MIL // TRANSITION & PCS
Transition and PCS money
The two events that move the most money in a career: a PCS, and the day you take off the uniform. Here is what to claim and what to brace for.
MOVES & EXITSINFORMATIONAL ONLY
PLAN THE MOVE, THEN THE EXIT
What to plan for
PCS · ALLOWANCES
- Claim your DLA (dislocation allowance) for the move.
- Use TLE (temporary lodging expense) for the housing gap.
- Per diem covers your travel days, lodging and meals.
PCS · TIMING
- File the travel voucher the week you arrive: reimbursement lags.
- Treat advance pay as a last resort. It is a loan against future paychecks.
- Keep every receipt until the claim clears.
SEPARATING · THE RUNWAY
- Save several months of expenses at CIVILIAN prices before you go.
- Decide the TSP move: leave it, roll to an IRA, or a new employer plan.
- Line up the next paycheck or the GI Bill before terminal leave ends.
SEPARATING · THE LAST 90
- Sell or burn terminal leave on purpose, not by default.
- Rebuild the budget without BAH and BAS.
- Confirm the final LES and the last travel claim before you out-process.
BEYOND THE MONEY
Scypion covers the money side of leaving. For the career side, the Defense Department's MilGears tool maps your military record to civilian jobs, credentials, and licenses you may already qualify for.
PUT IT TO WORK
Run your separation runway
See how many months your cash covers at civilian prices, before you commit to a date.
Open the calculator →