all of these items in a bathroom or closet when the movers are there. Include your PCS binder, which may contain all of your families sensitive information.
Traveling by car
A word of caution: if you are traveling by car, be sure you fill it appropriately. If it’s a long journey, you want everyone to be comfortable.
Ensure your vehicle is inspected and stocked with a car emergency kit.
Traveling by plane
Luggage allowance
The service member will receive a luggage allowance for the entire family. This luggage allowance will dictate the number of bags, the weight of the bags, and their dimensions.
What to pack in your travel bags
Change of clothes (my son spilled coke on me right as the plane took off. Thankfully, we had a layover, and I was able to purchase some leggings before the long flight to Germany )
- Travel toiletries
- PCS binder
- Snacks
- Entertainment and snacks for the kids
- Medications
- Electronics (laptops, IPads, etc.)
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Breast pump & supplies
- What to pack in your checked luggage
- Jewelry
- Skincare items
- Toiletries
- Valuables
- Two weeks’ worth of clothes for each family member
- Linens
- Towels
- Chargers
- Books
- Kids favorite toys
- Pack n play
- Stroller
- Car seat
- Baby bottles (cleaning supplies)
Tip: Put skincare items and toiletries in Ziploc bags
Additional tips for PCSing with airline travel
You will likely have a lot of luggage to check. Consider purchasing bright tape or unique luggage tags. I would also recommend purchasing a large car seat duffle bag for the car seat (if it is being checked), the pack n’ play, and a stroller. These large duffle bags are great because you can throw some miscellaneous items inside in a pinch.
You will always want to keep your PCS binder on your person. My PCS binder contained all our important documents, such as the family’s passports, medical records, school records, marriage licenses, social security cards, birth certificates, and all the packing lists.
By the time we arrived in Germany via all our transfers, the airlines had lost our car seat! After two hours of trying to find it (with the language barrier), they gave us a loaner. Our car seat was delivered almost a month later.
Related Post: A Checklist for your OCONUS PCS
Related Post: A Complete OCONUS Guide for Shipping your Car to Germany
Related Post: Easy Tips for Packing and Moving with a Toddler
Related Post: Create the Best Organized PCS Binder with Free Printables
Related Post: How to Deal with the Challenges of Moving Away from Family
Take a deep breath!
This can be such a chaotic time! Take a deep breath; you will get through this! And remember, every moving experience is different. I hope that this guide gives you a good sense of the different shipments, what to pack in unaccompanied baggage and what items to carry with you on the plane.
Use your PCS Binder for everything! It will be your organizational tool, helping you make a smooth move to your new duty station.
I wish you the best of luck with your next move and your new location! I would love to hear about your experiences!
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