Military spouses are often described as doing two jobs at once: their own and whatever their service member can’t manage from wherever they’ve been sent. During a PCS move or deployment, that frequently includes all of the logistics — the housing search, the utility transfers, the school registrations, and yes, the storage.
This guide is written for the person managing the belongings piece while their service member is in transit, deployed, or in training. The goal is to make storage as simple and hands-off as possible so you can focus on everything else on your list.
You’re Managing This Move. Here’s How to Make It Easier.
A PCS move with a deployed or absent service member requires you to make decisions that would normally be shared. Where are we living? What goes in storage? How do we get the boxes there without a truck?
Ship2Storage removes the truck and the facility from the equation. You pack the boxes you want to store, print a label for each one, and drop them at any UPS or FedEx location. That’s the hardest part. Everything else is managed from your phone or laptop.
The Reality of PCS Moves for Military Spouses
PCS moves happen on the military’s schedule. The service member may be in training, on TDY, or in pre-deployment status when the move actually needs to happen. Spouses frequently manage the physical relocation — the packing, the household goods coordination, the drive, the in-processing — without their partner present for any of it.
Traditional self-storage in this scenario means renting a unit, getting boxes there somehow (often without a vehicle large enough or a person to help load), and then managing access remotely if anything comes up. Ship2Storage replaces all of that with a shipping label and an online account.
What Ship2Storage Takes Off Your Plate
No coordination required. You manage the whole thing solo from wherever you are.
No truck rental. Boxes ship via UPS or FedEx from any drop-off location.
No facility visits. Everything is managed through your online account.
No geographic lock-in. Your boxes can be delivered to any U.S. address, including your new duty station.
No long-term contract. Store month to month, cancel or request delivery when ready.
No Truck. No Heavy Lifting. Just Ship the Boxes.
This is the practical piece that matters most for military spouses managing a move alone. Getting boxes to a self-storage facility requires either a truck or a very patient friend with a large vehicle. Neither is always available during a PCS transition.
With Ship2Storage, you pack your boxes at home, print a label for each one, and drop them at any nearby UPS or FedEx location — or schedule a pickup from your front door. That’s the full extent of the physical logistics on your end. No truck. No loading dock. No third party.
How to Set Up a Storage Account Your Whole Family Can Access
Set up your Ship2Storage account before packing begins. It takes a few minutes. Once it’s set up:
- You can generate labels for as many boxes as you need.
- You can track your boxes after shipping.
- You can manage delivery timing and destination from your account.
- You can share account access with your service member so they can manage delivery from their end if they return before you do.
If you have a power of attorney active during the deployment or move period, the account can be managed by whoever holds that POA.
What to Store vs. What to Move with the Household Goods Shipment
The official household goods shipment through the Personal Property Office handles furniture, appliances, and large items up to your authorized weight allowance. Ship2Storage handles the personal items that fall outside that system:
- Off-season clothes and items you won’t need until you’re settled
- Children’s toys, books, and sentimental items you want tracked carefully
- Personal electronics and accessories
- Kitchen items from your current home that won’t fit the official shipment
- Anything you want accessible quickly after arrival, before TMO delivers
Think of Ship2Storage as your personal move running in parallel to the official military move — on your timeline, to your destination, for the items that matter most to your family.
When Your Service Member Returns: Getting the Boxes to Your New Home
Whether your service member returns to you or you’re joining them at a new duty station, getting your Ship2Storage boxes to your new home is straightforward. Log into your account, enter your new address, and schedule delivery. The boxes arrive within a few days.
If you’re still in TLE or temporary lodging when your service member returns and your permanent housing isn’t ready, your boxes stay in storage until you have a confirmed address. No rush. No penalty.
FAQ
Can I manage the storage account without my spouse present?
Yes. The account is fully managed online by whoever sets it up. Your service member doesn’t need to be involved in day-to-day account management. You handle everything from your end.
What if we don’t know our final destination yet?
Ship your boxes when you’re ready to move them. You can update your delivery address any time before we process your shipment. You don’t need a confirmed destination to start storing.
Can I request a partial delivery — just some of the boxes?
Yes. If you want some boxes delivered now and others later, you can request delivery for specific boxes and keep the rest in storage.
How does billing work if we’re between bank accounts during the move?
You can update your payment method in your account at any time. If you’re transitioning between accounts during a PCS, you can update your billing information before the next monthly charge processes.
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