Arrange for the move with the base or post transportation office as early as possible. This way, you stand a better chance of getting the best area movers.
Designate one room for articles to ship, one for storage items, and one for suitcase articles that will travel with you. According to Mary Jane Martin, a veteran military spouse, "The packers then know what goes where and there is no confusion. They are not going from room to room, trying to get the right stuff."
Clean out anything that you will not need at the next duty station or that you can easily replace there. This will help keep you under your weight limits and save unpacking it later. Be sure to remove bagged garbage from the packing rooms, too.
Set up a binder in which you place identification papers, including birth and marriage certificates, passports and social security cards. Store the service member's official orders in the binder, as well. Place this in a room where packers will not be working.
Take pictures of all of your possessions. Write serial and model numbers on the backs of the pictures.
Be sure to seal all the boxes properly, especially if you packed them yourselves. The packers and movers might not do that for you. Also, if you choose to pack fragile items yourself, wrap them in adequate padding. Remember that the military will not replace those items if they are broken in the move, says Amanda West, current Air Force spouse.
