We'll Help You Move—And Help You Get Paid.

Move yourself. Get reimbursed. Keep more of your PCS money.

Hampton VA Military PPM & DITY Move Reimbursement Guide

📦 THE SHORT ANSWER (read this first)

If you are PCSing from Hampton, VA, a Personally Procured Move (PPM) — the program most people still call a DITY move — lets you move your own household goods and get paid for it. For 2026, a Member-Elected PPM reimburses you 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC): the amount the government would have paid a contracted mover to haul the same weight the same distance. If your real cost comes in under that number, you keep the difference.

You do NOT have to lift a single box to qualify. You can hire a professional crew, submit the invoice with your claim, and still collect the reimbursement. That is exactly where Hampton Virginia Military Veteran Movers comes in.

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📞 MISSION-READY? START YOUR PPM ESTIMATE
Hampton hub: 757-330-0008
Veteran-owned, veteran-led. Licensed & insured.
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🎯 WHAT IS A PPM (DITY) MOVE?
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A Personally Procured Move is a PCS relocation where YOU arrange the move of your household goods instead of letting the government's contracted mover do it. It used to be called a DITY (Do-It-Yourself) move, and most bases, Reddit threads, and Facebook groups still say "DITY." They are the same thing.

You have three ways to run it:

Full PPM
You move everything yourself (or hire a crew) and get paid on the full authorized weight you move.

Partial PPM
The government ships part of your goods and you move the rest. You get paid 100% of the GCC for the weight you personally move.

Government (HHG) move
The government's contractor handles it all. No cash to you, no weight to haul.

The appeal of a PPM is control and money. You set your own timeline instead of waiting for a scarce contractor slot, and any amount you come in under the government's cost is yours to keep.

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💰 HOW PPM REIMBURSEMENT WORKS — THE 100% GCC RULE
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For 2026, a Member-Elected PPM pays 100% of the Government Constructed Cost.

A note on old numbers you may still see: during summer 2025 the rate was temporarily raised to 130% because of contractor problems under the new Global Household Goods Contract. That window closed on September 30, 2025. Many online calculators still show 95% — that figure is outdated too. For a member-elected PPM today, the correct number is 100% of GCC. Do not let a stale calculator anchor your expectations low.

The catch worth writing on your hand: a PPM is an incentive, not a jackpot. Your PROFIT is the reimbursement minus what you actually spend to move the weight. Move efficiently and it pays well. Rent at peak season, burn through hotels, and the profit shrinks fast.

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⚖️ THE THREE THINGS THAT SET YOUR PAYMENT
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Your reimbursement turns on exactly three inputs:

Your rank
Sets your authorized weight allowance (JTR Table 5-37).
The actual weight you move
Proven by certified empty and loaded weight tickets. You are only paid up to your authorized allowance — extra weight is on you.
The distance between duty stations
Longer hauls carry a higher GCC. Short local moves carry a low GCC because there is very little line-haul cost to reimburse.

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WEIGHT ALLOWANCE BY RANK (JTR TABLE 5-37)

These are the standard published CONUS allowances. Your exact number depends on your pay grade AND dependent status — confirm it with your Transportation Office (TO) before you plan.

Pay grade E-1 to E-3
Without dependents: 5,000 lbs
With dependents: 8,000 lbs

Pay grade E-5
Without dependents: 7,000 lbs
With dependents: 9,000 lbs

Pay grade E-6
Without dependents: 8,000 lbs
With dependents: 11,000 lbs

Pay grade E-7
Without dependents: 11,000 lbs
With dependents: 13,000 lbs

Pay grade O-3 / W-3
Without dependents: 13,000 lbs
With dependents: 14,500 lbs

Pay grade O-5 / W-5
Without dependents: 16,000 lbs
With dependents: 17,500 lbs

Pay grade O-6 and above
18,000 lbs

Pro-gear (professional equipment) is SEPARATE from and in addition to the allowances above: 2,000 lbs for the member and 500 lbs for a spouse. It is not counted against your base weight.
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The authoritative dollar figure for YOUR move comes from MilMove. Every member can pull a free pre-move incentive estimate straight from the system — that is the real GCC number, not a guess.

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🧾 IS A PPM TAXABLE? (AND CAN I GET MONEY UP FRONT?)
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Yes, the profit is taxable. DFAS withholds about 22% federal from the PPM payment (no Social Security or Medicare is taken). You then recover tax by deducting your documented moving expenses on IRS Form 3903 when you file. Keep every receipt — truck and trailer rental, fuel, tolls, packing materials, and your mover's invoice all count.

Need cash before the move? You can request an Advance Operating Allowance of up to 60% of your estimated GCC before you move, to help cover the truck and fuel up front. Unspent advance money has to be returned, and if you miss the settlement deadline the advance can be clawed back — so plan the paperwork before you plan the drive.

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📞 WANT A CREW THAT KNOWS PPM PAPERWORK COLD?
Hampton hub: 757-330-0008
Itemized invoices built for your claim packet.
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✅ WHY HAMPTON SERVICE MEMBERS CHOOSE A PPM
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Control of your timeline
You are not stuck waiting on a scarce contractor slot during the May–August Hampton Roads PCS surge. You move when your orders and your family need you to.

The money
Come in under the government's cost and the difference is yours.

You pick the crew
You choose who touches your household goods instead of getting whoever the contract assigns.

Flexibility with a partial move
Move the critical or fragile items yourself and let the government ship the bulk — you still get paid for the weight you carry.

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⚠️ THE HONEST DRAWBACKS
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A PPM is not free money and it takes work.

You pay expenses up front and wait to be reimbursed.
The paperwork must be complete and correct, or a claim can be delayed or denied. Missing weight tickets are the number-one killer.
You will not be paid more than the GCC for your authorized weight. Overweight is on you.
Hazardous items (fuel, propane, aerosols, ammunition) and firearms follow DoD rules and are your responsibility to handle — a mover cannot ship them.

None of this is a reason to skip a PPM. It is a reason to prepare, which is the whole point of the checklist below.

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📋 PPM PREPARATION CHECKLIST
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Meet with your Transportation Office (TO)
Get counseled, confirm you are approved for a Member-Elected PPM, and get your weight allowance and estimated GCC. Pre-approval is required.
Decide full or partial
Choose whether you move everything or split the load with the government.
Complete your forms
DD Form 2278 (the PPM application, from your TO) and DD Form 1351-2 (the travel voucher) are the core documents.
Pull your MilMove estimate
Get the free pre-move incentive estimate — your authoritative GCC number.
Get certified weight tickets
You need an EMPTY (tare) ticket and a LOADED (gross) ticket from a certified scale. Near Hampton Roads there is a certified CAT scale on the Route 58/460 corridor toward Suffolk. No tickets, no reimbursement.
Save every receipt
Truck/trailer rental, fuel, tolls, boxes, and your mover's invoice. Keep digital backups.
Request an advance if you need it
Up to 60% of your estimated GCC — but plan to settle on time.
File your settlement packet on time
Submit DD 1351-2, weight tickets, orders, and receipts by your deadline. During PCS season, finance offices run a backlog — file early.

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🚚 HOW HAMPTON VIRGINIA MILITARY VETERAN MOVERS HELPS
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Hiring a professional crew does NOT disqualify you from PPM reimbursement. You simply submit our invoice as part of your claim. MVMP (Military Veterans Moving People) is veteran-owned and veteran-led, built around the PCS life, and based right here for the Hampton and Langley/JBLE community.

Here is how our team makes your PPM easier:

Flexible scheduling
Because you are not tied to the government's contractor, you book our crew on your timeline — even during the peak-season crunch.

Full-service OR labor-only
We can pack and load the whole move, or just load/unload a truck or container you have already rented. Your choice, your budget.

Weight-ticket support
We will point you to the right certified scale and make sure both empty and loaded weights are captured for your claim.

Documentation built for the claim
Our itemized invoices and receipts are organized for a DFAS PPM packet, so nothing gets missed and your reimbursement is not held up.

Base-access experience
We know the gates, housing areas, and PCS-season traffic around Langley AFB and Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE).

Storage between homes
Waiting on on-post housing? We offer short-term storage so your goods are secure until you get keys.

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HAMPTON PPM & LABOR RATES

2 movers + truck: $200/hr
3 movers + truck: $250/hr
4 movers + truck: $300/hr
3-hour minimum on all tiers.
Deposit = one hour at your booked tier (refundable 48+ hours out, applied to your total on move day).

Container / labor-only loading: $75 per mover, per hour.
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By partnering with Hampton Virginia Military Veteran Movers, you get a professional move AND keep the reimbursement benefit of a PPM — and you may pocket the difference between the government's allowance and your real cost.

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🏠 SERVING THE HAMPTON & JBLE MILITARY COMMUNITY
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We support PPM and PCS moves across Hampton and the wider Peninsula, including families stationed at or moving from Langley Air Force Base and Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE). Whether you are heading to your next duty station or retiring out (you qualify for one final PPM within a year of your retirement date), we handle the heavy part so you can focus on out-processing and family.

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❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Q: How much does the military pay for a PPM / DITY move in 2026?
A: A Member-Elected PPM pays 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) — what the government would have paid a contractor to move your authorized weight the same distance. Your profit is that payment minus your actual moving costs.

Q: What is the difference between a PPM and a DITY move?
A: Nothing. PPM (Personally Procured Move) is the current official name; DITY (Do-It-Yourself) is the old name. Bases and forums still use both.

Q: How is my PPM weight allowance decided?
A: By your pay grade and dependent status under JTR Table 5-37, running from 5,000 lbs at the junior enlisted level up to 18,000 lbs at senior grades. Pro-gear (2,000 lbs member, 500 lbs spouse) is separate and additional. Confirm your exact number with your TO.

Q: Is PPM reimbursement taxable?
A: Yes. DFAS withholds about 22% federal (no Social Security or Medicare). You recover tax by deducting documented moving expenses on IRS Form 3903.

Q: Can I hire a moving company and still get PPM reimbursement?
A: Yes. Hiring a pro crew does not disqualify you. You submit the mover's invoice as part of your claim. This is exactly what MVMP is set up to do.

Q: Can I get money before my move?
A: Yes — an Advance Operating Allowance of up to 60% of your estimated GCC. Unspent advance funds must be returned, and missing the settlement deadline can trigger a clawback.

Q: What documents do I need for my PPM claim?
A: DD Form 2278 (PPM application), DD Form 1351-2 (travel voucher), your PCS orders, certified empty and loaded weight tickets, and receipts. Missing weight tickets are the most common reason claims stall.

Q: Where do I get certified weight tickets near Hampton?
A: From a certified scale that prints date, location, vehicle info, and a weighmaster signature. There is a certified CAT scale on the Route 58/460 corridor toward Suffolk. You need one empty (tare) and one loaded (gross) ticket.

Q: What is a partial PPM?
A: The government ships part of your household goods and you move the rest. You are paid 100% of the GCC for the weight you personally move.

Q: How much does MVMP charge for a PPM move in Hampton?
A: $200/hr for 2 movers and a truck, $250/hr for 3, $300/hr for 4, with a 3-hour minimum. Container or labor-only loading is $75 per mover per hour.

Q: Does MVMP move firearms or hazardous materials for a PPM?
A: No. We never handle, transport, or take custody of firearms or ammunition, and DoD rules bar movers from shipping hazmat (fuel, propane, aerosols). Those items stay in your hands.

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📞 READY TO LOCK IN YOUR HAMPTON PPM MOVE?
Call the Hampton hub: 757-330-0008
Veteran-owned, veteran-led. Licensed & insured.
Satisfaction guaranteed.

— Gregory Sledge, Owner
MVMP (Military Veterans Moving People) / 757-330-0008