Military Storage
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April 29th, 2025
Military Self Storage & Deployment Storage
Military Storage Overview Military members and their families understand that relocation comes with the job, often on short notice. Whether your move involves a Permanent Change of Station (PSC), Temporary Duty (TDY) or Temporary Additional Duty (TAD), self storage can be a convenient option for long or short-term use. To prevent unnecessary expenses and last minute decisions, it is important to plan ahead. Whether you have six months or one week before moving, the smallest amount of organization can help. Before you start packing, visit your military financial center and learn which travel and transportation stipends are available to you. When moving, the option is to either do it yourself or hire a moving company. There are military programs that can assist you if you decide to do it yourself. According to www.military.com, “The Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move is a voluntary program that allows you to be reimbursed by the government for moving your own belongings.” Once you’ve started planning, there are many things to consider during your search for a public storage facility.
- Determine your needs
How much storage space will you rent? Identify the items you will be taking with you and decide which items will be left behind. Are you storing a few small boxes or an entire household worth of furniture? Many storage facilities offer outdoor parking for car or boat storage, as well. Once you have figured out the items you will be stowing, a storage calculator is a handy way to determine the storage unit size that meets your needs, and it can also prevent you from overpaying for a space that is too large. If you’re relocating to another state or overseas for a long period of time, amenities like climate control and property security are important features to consider. Once you’ve established how much storage and which type, planning your budget and moving options is a much easier task.
- Locate specials and discounts
Many storage facilities offer military discounts for active-duty personnel and their families. Also, if you will be deployed for many months or years, there are many long-term rental specials available and if it works within your budget, many storage companies offer pre-payment discounts.
- Consider other services
There are a variety of additional services available at most self storage facilities. A majority of locations offer online and automatic payment options, which is very helpful for someone whose military deployment is an extensive assignment or in a remote location. Also, many storage businesses sell packing and moving supplies (such as boxes, locks, furniture covers and more), and also provide their customers with the option of truck rental – which is sometimes included in the rental at no additional charge. Moves and deployments can be stressful experiences for military personnel and their families. When there are bigger issues to consider, moving your household and family should be a simple undertaking, and with proper preparation, using self storage can be a hassle-free process.
Surviving a DITY/PPM Move
Whether you're retiring or involved in a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) or Temporary Duty (TDY), moving is a necessary evil you'll have to face. When you're required to relocate in the military, moving can be an extremely stressful process for you and your family. Fortunately, unlike most moves you've probably made in the past, it’s possible the government will either pay for a contractor to pack or move your belongings, or you can embark on the reimbursable Do It Yourself (DITY)/Personally Procured Move (PPM) programs. Benefits of moving your belongings yourself, rather than using the assigned government contracted movers, include making money and the ability to take control over your moving process. If you make the decision to move yourself, you have to make sure you do so in a way that you're comfortable with. Before you make any big decisions, determine what's more important to you– to save yourself money or time; the PPM program can be attractive to both penny-pinchers and efficiency appreciators. Saving money: However much it would cost the government to move your belongings, they'll give you 95% of that price to move yourself. So if you are naturally a thrifty person and don't mind doing some of your own heavy lifting, you can potentially walk away with a lot of money at the end of the move. Using your own vehicle(s) and packing your own belongings are two cumbersome but cost effective ways to save money. Preventing headaches: One of the main perks of moving yourself is just that – you yourself make decisions about the process. You don't have to worry about government contractors moving your belongings at the time that's convenient for them, you can hire whomever you would like and you are even allotted extra time off for the actual process. You have a few options as far as how to transport your belongings. You can either rent a truck, pay someone else to drive a moving truck (but you load and unload your belongings) or use your own vehicle. Paying someone to drive a rental truck can save you the hassle of driving across the country if your move is taking you far away. If you have small children or you also need to transport two (or more) cars, this can also be a particular migraine-reliever.
More Resources:
When should you arrange the date with your movers? How early should you reserve your storage unit if you're moving to a smaller space? No matter what decisions you make about moving yourself, you should certainly read the DITY checklists, which include comprehensive guides of what to do in the months leading up to your move. For example, you should decide about three months out whether or not you're up for the challenge of a DITY move. Military personnel are known for having to make several moves during their service. Chances are, some who's stationed with you now has recently moved. Ask for advice and what problems they ran into. You can also look online to see examples, like how Aaron and Pam survived their latest DITY move. Moving with pets? Read more about how to ease the transition for your furry companions.
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