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The PPM/DITY Program

A plain-language overview of the Personally Procured Move (PPM/DITY) program for military service members.

A Personally Procured Move (PPM), often called a DITY move, lets eligible service members arrange some or all of their own household-goods transportation instead of using a government-arranged mover. Instead of the government paying a mover directly, you're paid based on the weight and distance of your authorized move — and what you do with that money, including any surplus after your costs, is yours. It gives you more control, but also puts more of the planning, paperwork, and physical work on you.

This guide is written for military service members with an authorized PPM. Civilian federal employees have separate relocation rules and tax treatment — if that's you, start with your agency's HR office and DFAS's civilian PCS guidance instead of applying anything here.

This guide is also written for CONUS (continental U.S.) moves. Overseas moves, Alaska/Hawaii, retirement or separation moves, Reserve/Guard orders, and other special circumstances have their own rules — confirm with your TO before assuming the general advice here applies.

The PPM/DITY process follows these basic steps:

  1. Contact your local TMO or JPPSO.
  2. Decide on the strategy for your DITY.
  3. Choose from the options available for a DITY move.
  4. Pack your belongings.
  5. Load your belongings into the truck or trailer.
  6. Travel to your new home.
  7. Unload your belongings.
  8. File for Reimbursement from the government.

Helpful Hints

  • Get counseling and approval from your TO before you move anything. Moving at your own expense without prior authorization and documentation can mean a delay, a reduced payment, or no payment — ask your TO for specifics before you assume either outcome. If you've already moved without counseling, contact your TO now and ask what can still be done rather than assuming it's too late.
  • Get an estimate of your payment from your TO before you commit to a plan. The government's calculation is based on your authorized weight and distance, not on what a commercial mover would charge you directly — the two numbers can differ substantially in either direction, so get the actual estimate rather than assuming. Ask for estimates both above and below your best guess at weight, since that's the hardest number to predict in advance. Remember that some of what you receive will be subject to tax.
  • Weight limits still apply to DITY moves. You will only be reimbursed up to the amount of your authorized weight.
  • The earlier you start this process the better off you will be. A rushed DITY move can have many things go wrong, not to mention being very unpleasant. You should be able to at least go talk with the TMO or JPPSO even if you've not yet received orders.
  • Make sure you understand the different options available before deciding how you'll move your belongings.

In This Section

  • Contact Your TMO/JPPSO

    An overview of the military offices you should contact in order to properly arrange a DITY/Personally Procured Move.

  • Choosing a Strategy

    Explains the different strategies for performing a military DITY/Personally Procured Move.

  • Your Move Options

    Explains the available options for performing a military DITY/Personally Procured Move.

  • Reimbursement

    How a PPM/DITY payment is calculated, what documents and weight tickets you need, and how taxes fit in.