How much control do you have over your new PCS place?

I remember my dad, who was in the Air Force, got to submit a "Wish List" and when he got orders-he was given at least 2 choices to choose from. (Sometimes off his wish list, sometimes not).

I know that basically it is: You go where the Army sends you, but do you not have any choice, ever? 

I do believe there is a place on the "portal" where one can select preferences. Make sure if you are associated at all with EFMP at all to stay in good communication with them. During reenlistment I do believe you have more of a say... Not sure 100% because I've never PCS'd. 

Not much, I think.... My husband has gotten orders to places he asked for twice, and they got cancelled each time. When we were told we were getting a compassionate reassignment, we were given the choice of 4 locations that had the services we needed, and we picked here. So I think it depends mostly on needs of the army, but other factors come in to play also. 

My husband has picked his last two duty stations. He can choose one from his Ako. If it gets approved then awesome! It just all depends on the unit and demands. Beet of luck! 

Sometimes it can help to call branch. My husband didn't choose Ft Sill, but really I'm glad we got it since it's close to home. In the past he has been able to pick about half the time and it work out. 

My husband said he wanted to go someplace they had him re-enlist a year early and we are heading where he wanted to go in august 

We picked Fort Lewis and we got it, thought I would enjoy the cooler weather and rain but I was wrong. They probably just send him where they need him and consider his "wish list" whilst doing so. 

So...my soon to be ex-husband is trying to say that he has NO choice at all about where he goes, and that they have done away with the wish list.

6 years ago, We had a choice between Hawaii and like ft benning or something. We took Hawaii. While in Hawaii he said he put Colorado on his wish list. However I knew he wanted to come back to Washington (he was here for 3 months for training). And then we got orders to *surprise* WA! My sister really didn't believe him. Thought it was weird that we didn't get a choice between two and how odd that it was were he wanted to go, not where we compromised to go. And how easy would it be for him to lie to me and just say "this is where the army says we have to go"? but i didn't want to rock the boat so now 2 years later, we are divorcing and I want to move. He says he has another 2 years here (based on an email the army sent out last month extending PCS to 4 years not 3 years) and wants me to stay here while he is here. However, when I suggested that he put in for CO (where I want to move) he said it wasn't worth the sacrifice. Yes you heard me correct-him moving to CO wouldn't be worth seeing his kids 2x a month vs 2x a year. Then he went on to say that the Army has done away with the wish list and you get what you get, end of story.

It seems to me like that is just another lie. 

Hate to burst his bubble but we moved 7m ago and chose. He even though my husband can only go to 3 places no matter what... but we still got our 1st choice. 

Yeah I wouldnt be to happy if I were you. We were not allowed to choose here in WA we were hoping for Drum being we are from there but my husband had re-enlisted and changed MOS so went back through AIT and basic being he was out 4 years then returning. So no choice out from AIT. Thats the only time I heard of no choice other then limited choices. Like Frankie only 3 places. 

Yeah if he's in an mos like my husband, duty station choices can be quite limited, but the majority of mos's can go quite a few places. 

He can get on his AKO and pick. He should search bases that support his MOS. Otherwise, I'll just say what everyone is thinking, if the command doesn't really like your husband, chances are they wont aide in helping your husband get where he wants to be anyway. And it's kind of the truth, my brother in law is in the coast guard, wasn't liked that much at his first duty station, and did not get anywhere close to where he picked on his list. Second time around, his command loved him and helped him get where he wanted to be. 

Thats true. Your kinda SOL if your not liked. 

ur also sol if your liked too much lol. my hubby has tried to move a bunch...hes been here almost 7 years and ive been here almost 5...he keeps trying to get pcsed to somewhere...anywhere just for a change of things...but he cant seem to get out. his comand keeps telling him hes too valuable and he is needed by them here too much...soon as hes home hes switching jobs tho...so we will be out of here one way or another lol... 

JBLM is a black hole....just sucks u in forever. 

Cocowgirl- that's why my husbands orders were cancelled twice. His command said they couldn't let him go. So he's going to reenlist for another place if possible. We like it here, though. 

its nice here dont get me wrong...but one of the perks of the military is being able to move and see diff places on someone elses dime lol. and i wanna do that hwile my son is still young i wanna be stuck some where for 4 yrs when hes in hs but for now while i still can i wanna travel lol. im seriously prayin for italy...if that doesnt happen then im hoping for bama. 

italy would be fantastic. never gonna end up there though:( 

We're trying to get ft Knox actually. It's in the works but dealin with EFMP nonsense has thrown a few bumps in the road. 

I really wanted Italy, lol. It wasn't on the list in the AKO though. Possibly because they don't need his MOS :( 

There is a wish list you can submit somewhere on your ako. You can pick up to 3 places. But it's not likely they will look at those places when they bring you down on orders. Now if you want to go somewhere its best to call branch and see what's open for your rank and mos. my husband and someone where looking into fort Carson and nothing was available for either rank (same mos) a couple months later they both came down on orders for overseas tours. Now the guy that went with my husband ended up in Korea he did unaccompanied while in korea he has had to reinlist. Once again he asked for fort Carson but the only 2 places they had available when he reinlist was Germany or Egypt. So he chose Germany. They will be joining us again in September. So even reenlistment your choices may be limited if your option is not available. 

yeah there won't be any promises, but the more you talk to people the better your chances 

Im starting to hate it here. our orders we had coming and leaving august just disappeared. :( I hate rain and dont miss snow lol 

meh at least its a sunny day today:) 

We've always been given 3 choices to choose from, but now we are on a "special assignment" and DH got to know the guys at his MOS command, he called them and they emailed him a list of all the posts that has an opening for his rank. 

We just PCSed and wanted to come here. Hubby had to do an unaccompanied tour overseas to get out of JBLM. And then he had to go around in circles with branch to get orders to where we are now. I guess sometimes you have to give a little to get what you want. We know other people who just call branch and ask to go somewhere and boom. They go. 

im curious how the budget cuts have affected recent pcs's 

My husband just mentioned this to me yesterday...They are cancelling a lot of PCS's to have them stay and not paying for moves and what not. 

wow! not paying for moves that people just did? holy crap 

Well making it harder to be paid for everything I meant.