Following a full review of the permanent change of station orders process, Air Force Personnel Center officials have implemented a new policy that will allow members more time to schedule move-related appointments, said Dave Faris, the AFPC PCS budget/assignment analysis section deputy chief.

Defense funding rules require that permanent change of station obligations be charged against the fiscal year in which the orders are published. To ensure the Air Force met that expectation, orders previously were published no later than 60 days before departure from the current station and no earlier than 90 days before the member's reporting date.

"After a review of numerous requests for exception to policy and requests from transportation authorities for more time to process household goods pickups, we analyzed the process and made some changes," Faris said.

In part, those changes are possible because of AFPC's role in processing and authenticating orders.

"The Total Force Service Center has assumed orders authentication responsibilities, and the centralized process is faster and more efficient," Faris explained. "Now, orders can be prepared 120 days before the member's scheduled departure date."

For members scheduled for lengthy training or leave en route to their new duty station, that change is expected to make all the difference, Faris said.

This should significantly reduce policy exception requests for early PCS orders. According to Faris, the policy change will help eliminate challenges, but if it does not meet a member's needs, he or she can still request an exception to policy.

For more information about permanent change of station moves and other personnel issues, visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil.