Your official Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders are the foundational legal document governing your relocation. They designate your final assignment location, establish your reporting timeline, and define your authorized travel and transportation entitlements.
Assignment Orders
Human Resources Command (HRC) will notify your Soldier of his or her assignment to Italy. Shortly after that, your Soldier will receive a request for orders (RFO) and/or orders which will contain PCS instructions, such as:
- Report date and tour length
- Port of embarkation (arrival airport)
- HHG, POV, and family travel authorizations
It is critical that you thoroughly review your orders upon receipt to verify accuracy. Ensure that the document is fully executed with all required signatures, official stamps, and administrative annotations. If you detect any missing information, typographical errors, or incorrect data, contact your outbound personnel actions branch immediately to initiate an official amendment.
Key Authorization Fields to Verify
Your orders establish your legal authority for relocation activities. Carefully check your document for explicit authorization regarding, but not limited to, the following fields:
- Assignment Details: Your exact gaining unit, installation, and geographic location.
- Timeline Constraints: Your designated reporting date and any Temporary Duty (TDY) en route instructions.
- Dependents: Explicit authorization for concurrent or deferred family member travel.
- Logistics & Household Goods: Authorized weight allowances for household goods (HHG), unaccompanied baggage (UB), and non-temporary storage (NTS).
- Privately Owned Vehicle (POV): Explicit authorization for the shipment or storage of your primary vehicle.
- Transportation & Allowances: The authorized mode of travel to your new duty station alongside specific travel entitlements and fiscal funding codes.
After receiving assignment notification via IPPS-A, Soldiers are highly encouraged to review the levy brief material at: HERE
Types of Overseas Tours
Soldiers' PCS orders will indicate either:
Accompanied Tour (with dependents)
This means the Soldier's family is eligible to accompany him overseas for a 36-month tour. To ensure the new duty station can support your family, Command Sponsorship of dependents must be approved before your family moves overseas. If approved, the full name of each dependent must be listed on orders. Orders will also include the type of dependent travel authorized:
- Concurrent travel (with or within 30 days of Soldier)
- Deferred travel (31 or more days after Soldier)
Unaccompanied Tour (without dependents)
Soldiers may elect an unaccompanied tour (“All Others Tour”) for family reasons or because Command Sponsorship of dependents is denied. Regardless, an All Others tour means dependents are not authorized to move overseas. This tour is a 24-month commitment.
For more details, see Army Regulations: AR 55-46 Travel Overseas and AR 614-30 Overseas Service.
