Things I’m Doing 6 Months Before an Overseas PCS (From an almost 17-Year Military Spouse)
If you know me in real life, you know that our family has orders and we’re at the beginning stages of preparing for another overseas PCS. We’re moving from South Korea, which makes this international military move a little more complicated than, say, going from Texas to North Carolina.
At this point, we’re basically pros at overseas PCS moves - we’ve only moved to or from overseas, never state to state. However, this one is uniquely complicated because we’re going from one overseas country to another. In fact, our household goods will have to leave Korea, go through America and then move on to our next country. In a busy season of moves, it can take up to 6 months.
After 17 years of military life and several moves under my belt, I’ve learned that overseas PCS prep hits differently. There’s the logistics (household goods, paperwork, timelines), and then there’s the emotional side of closing one amazing chapter of military life and opening another. This isn’t a perfect PCS checklist - just the real things I’m doing six months before our overseas PCS.
Decluttering Before the HHG Pack-Out
I’m eyeballing my kids’ seasonal clothes and purging anything that won’t fit this season next year. If they’re at the cusp of outgrowing snow boots and snowsuits, they’re being donated. There’s no need to carry that weight around the world just to unpack and re-donate it later.
I’m also re-examining kitchen gadgets:
Did I use this enough to move it overseas?
Do we really need 20 reusable tumblers no one actually uses?
Will this appliance work with the voltage in our next country?
Along the same lines—if lamps or household appliances won’t work with the new voltage, they’re getting donated.
One thing that’s easy to purchase worldwide is towels—and new towels always feel luxurious. The average lifespan of bathroom towels is about 2–3 years. We’ve been here five. So I’m using the dingy ones for deep cleaning, donating to pet rescues, or saving a few for the middle of the move when we’re living out of hotels.
Making Lists for the Other Side of the Move
I’m making lists of everything I know we’ll need when we arrive:
Fridge restock - as it gets thrown away or used up, add it to an “Initial Fridge Restock” List
Pantry restock - some pantry goods will be allowed to move and their expiration date will still be far away, however, some stuff doesn’t make that cut, so on a list it goes
Bathroom restock - bath mats, shower curtains, and soap
Things I’ve donated that I’ll need to replace
Voltage-equivalent light bulbs
Some of this can be written off as moving expenses on my taxes next year, which is another reason I’m trying to stay organized now.
Purging Kids’ Toys (and My Own Stuff)
If it’s broken, missing pieces, or hasn’t been touched in months, it’s not making the overseas PCS journey with us. Fewer boxes now means less overwhelm later.
I’m also trying on every pair of shoes and each coat. If it doesn’t fit or isn’t comfortable, it’s not making the cut. I do this seasonally anyway, but doing it months before a PCS is so much better than doing it days before a PCS. Trust me.
Cleaning out our desks is another huge task - but exactly what kindergarten artwork do we need to keep?!
I will also being donating their backpacks and lunch boxes. Buying these new will feel exciting and make them look forward to their new schools on the other side.
What I’m Packing in UAB for the First Few Weeks
We’ll have two different pack-outs leaving Korea - HHG (household goods) and UAB (unaccompanied baggage). UAB will be under 1,000 pounds and arrives faster than household goods so I try to pack things that make life feel livable right away:
Blankets and pillows
Inflatable air mattresses
A TV, sound bar and if you have a gaming system that you didn’t pack in your luggage
As many kitchen essentials as possible
Bikes and scooters for the kids
ALL Army related gear for my husband - that sH*t is expensive and I don’t want to purchase any of it again
The more kitchen items I pack in UAB, the more we can use right away—and the less I have to unpack later. Kitchens take up a huge chunk of unpacking energy after an overseas PCS, so front-loading some of that helps. We also have two sets of “real” dishes and we send one in UAB and one in HHG.
Planning for the In-Between Season
Since we’ll be spending several months in Texas over the summer, I’m packing a dedicated suitcase just for that stretch of life:
Swimsuits
Summer shoes
Pool gear
A small rotation of favorite toys, books and art supplies
I’m also checking car tires and basic maintenance to decide what makes sense to handle before the move versus later. Anything I can take off my future to-do list is a win.
Important Documents Go in Carry-On Luggage Only
This one is boring, takes up space, and adds weight to my bag—but it’s non-negotiable for an overseas PCS. All important documents go in carry-on luggage only. Not checked bags. Not HHG. Not UAB.
That includes:
Orders
Passports
Birth certificates
Medical and school records
Any PCS paperwork I don’t want to risk losing along the way
Yes, it’s annoying to carry around a chunky notebook of documents through airports and TDY stops. It’s still better than realizing something irreplaceable is in a box somewhere on a ship. On that note, I’m also clearing out and shredding old documents that we don’t need anymore.
Preparing early isn’t about being “ahead.” It’s about being kind to future-me - the version of me who will be exhausted from living out of suitcases, navigating TDY en route, living in borrowed spaces, and missing having a home base. If you’re in the middle of preparing for an overseas PCS as a military spouse or military family, you’re not behind if it feels complicated, you’re just doing something genuinely hard.
If you’re a military family, tell me: how do you prepare for an overseas PCS?
