DD Form 2278, Application for Do It Yourself Move and Counseling Checklist, is a document used to apply for a Personally Procured Move (PPM), otherwise known as the Do It Yourself Move. This process allows a service member to ask to be reimbursed for travel and moving expenses by the government after moving their personal property themselves.
The latest edition of the DD 2278 - often incorrectly referred to as DA Form 2278 - was released by the Department of Defense (DoD) on July 1, 2021 , with that version being valid and in use today. A blank fillable DD Form 2278 is available for download below.
The form is used as a checklist for the shipment of personal belongings being moved due to the service member relocating as a result of a local, permanent or temporary change of station. Enrolling in this program is a voluntary move.
Firstly, the service member wanting to participate has to apply for the PPM move at their Personal Property Transportation Office (PTO). A copy of the DD form 2278 has to be provided or otherwise obtained amongst other possible documentation. The applicant must think their move through. They should calculate the total weight of the belongings being moved - the PPM refunding will be based on the weight ticket. The service member should keep the receipts for all moving expenses.
After the move itself, the applicant must submit a claim for reimbursement within 45 days along with their original DD form 2278.
When a service member makes a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move, the government hires a commercial contractor for moving the person's personal household belongings. They will transport their personal property for free, according to the authorized weight limit. The limit borders depend on the rank of the person and whether or not they have dependents.
The list of personal belongings good for moving free within this program, however, does not include the luggage carried free of charge on an airplane, so the costs of moving the luggage by plane, where the price of transportation is included in the ticket price, will not be covered under the reimbursement program.
You can download a DD 2278 by clicking the download link above or by visiting the Official DOD Moving Portal.
After completing the actual moving process, you have 45 days to submit a claim to refund your PPM allowance.