Putting together a PCS Binder – How To & Downloads

FREE PCS BINDER TEMPLATE DOWNLOADS LOCATED AT END OF POST!!

Ah, you have received PCS orders. For many, they are happy to receive them so they can get the heck out of Dodge. Others wish they had never arrived. Either way, you have them and chaos is soon to follow. To make the move easier and less hectic, put together a PCS Binder. It is relatively easy to put together (especially since I am making available a download of pre-made templates for you to use)! It makes the move much smoother and keeps all your important documents that you will need, all together, organized, and easy to get to!

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I am including in the download a pre-made binder cover, similar to the one you see here. The only difference is it will say Our Family (instead of Carlson Family) and instead of my family picture, it will be a black space so you can paste your own picture there.

Supplies Needed For PCS Binder:

• Large 3 ring binder (I use the 2″)
• Accordion Files / 10 section or more (one for each person)
• 3 Folders with 3 holes (to place in binder)
• 8 Dividers
• Sheet Protectors
• Blank Paper (for notes, etc)
• Zipper pouch to put in binder (to hold sticky notes, pens, etc…)
• Pens, markers, sticky notes

Have 1 accordion type folder with several dividers for each person. This file will hold all your medical paperwork. Label each divider with the following (if you are lucky and don’t really have a large medical file you could simply put this in your binder instead):

• PCM (Primary Care Doctor)
• Dental
• Shot Records
• Lab Records
• ER/Urgent Care
• Specialist
• Specialist
• Specialist

PCS BINDER SECTIONS

Dividers:

• PCS Checklist (Download the PCS Kit for Free Below)
• PCS Calendar (Blank template located in PCS Kit Below)
• Orders (20 Copies) / Clearing Papers
• Household Goods
• Home Inventory (blank template included in the PCS Kit below)
• School / Daycare
• Accounts
• Misc

Folders within binder:

• Housing Paperwork
• Gas/Lodging
• Legal (Marriage/Divorce/Custody Records / Birth Cert / SS Cards / Wills / POA’s)

Putting together your binder is pretty self-explanatory. Label a divider for each section. Within that section place the appropriate paperwork.

I like to use the folders that can close for the legal section as well as the Gas/Lodging and housing paperwork sections. It helps keep all those smaller documents safe and eliminates the possibility of them falling out of the binder. I put these folders behind all the divider sections.

For all the other records I will place them in the side opening (the opening is near the rings of the binder instead of the top) sheet protectors. You will want to do this instead of making hole punches on the originals and then file them under the appropriate category.

The only thing I don’t put in sheet protectors is the pcs checklist, calendar pages, and account list since I will be marking on those often.

Obviously, you may not need some sections or may need more sections depending on your needs. This, however, will be a good place to start are your customize your PCS binder to your specific needs. You may also not need an accordion file for each person. If your medical paperwork is minimal, you may be able to get away with putting it within the binder itself.

At the beginning of my binder, I have my PCS Checklist as well as the calendar sheets I printed out. I use the calendar to map out what I need to accomplish every week so I can stay on schedule.

I also have one of those zipper pouch things (I stole one from my daughter who wasn’t using hers anymore, as you can see it’s well used, lol) to hold pens, sticky notes, permanent markers, etc… I also include a tape measure because you just never know when you might need it.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE PCS BINDER KIT BELOW

I have created several blank templates for you to use, to include a PCS checklist. You can download blank templates, pcs checklist, cover, and spine for your PCS Binder below. The cover will look slightly different from what I have on mine. Instead of Carlson Family, it says Our Family and of course, there will not be my family picture on it =)

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES DOWNLOADING: You MUST be on a computer to download the file and your security settings for your browser must allow you to accept cookies and popups from our site. If you are having issues downloading or cannot get it to work, you can download it from our private Facebook Group; Dear Military Spouse as well (after you have joined, check the files section of the group).

If you are still having issues, please use the contact form here as it could take weeks (if I am on assignment or vacation) before I see any comments left below! 

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