On Veterans Day, we thank the men and women who have served our country and the spouses, children, and families who have stood beside them through deployments and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves. At Student Movers®, that gratitude is personal. We’ve helped military families relocate, volunteered on base with Huntington Beach Kiwanis, and worked alongside veterans and National Guard members on our crews.
Military moving services and veteran discounts
Our crews have handled on-base and off-base military moves across California, including household moves we supported as subcontractors. Whether you’re reporting to a new duty station, transitioning out of active duty, or retiring in Southern California, we can help you plan the move around your schedule and any access requirements.
- Local and long-distance military moving. A crew and truck for household moves within Southern California or farther away.
- Packing and unpacking. Help boxing and protecting your household goods before the move and unpacking at your new home.
- Labor-only help for Personally Procured Moves (PPM or DITY). If you’re arranging your own transportation, our crews can load or unload your rental truck or moving container.
We offer a moving discount for veterans. Ask about the discount when you request your quote, before booking.
Planning your military move in Southern California
Moving to or from North San Diego County? See our Camp Pendleton movers for help planning a full-service move or arranging a crew for a PPM. For other installations, see our California military moving services.
Decide where you need a crew. If you want one team to load, transport, and unload your household goods, ask for a full-service quote. If you’re arranging the truck or container yourself for a Personally Procured Move, labor-only help can cover loading, unloading, or both. Let us know if you’re taking large items like a sectional, a safe, or a washer and dryer so we can discuss the equipment and crew size before moving day.
Confirm access at both addresses. If either home is on base, ask your installation or housing office which gate a moving truck should use, what the crew needs for entry, and where the truck can park. For an off-base apartment, check for elevator reservations, loading-zone restrictions, and limits on truck size. Share those details when you request your quote so we can plan for the distance from the truck to your door.
Tell us if your dates are tentative. If you’re waiting for orders, a housing assignment, or keys, give us your expected move window and flag any dates that may change. If your schedule shifts after booking, call as soon as you know so we can review crew availability and the terms of your booking.
A moving-day checklist for military families
A military move can involve several handoffs in a short window. You may be returning keys at one address, picking them up at another, and meeting a truck in between. Write down who will be at each address, how to reach them, and when they can give the crew access. If a spouse, relative, or friend will meet the crew in your place, introduce them ahead of time and make sure they know which items are moving and where they should go.
Walk through the home before you pack
Start with the garage, patio, closets, and storage areas. Those spaces are easy to overlook when you describe a move by bedroom count. Make a list of bulky pieces, items that may need disassembly, and anything that will stay behind. If a piece of furniture was assembled inside the room, check whether it can fit through the doorway as it is. Photos of tight stairs, narrow turns, and oversized pieces can help you describe what the crew will encounter.
Label boxes by their destination room and mark the ones you’ll need first. Keep orders, identification, keys, medications, chargers, and a change of clothes with you. If you have children or pets, set aside a bag with what they’ll need during the trip and on the first night. Pick a spot for those bags so they stay separate from the items being loaded.
Prepare for a labor-only move
If you’re providing the truck or container, confirm when it will be available and when it needs to be returned or picked up. At the loading address, make sure there’s room to open the truck or container and move items safely between it and the home. Let the crew know which belongings should come off first at the destination, especially if you’re making more than one stop or unloading part of the shipment into storage.
Ask what equipment comes with the crew and what you’ll need to have on hand. For a load-only job, decide who will handle the unload at your destination and share any notes they’ll need about the load. If you’re keeping records for your move, save estimates, invoices, and rental paperwork together so you can find them easily afterward.
Make a plan for delivery day
Before the truck arrives, check that the driveway or loading area is clear and that someone can open any gates, elevators, or storage rooms the crew will need. A simple room list or floor plan can help the crew place heavy furniture where you want it. If your delivery window and key pickup overlap, give us a heads-up as soon as you see the conflict so we can talk through the timing.
Once the truck is unloaded, walk through the rooms with the crew and check where the larger items landed. Keep a separate list of anything still in a rental truck, container, or storage unit. That’s especially helpful when you’re moving in stages and only bringing part of the household into your new home on the first day.
What military moving customers have shared
“Great job. Thank you for being with us on our move!”
Albert A., Lemoore, CA
“Excellent service and lots of honesty, would recommend.”
Steven S., San Leandro, CA
Read more Student Movers® customer reviews.
Feed Our Troops with Huntington Beach Kiwanis
Through Feed Our Troops, we volunteer on base alongside fellow members of Huntington Beach Kiwanis. Preparing and serving a warm meal in the hangar gives us a chance to sit down with service members, hear their stories, and thank them in person. We’re grateful to share that work with volunteers from our Huntington Beach community.
Veterans and National Guard members on our crew
When wildfires struck Northern California, one of our movers was called up with the National Guard to help with the emergency response. We were proud of our teammate then, and we’re proud to work alongside veterans and Guard members today.
Standing to honor service at Angels games
When the Los Angeles Angels ask fans to stand and recognize a veteran or active-duty service member, we’re proud to get on our feet and applaud. Hearing the whole ballpark cheer is one of our favorite moments at an Angels game.
To the veterans on our crew, the military families who have trusted us with their moves, and everyone who has served, thank you from all of us at Student Movers®.
Planning a military move in Southern California? Call for a quote and ask about our veteran moving discount before booking.
