Is a DITY move the same as a PPM?

Yes. Personally procured move, or PPM, is the current term for what used to be called a DITY or do it yourself move.

Do I need weight tickets for a PPM?

Certified empty and loaded weight tickets are central to the claim. Without them the reimbursement calculation cannot be supported.

Can I do part of the move myself?

A partial PPM lets the government move one portion while you move another. It must be authorized through your transportation office in advance.

What Is a DITY Move? Military PPM Moving Explained

DITY moves are great ways to earn money.

Yeah, earn money, not save it. This is because the way the military has structured its relocation system. If a service member is required to move, the member may choose to let the government move them OR take that money and move on their own.

If they move on their own for cheaper than the government’s rate, they get to keep the cash. This can add up to thousands of dollars in some cases.

Read on to learn the basics of what a military DITY move is.

What Is a DITY Move?

A DITY move is the same thing as a personally procured transportation move (PPM). The military has officially abandoned using DITY, which stands for “do-it-yourself”, in favor of PPM, but DITY is still a term used by many involved in the process. If you say DITY, nobody will look at you like you’re an idiot.

DITY is a cost-saving program. The military has to pay for your move if they decide to, say, transfer you from military base A to military base B. Not only that, they have to arrange it for you. This can be costly.

To avoid having to do this, the military lets you elect to move yourself, i.e. make a DITY move. Sounds like a raw deal, right? Wrong.

As an incentive, the military will pay you 95% of what it would cost it to move you, called the government constructive cost. So, if you can move yourself for cheap, you’ll end up with cash money in your pocket. That’s the main reason service members decide to make DITY moves.

How Do I Make a DITY Move?

If you decide to take the military up on its offer to make a DITY move, you will have to do everything yourself. This might include:

Hiring a moving company
Making a moving budget
Renting a moving pod
Driving a moving truck
Packing your stuff
Loading moving boxes into your Corolla
Tying your mattress to the roof of your truck

So, you see, you can hire a moving company by making a DITY move. The military doesn’t care in the least, because they’re saving 5%. But the chances of the moving company being cheaper than the military’s contracted services is slim to none.

The best way to earn money making a DITY move is to do everything yourself, either by renting a moving truck or using your own vehicle.

Learn more about what you need to do when making a DITY move.

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Military Moves

Off-Base Military Housing

Military Move Checklist

Government Constructive Cost

DITY vs PPM

Who can use a PPM

PPM options are generally available to service members with authorized permanent change of station or other funded orders, and the type of move you are authorized comes from your orders and your transportation office counseling session. Approval before you move is the part people skip, and it is the part that protects the claim.

Full PPM and partial PPM

	Full PPM	Partial PPM
What moves	You move the entire shipment	The government moves part, you move part
Typical reason	You want control and the possible incentive payment	A vehicle load of items alongside a carrier shipment
Weight tickets	Required for what you move	Required for the portion you move

See what is a partial DITY move for the partial version in detail.

How reimbursement works

Reimbursement is built around the government constructive cost, the amount it would have cost the government to move your authorized weight. Your entitlement is calculated against that figure, within your weight allowance, and advances and incentive percentages are set in policy rather than negotiated. Walk through how to calculate the government constructive cost before you estimate what you might keep.

Weight tickets and documentation

Empty and loaded certified weight tickets for each vehicle and trip
A copy of your orders and any amendments
Rental agreements, fuel and toll receipts, and packing material receipts
Counseling paperwork and any advance operating allowance documents

Keep originals, keep a photo of every ticket, and file the claim within the window your transportation office gives you.

Planning checklist

Get counseled and approved before moving anything
Confirm your weight allowance and what counts as professional gear
Decide truck rental or hired carrier, and price both
Plan certified scale stops on the route
Track spending as you go rather than reconstructing it later

More in the Moving Guide: personally procured transportation moves, military move checklist and military moving tips. If you plan to hire a carrier for part of it, compare moving quotes first.

Frequently asked questions

Is a DITY move the same as a PPM?: Yes. Personally procured move, or PPM, is the current term for what used to be called a DITY or do it yourself move.
Do I need weight tickets for a PPM?: Certified empty and loaded weight tickets are central to the claim. Without them the reimbursement calculation cannot be supported.
Can I do part of the move myself?: A partial PPM lets the government move one portion while you move another. It must be authorized through your transportation office in advance.

Keep reading

What Is a Military DITY Move?