Your military retirement move can be a big step in the transition to civilian life. Retiring military members are authorized a move from their last duty station to a home of selection. This includes the movement of household goods and the transportation of eligible family members.
This post is part of The Comprehensive Military Retirement Checklist. Be sure to read all the other posts that go with the checklist, too!
As with all information on this website, this is not an official source. We gather and distill information so that’s easy to access and understand, but we can’t share every possible variation and exception. Always refer to official sources and verify that information provided applies to your unique situation.
Travel Allowances
The travel allowances are slightly different for a final move. You will not receive Temporary Lodging or Dislocation Allowances unless you are moving from an OCONUS location, when you will get Temporary Lodging Allowance as you depart. However, you will receive Mileage Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) and Per Diem for travel days.
Household Goods
The Department of Defense, in its infinite wisdom, has taken down the Move.mil website and migrated some of its content to MilitaryOneSource. It has some helpful information. Your local personal property office is also a great resource, especially if you have specific questions.
Retirement moves are authorized to a home of selection. Your home of selection may be anywhere in the United States, and that move will be covered up to the usual weight limit, based on rank and dependency status.
Members may also choose an non-US location, but will be responsible for costs that exceed the cost of a CONUS location. That amount is determined by calculating the cost of transporting your entire weight allowance to the farthest possible location from your last duty station but still within Continental United States. While a typical Home of Selection can be anywhere in the US or a non-US home of record, the calculations for someone choosing an “any other place” move are only calculated using CONUS locations.
From the Joint Travel Regulations, 051003(B)(3):
One retiree talks about how it works in this article: Expat Retiree Profile: Early Retirement in New Zealand (With Kids).
You may schedule this move as soon as you have retirement orders, or wait up to three years after retirement. (The three-year timeline is for retirements after 24 June 2022. So if someone tells you it is 1 year, they probably don’t know about that change.)
Extensions to the Moving Timeframe
An extension to the three-year limit may be granted for specific situations. Each branch handles extensions a little differently, but generally extensions are authorized when:
- The service member is enrolled in an educational program
- The service member is receiving medical treatment
- There are other extenuating circumstances. Examples that are usually given include legal action, delay in selling a home, etc.
That said, the services have shown a wide range of latitude in granting exceptions. My personal position is that if an extension would help, you should definitely request one, but don’t make any plans with the expectation that it will definitely be approved.
Storage (Temporary and Non-Temporary)
You are authorized both temporary and non-temporary storage for your retirement move.
Temporary storage, or short-term storage, is up to 90 days. Your household goods will be moved to the final location you’ve designated, and will be delivered to you from that storage location. Once you’ve designated a short-term storage location, you can’t change it because your household goods have already been moved. Think carefully before choosing the temporary storage option, as you will almost always be responsible for storage costs that exceed the 90 days. I know that 90 days sounds like a long time to get settled, but many things can delay that timeline.
Non-temporary storage, or long-term storage, happens in the area of your last duty station. Non-temporary storage is authorized for up to 1 year. Extensions may be possible for additional time. Just like extensions on the final move, it’s generally meant for specific reasons and not for the general convenience or preference of the service member, but, also like final moves, it doesn’t hurt to ask. My advice? Assume that it won’t be approved, ask anyway, and be pleasantly surprised if it is.
You will likely be billed for the cost of storage beyond 3 years, but the government will pay the cost of delivery.
Some people misunderstood the change that extended moving entitlements from one year to three years, and think that it also applies to non-temporary storage. It does not.
The Trick If You Don’t Know Where You Are Going To Move
As discussed above, you are automatically eligible for up to 12 months of household goods (HHG) storage at the government expense, but you must designate that you are putting your HHG into non-temporary storage when it is stored. Non-temporary storage will be at the location of your final duty station, unless you were stationed overseas. You may then request up to four one-year extensions of storage for very specific reasons. You must request the extension prior to the expiration of your existing storage, and renewals are not guaranteed. (I’ve heard rumor that it is getting harder to get extensions, but I don’t have any facts or figures on that.) At the end of your storage, the military will delivery your HHG to your Home of Selection (HOS).
However, there is a trick. If you file your final travel claim, that travel claim locks in your HOS and you can’t designate a different location for later HHG delivery (or you maybe can, but you may have to pay excess charges.)
This rule could change at any moment, but if you aren’t sure where you will settle, ask a LOT of questions of the personal property office. It appears that you have more options if you haven’t filed your final travel claim.
Personally Procured Moves
You may choose to do a personally procured move (Do It Yourself/DITY move) for your final move. The only difference is that you may not be authorized an advance of the cost of the move.
Short Distance Moves
If you currently reside in government quarters, you may be required to vacate quarters before you are actually moving. In this case, you may be eligible for a local area move from government quarters to a temporary local residence. While this does not count as your retirement move, it does require authorization and funding. Situations may vary, and this is something that definitely needs to be coordinated with your local personal property office to ensure that you have the right documentation for the move to be paid.
The last move with the military is a great benefit that lets you get yourself and your belonging to your new home! Understanding the little details can ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible.
Great article. If SM is living in GQ and has obtained a job and staying in the same area, will the mil still pay for the less than 10 mile move?
Hi Heather – your specifics may vary, but in general, you should be eligible for a short-distance move to get you out of government quarters. This may retain your retirement move in case you want to use it before the expiration period. Definitely check with your personal property office to see your options!
Hello! Any ideas where the NTS location would be if you are retiring from overseas, Japan specifically? My husband hasn’t been stationed stateside since 2007 & is likely retiring from Japan. Thank you!
Would lodging and per diem also apply to a SrA discharging after completion of enlistment? If it does, how come the DD Form 2278 (July 2021) does not reference either item or show number of authorized days? It only appears to show “Estimated Constructive Costs” in Block 8. Thanks
Thanks for the insight. FYI there’s an update to the limit window for retirement moves from one year to the from the start. still with up to 6 years with waivers applied – one year at a time. You might consider putting an edit in this article to keep it relevant for others like me who find this helpful and clear any confusion.
Happy Supporting!
OH, gosh, thanks Donald. I had changed it in several places in that article but had missed two. That’s not helpful at all! I appreciate your note!!
edit to my comment: *from one year to three from the start of retirement.
Where in the JTR does it say you can schedule your retirement move as soon as you have your orders? I was looking for it and could not find it.
Daniela, it doesn’t say it specifically because it is true of any orders. You can move when you have orders.
Thanks for the update on the 1 year to the 3 year rule. Can you tell me the JTR reference that includes the wording “The three-year timeline is for orders written after 24 June 2022”. My orders were Written and approved as of Jan 2022 but my official retirement date was 30 Jun 20022. So, technically the date of my retirement order ia 30 Jun 2022 but I could see where someone could potential deny the 3 year rule since the wording in the article states for orders written after 24 Jun 2022. Just want to validate what teh JTR states so I can properly file with my Home of Station move documents. Thanks Steve
Hi Steve,
It looks like you are in luck. Here’s what the JTR says in section 051003 I
https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jan/04/2002917147/-1/-1/0/JTR.PDF#page=249
“I. Time Limitations for Travel to the HOS. A Service member and dependent must begin travel
to an HOS within 3 years of the Service member’s termination from active duty unless additional time is
authorized or approved through the Secretarial Process. A Service member is eligible for the 3 year time
limitation if the active duty termination effective date is on or after June 24, 2022. The 3 year time
limitation does not apply retroactively to a travel authorized for a Service member or dependent with an
effective active duty termination date before the effective date.”
Thanks for asking! I’ve made the post more clear AND I’ve learned how to send a link to a specific page of a document. Win-win!
Congratulations on your retirement.
Thank you ma’am. Appreciate the quick response and helpful information.
I was told I only get MALT when traveling to HOS for retirement. I thought I also get per diem for travel days, but not get free travel days.
Sounds like a possible miscommunication. You’re authorized “MALT Plus,” which is MALT plus a flat rate per diem. Some personnel may not understand what the Plus stands for.
Alternately, you got a clerk who doesn’t know what they are doing and you’re going to have to argue with them. But the JTR is clear – it’s section 051003 if you need to print it out and show it to them.
Hi, noticed HOS says “anywhere in the continental United States” but it actually includes anywhere in the US including Alaska and Hawaii
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/transition-retirement/separation/deciding-where-to-live-when-you-leave-the-military/
Hi there! I will be starting my PTDY and skillbridge next July but I would like to move my family and HHGs in March using our retirement PCS entitlement before I leave my duty station (I’ll live with a friend). Is this authorized?
You can move your family as soon as you have your retirement orders in hand. When that will happen will depend on a bunch of factors. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Hello, I would like to put my HHG into storage prior to starting a skillbridge and terminal leave (totaling 6 months). The HHG will be in storage for 6 months before my official retirement date. How long will the Army pay for the HHG storage? 6 months beyond retirement (12 mo total) or 1 year beyond retirement (18 mo total)?
And would the 3 years for shipping be from retirement date or date HHG entered storage?
Thanks!
We retired October 31, 2023 and are having trouble submitting our final travel claim. We’ve tried submitting to DFAS but they don’t process this for the Navy using the smart voucher. We talked to many people at MNCC with no luck. My husband’s last command hasn’t gotten back to us in months. Do you have any guidance on how to submit the final travel claim for retiring from the Navy.
I had my stuff in NTS for skillbridge. At end of skillbridge and prior to my DOS, the AF extended HYT so I withdrew my retirement and did not separate but I havnt found a place to live yet. What do I do?
Wow B – that’s definitely a unique situation. I have a suspicion what will happen, but really only your household goods office can say for sure.
We are doing a PPM move and having to go into an Airbnb till we get a place. Since we are doing a PPM, can we still get to use the Temporary Storage for 90 day? If so, do you know how that works with temp controlled and reimbursement?
Great question. I don’t want to tell you the answer that I *think* I know because I can’t prove that it works. Check out these document so you’re prepared when you go ask at the transportation office. https://www.ustranscom.mil/dtr/part-iv/dtr_part_iv_411.pdf https://www.ustranscom.mil/dtr/part-iv/dtr_part_iv_app_k_1.pdf
I am retiring and we would like to personally fund a small move (2-3 hours) from my last duty. And then use my final move for a much longer move in 3 years is that authorized or do I need to initiate my move from my home of record.
Ooh good question Karen. This is beyond my area of expertise. My gut instinct is that it is going to depend on whether that’s considered “reasonably near” your last duty station. For example, it’s not unheard of for someone stationed in DC to live in Pennsylvania or West Virginia. On the flip side, very few people stationed in Newport live in Boston. (But they do, so….)
I would love to know what your personal property office says!!