MRP PCS Orders & Permanent Change of Station Process 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What three primary factors determine a service member's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate?
- Time in service, rank, and number of children
- Pay grade, dependency status, and duty station location (Correct answer)
- Component (active/reserve), MOS, and years of service
- Base housing availability, rank, and deployment history
Correct answer: Pay grade, dependency status, and duty station location
BAH is calculated using the service member's pay grade, whether they have dependents, and the zip code of their duty station.
Question 2: In a PCS context, what does 'HHG' stand for?
- High-Priority Housing Grant
- Household Goods (Correct answer)
- Highway Housing Guarantee
- Hazardous Housing Guidelines
Correct answer: Household Goods
HHG stands for Household Goods, referring to the personal property a service member is authorized to ship during a PCS move.
Question 3: What is the primary basis for determining a service member's HHG weight allowance during a PCS?
- Years of service only
- Length of upcoming deployment
- Pay grade and dependency status (Correct answer)
- Rank and MOS only
Correct answer: Pay grade and dependency status
HHG weight allowances are determined by the service member's pay grade combined with whether they have dependents, with higher grades and dependents receiving larger allowances.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the Dislocation Allowance (DLA) provided during a PCS move?
- Reimburse real estate closing costs when purchasing a home
- Help offset miscellaneous expenses caused by disruption of the household (Correct answer)
- Cover temporary lodging costs at the new duty station only
- Pay household goods storage fees for extended absences
Correct answer: Help offset miscellaneous expenses caused by disruption of the household
DLA is a flat-rate allowance designed to partially offset the various out-of-pocket costs incurred when a household is disrupted by a PCS move.
Question 5: Which allowance helps military members recoup federal and state income taxes paid on certain PCS-related reimbursements?
- Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) (Correct answer)
- Dislocation Allowance (DLA)
- Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA)
- Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)
Correct answer: Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA)
RITA reimburses service members for federal and state taxes they owe on taxable PCS entitlements such as DLA and certain travel reimbursements.
Question 6: What does Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) cover that Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) does not?
- CONUS PCS moves
- Overseas (OCONUS) PCS moves (Correct answer)
- Storage of household goods
- Pet transportation expenses
Correct answer: Overseas (OCONUS) PCS moves
TLA is specifically authorized for overseas (OCONUS) PCS moves, while TLE applies to CONUS moves, and TLA rates are generally higher to reflect overseas lodging costs.
Question 7: During a PCS move, a service member may request up to how many months of advance pay to help cover relocation expenses?
- 1 month
- 2 months
- 3 months (Correct answer)
- 6 months
Correct answer: 3 months
Service members may request up to 3 months of advance base pay, interest-free, to help cover the upfront costs associated with a PCS move.
MRP PCS Orders & Permanent Change of Station Process 2
What three primary factors determine a service member's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate?