I am a real estate agent. I am not a transportation counselor. But a lot of the buyers I talk to are in the middle of this, so here is the list I wish everybody had before they called me. Phone numbers on post change often, so I link to the official pages rather than print numbers that go stale.
The movers
On a government move, the Army contracts the moving company and pays it. Here is how it works in 2026.
- Go to the transportation office as soon as you have orders. That is the office at the post you are leaving. Scheduling is first come, first served, and summer fills up.
- You set up the shipment in DPS, the Defense Personal Property System. You get to it through Military OneSource.
- The new contractor you may have heard about is gone. DoD ended the HomeSafe contract in June 2025. Moves are back on the older program, booked through DPS and your local office.
- If something goes wrong, the DoD help line is 833-MIL-MOVE (833-645-6683). Loss and damage claims are filed in DPS, and there is a deadline after delivery, so do not sit on them.
On this end, the Fort Sill Personal Property Office is in the Welcome Center, Building 4700 on Mow-Way Road, Room 110. They handle inbound shipments and delivery questions. Current contact numbers are in the Fort Sill directory.
Delivery needs an address. If you do not have a house yet, your goods go into storage until you do. That is one reason people line up the house before the truck. More on that in buying before you arrive.
What you are allowed to ship
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-3 | 8,000 | 5,000 |
| E-4 | 8,000 | 7,000 |
| E-5 | 9,000 | 7,000 |
| E-6 | 11,000 | 8,000 |
| E-7 | 13,000 | 11,000 |
| E-8 | 14,000 | 12,000 |
| E-9 | 15,000 | 13,000 |
| W-1 and O-1 | 12,000 | 10,000 |
| W-2 and O-2 | 13,500 | 12,500 |
| W-3 and O-3 | 14,500 | 13,000 |
| W-4 and O-4 | 17,000 | 14,000 |
| W-5 and O-5 | 17,500 | 16,000 |
| O-6 and above | 18,000 | 18,000 |
Professional gear, up to 2,000 pounds, is on top of that. Have it weighed and listed separately. Go over your allowance and you pay the difference, so if you are close, start getting rid of things now. Your counselor confirms the number for your orders.
Moving yourself
A personally procured move, the old DITY move, pays you 100% of what the government would have paid a mover. The temporary 130% rate from 2025 is over.
- Get counseled and approved by the transportation office before you move anything. No approval, no reimbursement.
- Get certified weight tickets, empty and full, for every vehicle and every trip.
- Keep the rental contract and your receipts.
- For the Army, the final packet gets turned in at the new duty station. That is the same office in Building 4700.
The money
- Dislocation allowance. A one-time payment to help with the cost of setting up a new household. The amount goes by rank and dependents. The Army pays it automatically ahead of the move.
- Temporary lodging. Up to 21 days of lodging and meals on a stateside move, in the area you are leaving or the one you are coming to. It is capped by a daily maximum and it does not cover a house-hunting trip.
- Mileage and per diem. If you drive, you are paid by the mile for up to two vehicles, plus a daily rate for travel days. The mileage rate went up to 23.5 cents on July 1, 2026.
- BAH. Your housing allowance switches to the Fort Sill rate. See what each pay grade draws and what it buys.
Current rates for all of these are on the Defense Travel Management Office site. Finance has the final word on what you are paid.
When you get here
- Report to the Welcome Center, Building 4700 on Mow-Way Road. The Reception Detachment is staffed around the clock except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bring your orders and your leave form. In-processing usually takes three to five duty days.
- Do not confuse it with the Visitor Welcome Center on Sheridan Road by Bentley Gate. That one issues gate passes. Family members without a military ID will need to stop there. The gates page explains.
- Most of what you need is in the same building: finance, ID cards, the Personal Property Office, the Housing Services Office, and Army Community Service.
- The ACS loan closet lends kitchen basics, sleeping mats, tables and chairs for up to 30 days, free, while you wait on your shipment. Bring your ID and orders.
- Lodging on post is run by IHG Army Hotels. Check-in is at 5676 Fergusson Road. They take pets in a limited number of rooms for a fee, so say so when you book.
- The Housing Services Office is where the Army wants you to stop before you rent or buy off post. On-post family housing is run by Corvias.
The Oklahoma list
- Driver's license. Service members and their families stationed here can keep driving on a valid out-of-state license.
- Vehicle tags. If you register in Oklahoma, active duty members stationed here qualify for the military rate, about $26 a year. You file Form 779 with a tag agency.
- State income tax. Oklahoma does not tax military pay. That is true for residents, and for nonresidents stationed here. Military retirement pay is exempt too.
- A spouse with a professional license from another state can apply for an expedited Oklahoma license, with the fees waived.
- Pets. No quarantine coming into Oklahoma. Lawton requires pets to be registered, and it costs $15.
- Schools. Start enrollment as soon as you have an address. See which district serves which address.
Where the house fits in
Everything above goes smoother when you know where you are going to live. If you are thinking about buying, the best time to call me is when your orders drop. I will tell you what your allowance shops for here, send you what is listed, and walk houses on video until you get to town.
If you would rather rent first and look around, that is a fair plan too. I can tell you what houses rent for so you know what to expect.
Common questions
How do I schedule movers for a PCS to Fort Sill?
The government arranges and pays the moving company. As soon as you have orders, go to the transportation office at your current duty station and set up the shipment in the Defense Personal Property System, which you reach through Military OneSource. Scheduling is first come, first served.
How much weight can I ship on a PCS?
It depends on rank and dependents. An E-5 with dependents is allowed 9,000 pounds, an E-7 with dependents 13,000, and an O-3 with dependents 14,500. Professional gear up to 2,000 pounds does not count against it.
Where do I report when I arrive at Fort Sill?
Permanent party soldiers report to the Reception Detachment at the Welcome Center, Building 4700 on Mow-Way Road. It is staffed around the clock except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bring your orders and your leave form.