By Randy Whetsell | Military Relocation
A Fort Campbell PCS move checklist for 2026 should cover more than travel dates and moving boxes. Before you arrive, you will need a plan for housing, schools, medical care, vehicles, household goods, utilities, and in-processing.
The most practical approach is to organize your move in three stages:
- Orders to departure: Complete administrative tasks, arrange housing and transportation, and gather essential records.
- Travel and arrival: Keep critical documents and medications with you while reporting as directed.
- First 30 days: Finalize housing, enroll children in school, update DEERS and TRICARE information, establish utilities, and complete household goods claims if necessary.
This checklist is designed for military families relocating to the Fort Campbell area, including Clarksville, Tennessee, and Oak Grove or Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Installation procedures and office hours can change, so confirm current requirements through the official Fort Campbell PCS Channel.
60 to 90 Days Before Your Fort Campbell PCS
Review your orders and request a sponsor
Start by reading your PCS orders carefully. Confirm your report date, authorized travel, dependent information, and instructions for your gaining unit.
If you have not already done so, request a sponsor through your gaining unit. A sponsor can help you understand unit-level in-processing, local housing options, gate access procedures, and arrival expectations without requiring you to handle every question alone.
Create both a digital and physical PCS folder containing:
- PCS orders and amendments
- CACs and identification documents
- Marriage, birth, and Social Security documents
- Medical, dental, and immunization records
- School records, transcripts, and IEP or 504 documentation
- Vehicle titles, registrations, and insurance information
- Lease, mortgage, and insurance documents
- Pet vaccination records
- Moving and travel paperwork
- Prescription information
Use Military OneSource’s Plan My Move tool to build a personalized timeline based on your installation, family size, and move details.
Begin your housing search
Decide whether you are considering on-post housing, an off-post rental, or a home purchase. If you plan to apply for on-post housing, begin the process as soon as you have official orders. Ask about application requirements, availability, waitlists, temporary lodging, and move-in timing.
For off-post housing, compare Clarksville, Oak Grove, and Hopkinsville based on:
- Commute time and preferred gate access
- School zoning
- Rental availability or home prices
- Utility costs
- Childcare and family amenities
- Space for vehicles, pets, and household goods
- Whether the property’s availability matches your report and delivery dates
Haus offers additional guidance in Fort Campbell Off-Post Housing: What Military Families Should Know and Clarksville vs. Oak Grove vs. Hopkinsville: Where Should Fort Campbell Families Live?.
Before signing an off-post lease, review the agreement carefully and contact the Fort Campbell Housing Services Office for installation-specific guidance. Confirm the true name and address of the property owner or authorized management agent in the lease documentation.
60 to 30 Days Before Departure
Schedule your household goods move
Contact your current installation’s transportation or personal property office to arrange counseling and schedule your move. Depending on your orders and circumstances, you may use:
- A government-arranged household goods shipment
- A Personally Procured Move, sometimes called a PPM
- A combination of government-arranged transportation and personally moved items
Before pack-out day:
- Declutter items you do not want to transport.
- Photograph valuable furniture, electronics, appliances, and collectibles.
- Create an inventory of high-value items.
- Separate professional books, papers, and equipment if applicable.
- Identify items that must be hand-carried.
- Ask how temporary storage will affect your delivery schedule.
- Keep all shipment paperwork together.
Do not place passports, orders, medical records, prescription medications, valuables, irreplaceable photographs, school enrollment documents, or vehicle paperwork in your household goods shipment.
For additional timing guidance, review Haus’s Fort Campbell PCS Timeline: From Orders to Arrival.
Notify your current housing provider
If you live on post, contact your current housing office and confirm notice, clearing, cleaning, and inspection requirements.
If you rent off post, provide written notice to your landlord according to the lease and applicable military termination provisions. Ask for a move-out inspection and document the condition of the property with dated photographs.
If you own your current home, coordinate the sale, lease, or management plan early. A local real estate professional can help you determine whether selling, renting, or maintaining the property remotely best fits your PCS timeline.
Transfer school records
Contact your children’s current schools and request:
- Transcripts and attendance records
- Immunization documentation
- Standardized test records
- Special education records
- IEP or 504 plans
- Gifted-program information
- Medication or accommodation documentation
Keep these records with you during travel. Before signing a lease or purchasing a home, verify the assigned school district and enrollment requirements for that specific address. School boundaries can change, and an address should never be assumed to qualify for a particular school without confirmation.
The Fort Campbell School Liaison Office and local district enrollment offices can help you understand requirements in Clarksville-Montgomery County and the Kentucky communities near the installation.
Prepare medical and dental information
Request copies or summaries of medical and dental records for each family member. Make sure you have:
- Immunization records
- Current prescriptions and refill information
- Provider contact details
- Treatment summaries for ongoing care
- Allergy information
- Dental records
- Any specialist referrals or appointment notes
Keep medications and medical records in your travel bags, not in household goods. After arrival, update DEERS and complete the necessary TRICARE enrollment or transfer steps. Confirm your primary care assignment and ask how to transfer prescriptions to a local pharmacy.
30 Days Before Departure
Finalize travel and address changes
Confirm your approved travel dates, leave paperwork, report date, and instructions from your gaining unit. Complete address changes with:
- The U.S. Postal Service
- Banks and credit card companies
- Insurance providers
- Employers
- Schools and childcare providers
- Medical offices
- Subscription services
- Financial institutions
Schedule utility shutoffs at your current home and arrange utility service at your new residence when the address and move-in date are confirmed.
Review vehicle requirements
If you will live in Tennessee, review Tennessee driver’s license and vehicle registration requirements. If you will live in Kentucky, review Kentucky requirements instead. Requirements can depend on residency, military status, vehicle ownership, insurance, and county rules.
Before the move:
- Update your auto insurance with the new garaging address.
- Confirm your policy meets the requirements of your destination state.
- Carry titles, registrations, insurance cards, and lienholder information.
- Check whether any inspection, emissions, or county documentation applies.
- Plan for registration or licensing appointments after arrival.
Do not leave vehicle documents in the moving shipment.
Build a first-week essentials bag
Pack enough for several days or longer in case your household goods are delayed. Include:
- Uniforms and work clothing
- Casual clothing and shoes
- Toiletries and towels
- Medications and first-aid supplies
- Basic cookware or disposable kitchen items
- Baby supplies
- School supplies
- Pet food and records
- Chargers and power banks
- Important documents
- Basic tools
- Bedding or sleeping bags
Ask Fort Campbell Army Community Service about relocation assistance and lending closet availability if you need temporary household items.
Arrival at Fort Campbell
Report and complete in-processing
Follow the reporting instructions in your orders and from your gaining unit. Bring your orders, CAC, required leave documentation, and medical and dental records as directed.
During in-processing, you may need to complete unit, finance, personnel, DEERS, and installation newcomer requirements. Keep copies of everything you submit and write down contact names, office locations, and follow-up dates.
Confirm your housing plan
If you are moving into on-post housing, complete the required move-in documentation and inspection. If you are renting off post, document the condition of the home before unpacking and report any concerns promptly.
Set up utilities, internet, renter’s insurance, and mail delivery. If your home will not be ready when your household goods arrive, contact the transportation office immediately to discuss delivery or storage options.
Enroll children in school
Once your residence is confirmed, contact the appropriate school district or school liaison office. Bring your school records, immunization documentation, proof of residence, identification, and any special education documents.
Ask about:
- Enrollment appointments
- Bus routes
- Transportation eligibility
- Before- and after-school care
- Sports and extracurricular activities
- School calendars
- Transfer procedures if your housing changes
Complete the household goods inspection
When your shipment arrives:
- Be present for delivery whenever possible.
- Check boxes and furniture as they are unloaded.
- Note missing or damaged items on the delivery paperwork.
- Photograph damage immediately.
- Keep copies of inventory sheets and delivery documents.
- Follow the required process and deadlines for filing claims.
Your First 30 Days in the Fort Campbell Area
Use your first month to complete the tasks that affect your family’s daily stability:
- Finish unit and installation in-processing.
- Verify BAH and travel-related paperwork.
- Update DEERS and TRICARE information.
- Establish medical and dental care.
- Enroll children in school.
- Complete driver’s license and vehicle registration tasks.
- Finalize utilities, insurance, and mail delivery.
- Complete your housing move-in inspection.
- Resolve household goods damage or missing-item claims.
- Visit ACS Relocation Readiness for local support and newcomer resources.
Haus’s month-by-month Fort Campbell PCS relocation timeline can help you coordinate these steps around your specific report date.
How Haus Can Help With Your Fort Campbell Move
A PCS move can require decisions before you have seen the community, toured a home, or compared commute routes. Our experienced Haus team helps military families evaluate rentals and homes in Clarksville, Tennessee, and nearby Kentucky communities with practical guidance tailored to their timeline.
If you are relocating to Fort Campbell, contact Haus to discuss your housing needs, preferred location, budget, school considerations, and arrival schedule. We are committed to helping your family move into the area with greater confidence and a clear plan.
