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Moving is disruptive

• The literature contains causal evidence that PCS moves lead to losses in spousal earnings and suggestive evidence that PCS moves result in spousal unemployment, spousal underemployment, and delays in employment among spouses who need to obtain credentials at the new duty location.
• Issues related to moving during peak season, or summer moves, were a frequently mentioned problem related to timeliness.
• Delays in the release of congressional funding needed to support PCS moves, as well as a lack of connectivity between electronic systems used to generate personnel assignments and logistical aspects of moves, could contribute to disruptions related to timely receipt of PCS orders.
• The literature reports suggestive evidence that PCS moves are negatively correlated with service member retention intentions, and these negative correlations may be exacerbated by issues related to the timing of PCS moves in relation to deployments and the untimely receipt of PCS orders. Secondary data analysis using Deployment Life Study data showed that service member military commitment, retention intentions, and satisfaction dropped, and spouse financial stress increased, in the period immediately prior to a PCS move.
• Increasing the lead time given to families prior to a PCS move could reduce disruptions.

Existing policies, programs, and services cover all identified disruptions

• The authors identified a broad set of programs, policies, and services offered by DoD to address disruptions associated with PCS moves.
• Almost all of the disruptions — including household management; spouse employment; service member, spouse, and child psychosocial outcomes; child school involvement and engagement; child care; and military family life — are addressed by multiple programs.
• Thus, there is no evidence to suggest a need for new programs, policies, or services.