The PCS Assist Team is back!

The Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Assist Team is back and ready to help members with their most challenging moving problems. Operating hours are Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST (7 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST), from May 12 through Sept. 19.

Just call (844) 727-2022 or email PCSAssist@uscg.mil for assistance. For urgent situations after hours, call the main phone line for further instructions on how to reach the emergency watch stander. You can find out more at the PCS Assist Team website.

The PCS Assist Team is a small, but mighty band of problem solvers led by Chief Warrant Officer Jeremy Bloom. It was set up six years ago to provide support for members facing moving hassles beyond their control. Last, year the team dealt with about 1,100 inquiries, including some tough personally procured moves (PPMs) that staffers helped push through for reimbursement – putting $215,000 back in members’ pockets. The team also worked relentlessly with transportation service providers to get stuck household goods shipments moving again.

Keep in mind that issues arising during the PCS season can often be handled by your administrator or local transportation office, so be sure to contact them first. But if you’ve exhausted these resources, the PCS Assist Team can often help with the following:

Contract issues and other disputes with personally procured movers
Adjusting your moving dates
Any other unique HHG or PPM challenges

The PCS Assist Team also flags common issues members face during a move and provides fixes, so keep an eye on their website. Last year, the team put out guidance on how to handle:

This year, the team has already posted an advisory about how to deal with ferry delays for members driving a vehicle, when relocating to Kodiak, Alaska. Other changes for 2025 include:

The time period for the temporary lodging expense (TLE) has been increased to 21 days from 14 days. This gives members an extra week of per diem and covered expenses for lodging while they wait to get into their new home.
US TRANSCOM has implemented the Global Household Goods contract (GHC). Instead of using commercial movers, a single moving manager, HomeSafe, now handles all household goods moves. Since PPM moves are reimbursed at market rate, this could mean lower reimbursement costs if you move yourself. Bloom says he is still evaluating the issue and advises members to be cautious. “If someone elects to do a PPM, that’s of course authorized, but buyer beware,” he said, “Especially if you’re subcontracting a non- government approved moving company to do it for you. These companies are not necessarily experienced in government requirements.”

The PCS Assist Team is located at the Pay & Personnel Center (PPC), where it is part of the Travel Management Division. You can find a list of how-tos and things to watch out for when planning and executing your move here.

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