Tips For PCS With Personal Firearms

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

Weapons are an inseparable part of military relocation. Whether you are carrying it for your protection or hunting, personal weapons can and will cause issues and delays unless you approach the process with care. Besides checking with your local transportation or personal property office, here are a couple of tips for PCS with personal firearms.

What is PCS?

PCS or Permanent Change of Station is an order given by military command, by which a soldier needs to move either within the borders of the United States or to a foreign country as a part of his job. It usually happens for 2 to 4 years. A PCS is an inseparable part of any soldier’s career, and annually over 400,000 service members receive this order.

When it happens, it is essential to be informed and ready for the transfer.

Is moving with weapons allowed?

Yes, there is no problem with shipping your personal weapon as a part of the military relocation. However, it is crucial that you remain within the United States borders and that no laws are broken in the process. Besides checking with your local office what rules you need to follow, it is also a good idea to consult with your movers about moving weapons.

Disassembling your weapon before moving is a must

A standard procedure for PCS with personal weapons includes the process of disassembling your weapon. You need to

remove:

• the firing pin;
• bolt;
• trigger assembly;
• any other arming parts;
• all ammunition;

Remember that no movers will want to move ammunition since that is against the law. As an additional bonus, you should list the weapon specifications:

• who made the weapon;
• what the model is;
• caliber/gauge;
• serial number;

There are more details on this list, so make sure you don’t forget anything. Once everything is finished, letting experts handle it is the best option, so you don’t worry about anything.

Are you moving internationally?

Every country has different rules for PCS with personal firearms. To avoid problems, inform yourself about what those rules are.

To give you an example, in Germany, you need to have a weapons possession card (Waffenbesitzkarte) if you wish to own or buy a weapon. With this permit, you can only transport a gun but not carry it with you. If you go out in public with it, your firearm must be unloaded and locked in a case. Aside from that, you need a special weapons license (Waffenschein) if you wish to use it or carry a loaded weapon. Also, weapons are divided into two categories, weapons and war weapons. You are not allowed to own any war weapons.

The application form and insurance costs somewhere around €500

Altogether, the costs for an application, including the required insurance, can run to around €500, which is close to $600.

By following this example, every country has special requirements. Be sure to learn them before your relocation.

Shipping weapons

As the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives states, you can ship a weapon to yourself at another address to another state. The weapon can pass in the care of another person. This is a good approach if you want to avoid any problems during your permanent change of station.

How to approach a PCS with a personal weapon?

When the transfer order arrives, it is best that you already know what to do. Depending on the report date to your new command, a PCS order can come anywhere between five months and two weeks. The sooner you start preparing for it, the better.

The next step would be to check in with your Personal Property Office or Transportation office for a briefing. Here is where you can check your relocation options and ask any questions you might have. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss any concerns about a PCS with personal firearms.

You can also visit Move.Mil, an online platform for military relocations. There you can find many helpful guides on PCS.

Should you move on your own?

Previously known as a do-it-yourself move (DITY) is a very good option for a military relocation. Now, the official name is Personally Procured Move. If you move this way, the government will reimburse all the expenses of moving your belongings on your own.

If you want to learn more about organizing a PPM, consider getting in touch with mastermovingguide.com. Such a database can help you find specialized military relocation professionals, which is essenstial. They know everything, and they can help you plan and prepare every step of the way.

Decide on a housing option

At this moment, you only need to decide whether you want to live in a base or find a place for yourself. Even though living in a military base is more affordable, the waiting list is long, so be ready for it. Otherwise, look for inexpensive military rentals.

A couple of best practices for a PCS with personal firearms

Let’s do a quick summary of everything you need to know when planning a PCS with personal firearms:

• you need to start with the transfer as soon as possible to avoid any potential issues or delays;
• make sure to honor all domestic laws;
• if moving abroad, research and learn foreign rules about traveling with or carrying a personal weapon;
• disassemble your gun, unload it, and keep it in a locked box;
• if you want, you can also ship your weapon to your moving location to avoid issues and protocols on the border;

Understanding and respecting these rules is a must if you wish for a safe and quick PCS with firearms. Rules and regulations are strict, and everyone needs to abide by them. A PCS can be stressful, so ensure that this part of the relocation goes without any problems. The best approach is to contact friends or colleagues in the military who already went through this process and ask for their piece of advice and previous experiences. It will help you prepare better and learn what to expect.