Ultimate PCS to Hawaii Binder Layout

A PCS binder is crucial to an easy PCS. If you have it properly organized and easily accessible, then the day that you fly to Hawaii will be a lot less stressful!

SHOPPING LIST:

• 3-ring binder
• Tabbed dividers
• Sheet protectors
• Sharpie & pens
• Sticky notes
• Lined paper
• BONUS: Binder zipper pouch for pens, USB drives, and other small items you may want to hand-carry.

Here's how you're labeling and what you're putting in each section:

TAB 1: ORDERS & PII DOCS

• Multiple copies of orders (at least 5) plus any amendments
• Multiple copies of your leave form
• Flight itineraries, luggage bag tag barcode stickers that are given to you once you check your luggage
• Passports & dependent IDs
• Social security cards, birth certificates, marriage/divorce paperwork
• Personnel & medical records
• POA documents (if any)

TAB 2: PETS (if any)

• Copies of everything you sent to the quarantine center (Health & rabies certificates, quarantine forms, etc)
• Vet records
• Microchip information
• Pet flight information

TAB 3: TLA

• Hotel reservation info
• Any itemized receipts
• TLA Worksheets

TAB 4: HHG/POV

• All inventory documents
• Property damage forms
• Storage documents (if any)
• POV walkthrough documents
• Vehicle registration/insurance

TAB 5: KIDS (if any)

• Medical records & immunizations
• Transcripts, school records, IEPs
• Adoption/guardianship paperwork (if applicable)
• Custody paperwork (if applicable)

TAB 6: OTHER

• Any other documents that are important to you
• Counselings and/or briefing paperwork
• Lined paper with all important contacts/sponsor info

TIPS & TRICKS

• Print an additional copy of your flight itinerary and put it in the front or back cover of your binder.

• Put all duplicate copies or papers you need to keep together in one sheet protector

• Use the lined paper for any notes, to-do lists, or info you need to remember while traveling.

• Any phone calls you make while PCSing or prepping the PCS, take notes and notate who you spoke to.

• If you get a zippered binder pouch, put an Airtag in it so you can't lose your binder and all important paperwork

If you have already PCS'd and have some tips from your own experiences, please share them here!

Questions about PCSing to Hawaii? I have put together a PCS Packet that has literally everything that the military doesn't tell you when you PCS. Comment 'PCS' and I will send it to you!