OCONUS PCS Complete Guide: Europe, Asia, & Pacific Assignments (2025)

Bottom Line Up Front: OCONUS (Outside Continental US) PCS comes with extra allowances (COLA, OHA, move-in housing), command-sponsored vs. unaccompanied choice, and unique challenges (passports, customs, POV shipping). Plan 6-9 months ahead for pets, schooling, and vehicle logistics. Most service members underestimate the upfront costs ($5,000-$10,000) before reimbursements arrive.

OCONUS Basics

What Is OCONUS?

Outside Continental United States — assignments in:

• Europe (Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Belgium)
• Pacific (Japan, South Korea, Guam, Hawaii*)
• Middle East (Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Diego Garcia)
• Other (Alaska*, Greenland, Iceland)

*Alaska and Hawaii are "non-foreign OCONUS" (different rules than overseas)

Two Assignment Types

1. Command-Sponsored (Accompanied Tour)

• Bring dependents
• Full housing & allowances
• Longer tour (usually 3 years)
• Spouses/kids get ID cards & base privileges

2. Unaccompanied (Short Tour)

• No dependents authorized
• Higher pay (family separation, hardship)
• Shorter tour (1-2 years)
• Family stays in US (you pay for two households)

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OCONUS Allowances (The Money Part)

1. Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)

Replaces BAH when stationed OCONUS

How it works:

• Pays ACTUAL rent (up to cap) + utilities
• Submit rental receipt monthly
• Get reimbursed up to local cap

Example: Germany (Ramstein AB)

• Rental cap: €2,100/month (~$2,300)
• Utilities: €250/month (~$275)
• Total OHA: ~$2,575/month

OHA vs. BAH differences:

• OHA = actual rent (can't pocket difference)
• BAH = fixed rate (pocket difference if rent is lower)
• OHA includes utilities allowance (BAH doesn't)

2. Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)

Offsets higher cost of living overseas

How much:

• Varies by location: 5% to 35% of base pay
• Adjusted quarterly based on currency exchange

Example: Japan (Okinawa) for E-5 with dependents

• Base pay: $3,500/month
• COLA: 15% = $525/month
• Extra $6,300/year

3. Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA)

One-time payment for furniture, appliances, deposits

Typical amounts:

• $1,500-$3,000 depending on rank and location
• Covers rental deposits, basic furniture
• Must submit receipts

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Command-Sponsored vs. Unaccompanied Decision

Command-Sponsored (Bring Family)

Pros:

• ✅ Family together
• ✅ Cultural experience for kids
• ✅ Full housing allowances
• ✅ Spouse can work (SOFA status)
• ✅ Longer tour = more savings

Cons:

• ❌ Finding housing takes time
• ❌ Schooling challenges (DoDEA waitlists)
• ❌ Spouse career disruption
• ❌ Pets expensive to ship

Best for:

• Families with young kids (pre-college)
• Spouses with portable careers
• Those who want adventure

Unaccompanied (Leave Family in US)

Pros:

• ✅ Higher pay (family separation pay ~$250/month)
• ✅ Shorter tour (12-24 months)
• ✅ No housing stress (live in dorms/barracks)
• ✅ No spouse employment issues

Cons:

• ❌ Family separation (months at a time)
• ❌ Paying for two households
• ❌ Missing family milestones
• ❌ Relationship strain

Best for:

• Short tours (Korea, Kuwait)
• High school kids (don't want to uproot)
• Dual-military couples

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OCONUS PCS Timeline (Step-by-Step)

6-9 Months Before PCS

1. Get Orders & Accept Assignment

• Review command-sponsored vs. unaccompanied
• Accept/decline dependent authorization

2. Start Passport Process

• Get passports for ALL family members (even infants)
• SOFA stamp (Status of Forces Agreement) if Europe
• Allow 8-12 weeks for processing

3. Research Schools

• DoDEA schools (on-base, free)
• International schools (off-base, $$$)
• Homeschool options

4. Vehicle Decision

• Ship POV (Personally Owned Vehicle)?
• Buy local car at OCONUS location?
• Sell car before leaving?

5. Pet Preparation

• Check host nation pet import rules
• Vet visits (rabies vaccine, microchip)
• Book pet shipping (expensive!)

3-6 Months Before PCS

6. TMO & Household Goods

• Schedule HHG pack-out
• 60-90 days to receive goods OCONUS
• Pack unaccompanied baggage (essentials for first 60 days)

7. Housing Research

• Join OCONUS housing Facebook groups
• Contact base housing office
• Research off-base rental market

8. Financial Prep

• Notify banks of overseas move (avoid card fraud blocks)
• Get credit card with no foreign transaction fees
• Save $5,000-$10,000 for upfront costs

1-3 Months Before PCS

9. Final Out-Processing

• Medical/dental clearances
• Security briefings
• Power of Attorney (for spouse if needed)

10. Ship POV (if applicable)

• Submit vehicle for inspection
• Book shipping slot
• Expect 30-60 day shipping time

11. Book Travel

• Government books your flights
• But you can request routes/layovers
• Consider Space-A if flexible

Upon Arrival

12. In-Processing

• Report to base within 24-48 hours
• Get SOFA stamp (if Europe)
• Attend newcomer orientation

13. Temporary Lodging (TLE/TLA)

• Stay in base lodging (TLF - Temporary Lodging Facility)
• Or off-base hotel (reimbursed up to 10 days)

14. Find Housing

• Apply for on-base (6-12 month waitlist often)
• Or search off-base (housing office helps)
• Submit OHA paperwork

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Shipping Your POV (Personally Owned Vehicle)

Should You Ship Your Car?

Ship if:

• ✅ It's paid off (no car payment)
• ✅ It's reliable and low mileage
• ✅ Gas is cheap at your OCONUS location (like Middle East)
• ✅ You're going to a large base (Germany, Japan)

DON'T ship if:

• ❌ It's a gas guzzler (gas is $6-8/gal in Europe)
• ❌ It's not paid off (still making payments)
• ❌ It's old/unreliable (expensive to fix OCONUS)
• ❌ You're going to small base (better to buy local car)

Shipping Logistics

How long:

• Europe: 30-60 days
• Asia/Pacific: 45-90 days

Cost to you:

• $0 (government pays for 1 POV shipment)

Restrictions:

• Must be empty (no personal items)
• Must pass safety inspection
• No guns/ammo in vehicle

Buying a Car OCONUS

Pros:

• Local cars are right-hand drive (if Japan/UK)
• Cheaper European cars in Europe
• Easier parking (smaller cars)

Cons:

• Upfront cost ($5,000-$20,000)
• Selling it when you PCS back to US

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Bringing Pets OCONUS

Pet Import Requirements (Vary by Country)

Europe (Germany example):

• Rabies vaccine (21+ days before travel)
• Microchip (ISO standard)
• Pet passport or health certificate
• No quarantine (if paperwork correct)

Japan:

• Rabies vaccine (twice, 30 days apart)
• Microchip
• Blood titer test (6 months before travel!)
• Possible 12-hour quarantine

South Korea:

• Rabies vaccine
• Health certificate
• Quarantine (up to 10 days if no blood test)

Pet Shipping Cost

Government doesn't pay for pets. You pay:

• Airline pet fees: $200-$500 per pet
• Cargo shipping (large dogs): $1,000-$3,000
• Vet fees (vaccines, certificates): $300-$500

Total: $1,500-$4,000 per pet

Pet Shipping Tips

• Use military pet shipping companies (they know OCONUS rules)
• Book flights 3-6 months ahead
• Avoid summer (too hot for cargo holds)
• Get pet microchipped early

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Schooling for Kids OCONUS

Option 1: DoDEA Schools (Department of Defense Education Activity)

Pros:

• Free
• US curriculum
• On-base (safe)
• Teacher quality usually good

Cons:

• Waitlists (especially high school)
• Crowded classrooms
• Less flexibility

Option 2: International Schools

Pros:

• Smaller class sizes
• International Baccalaureate (IB) programs
• Cultural diversity

Cons:

• Expensive ($10,000-$30,000/year)
• Government doesn't reimburse
• Commute off-base

Option 3: Homeschool

Pros:

• Flexibility
• Tailored to your kids
• Travel opportunities (field trips across Europe!)

Cons:

• Parent time commitment
• Socialization harder
• Requires discipline

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Common OCONUS Mistakes

❌ Mistake #1: Not Saving Upfront Cash

Reality: OHA reimbursement takes 30-60 days. You pay rent out-of-pocket first.

Fix: Save $5,000-$10,000 for first month's rent, deposit, furniture.

❌ Mistake #2: Shipping Gas-Guzzler to Europe

Reality: Gas is $7-9/gallon. Your F-150 costs $200/month in gas.

Fix: Buy fuel-efficient car locally or ship a hybrid.

❌ Mistake #3: Not Researching Pet Import Rules

Reality: Your dog gets quarantined for 6 months because you missed the blood test.

Fix: Start pet prep 6-9 months before PCS.

❌ Mistake #4: Expecting BAH-Like OHA

Reality: OHA pays actual rent. If you live cheap, you don't pocket the difference.

Fix: Budget based on OHA reimbursing exact rent, not BAH strategy.

❌ Mistake #5: Not Joining OCONUS-Specific Facebook Groups

Reality: You miss insider tips on housing, schools, POV buying.

Fix: Join "[Base Name] Newcomers" Facebook groups 6 months before PCS.

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Action Steps

6 Months Out:

1. ✅ Get passports for all family members
2. ✅ Research schools and housing
3. ✅ Start pet import process (if applicable)
4. ✅ Save $5,000-$10,000 cash

3 Months Out:

1. ✅ Schedule HHG pack-out
2. ✅ Ship POV (if applicable)
3. ✅ Join OCONUS Facebook groups
4. ✅ Notify banks/credit cards

1 Month Out:

1. ✅ Final out-processing
2. ✅ Book pet flights
3. ✅ Confirm travel arrangements

Upon Arrival:

1. ✅ In-process within 48 hours
2. ✅ Find housing within 10 days (TLE limit)
3. ✅ Enroll kids in school
4. ✅ Explore and enjoy!

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Related Guides

• OCONUS COLA Rates by Location (2025)
• POV Shipping: Step-by-Step Guide
• Military Spouse Work Permits OCONUS

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Remember: OCONUS assignments are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Yes, they're logistically complex, but thousands of service members do it successfully every year. Plan ahead, save cash, and embrace the adventure.