PCS Stories You Wouldn't Believe
by Rebecca Alwine - August 25th, 2022
We all have that one PCS memory, the one that stands out as being the most ridiculous or hilarious or nightmarish. Sometimes we look back and sigh with frustration at the time the movers lost our favorite piece of Polish pottery. Other times we laugh about how ridiculous we must have looked running through the airport with four kids, 12 bags, and a cat.
PCSing is not for the faint of heart, and one day, hopefully, those nightmare scenarios will turn into something amusing. I know that mine eventually did. I talked to some amazing military spouses, and they were willing to share their PCS memories with you as well.
Airport panic during PCS moves
- We were PCS’ing from Korea to Maryland. While trying to not miss our flight, I had everyone partner up. We get to the gate, I did a head count, and we’re missing a kid. I asked everyone including the father of my children, (also known as my husband, but he was demoted at that moment) and everyone says they don’t know. So I retrace my steps and find my son at Pei Wei talking to an old lady. -D’Antrese McNeil
- We were traveling from Frankfurt to Washington, D.C., and Frankfurt had been closed for the previous 36 hours due to snow. My husband broke his leg two days before we flew and I had an eight-month-old and a 2.5-year-old. We had eight bags, two car seats, and a double stroller. It was a hot mess! So grateful for friends that were also on the flight. -Rebecca Alwine
PCS road trip nightmares
- We were driving from Alabama to Utah with a nine-year-old, who had a stomach virus. The hotel stay was unpleasant as were the next two legs of the trip! –Carla K.
- While we were house hunting, we stayed in a hotel in Missouri and were woken up to the front desk clerk asking about our car. We were afraid our car, loaded with our stuff, had been stolen. Nope, just the license plates were stolen. The thieves were caught red-handed, and we will never forget our welcome to Missouri. –Jillian W.
- We were driving 10 hours for our first PCS after basic training with a 2 and a four-year-old and got stuck in a white-out blizzard! The guards wouldn’t let us through the gate at 1 am, because it was the wrong one. We had a hard time finding the right place. We were in the hotel over Christmas and even ate dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. It was just like A Christmas Story, just minus the duck! –Cherie M.
Kids say (and do!) the darndest things about PCSing
- We had no idea that Kaitlyn was afraid of heights (including flying) until we were PCSing back to the states. The plane was lifting off, and this tiny voice beside me cries, “WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!” She was barely 3. -Jamie D.
- We were traveling between locations for our PCS and had stopped at a park to let the kids burn off energy. I’m not sure how it came up, but another little girl asked A (who was four at the time) where she lived. A told her “We don’t have a home. We’re homeless.” The little girl looked confused, and her mother looked mortified. I just started laughing. –Susie S.
- Our oldest daughter and her friend were mopping the floors during move out and were using Murphy’s soap oil. They used way too much and made their own slip and slide in the process. –Jennifer B.
When the pets PCS too
- My dog taught himself how to open doors with flat handles. Guess what has doors with flat handles? All hotel rooms. While grabbing breakfast before checking out, we got a call from the hotel staff that our dogs were running around the hallway, and had tried to exit using the fire escape. Smart little jerks. – Aileen H.
- We were traveling across the country for our first pcs with two cats. Stayed in a hotel room and in the morning couldn’t find one of the cats. Thought maybe the cat got out of the room. Looked everywhere and finally heard meowing from under the bed. The cat had ripped a hole in the box spring and climbed inside. He wouldn’t come out, so we had to take the entire bed apart and shake him out. –Leslie H.
Go to PCSgrades.com to get resources for your next PCS move. Review those movers, read neighborhood reviews for your next duty station, or find a real estate agent to help you buy or sell your home!
Rebecca Alwine is an Army wife, mother of three and lover of her adorable pirate dog. Over the past 15 years, she’s discovered she enjoys coffee, lifting weights and most of the menial tasks of motherhood. Her days consist of working out in her garage gym, audiobooks and pretending to cook while her Instant Pot and Air Fryer do all the work. Her motto: work smarter, not harder.
