We're 254 Repair, a veteran-owned repair shop in Killeen. A PCS move is stressful enough without losing family photos, getting locked out of your bank app, or opening a moving box to find a cracked laptop. This checklist is what I'd hand a friend who just got orders to or from Fort Hood. It isn't official Army guidance. For entitlements, shipping and claims, use your transportation office and Military OneSource's PCS planning resources. This page covers the electronics side.
60 to 30 days out: take inventory
Start by listing every device the household owns: phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, game consoles, controllers, smartwatches, drones and anything with a battery that matters to you.
- Photograph each device and its serial number. The serial is usually in Settings > About (phones and tablets), on a sticker under a laptop, or on the back of a console. Photos help if something is lost or damaged in shipment.
- Decide what rides with you. As a rule, we'd keep phones, laptops, tablets, chargers and anything holding important data in your own vehicle or carry-on, not on the moving truck.
- Fix the small problems now. A weak battery, a loose charging port or a cracked screen tends to get worse with the bumps and heat of a move. It's easier to handle before you leave than in a new town while you're still unpacking.
Back up everything twice
If you only do one thing on this list, do this. Plan on two copies of anything you can't replace.
- Phones: turn on iCloud Backup (iPhone) or Google One backup (Android) and confirm the last backup date actually updates. Photos should be syncing to a cloud account, not just sitting on the phone.
- Laptops and desktops: copy documents, photos and school or work files to an external drive and a cloud service. Keep the external drive with you, not in a moving box.
- Game consoles: most PlayStation and Xbox saves sync to the cloud if you're signed in with an active online subscription. Check your console's save-data settings before unplugging it.
- Kids' devices: tablets and school laptops often get forgotten. Back them up too.
Two-factor authentication: do this before you change phones or numbers
This is the step that's easiest to overlook. If your bank, email, or military and VA logins send codes to your phone, changing phones or phone numbers mid-move can lock you out.
- Make sure two-factor authentication is set up and that you know where the codes go. Apple explains how it works for an Apple Account, and Google has steps for 2-Step Verification.
- If you use an authenticator app, move it to the new phone before wiping the old one, or save the backup codes somewhere safe.
- If you're getting a new local number at Fort Hood, update it on your important accounts while you can still receive codes on the old one.
Packing devices for the truck or the car
- Original boxes are best. If you don't have them, wrap each device in soft material and pack it upright in a sturdy box, with nothing heavy on top.
- Don't leave laptops in hot vehicles for long. Central Texas heat is hard on batteries and screens.
- Take batteries out of drones and loose battery packs and pack them the way the manufacturer recommends.
- Bundle cables and chargers with their devices and label them. A lot of "broken" devices after a move turn out to be the wrong charger.
- Wipe and reset anything you're selling or leaving behind. Sign out of your accounts first (Find My on iPhone, your Google account on Android) so the next owner isn't locked out.
Arriving at Fort Hood
- Check every device as soon as it's unpacked while your claim window is open. Power it on, charge it, and test the screen, touch, speakers, cameras and ports.
- Photograph any damage before you try to fix it and follow your transportation office's claims process.
- Get your home network set up early so phones can finish restoring backups over Wi-Fi.
- Update emergency contacts and alerts for your new location on every phone in the house.
When something did break in the move
It happens, even with good packing. Here's what we'd suggest before replacing anything:
- Don't keep charging a device with a swollen battery or a screen that's lifting. Unplug it and bring it in.
- Back up whatever you can if the device still powers on.
- Get an honest diagnosis. At 254 Repair, diagnostics are free, and if we can't fix it, there's no charge. Every repair has a 90-day warranty on parts and labor for the part we replaced.
We're at 3921 E Stan Schlueter Loop, Ste 103, in Killeen, a short drive from Fort Hood. We offer a military discount, and se habla español. Walk-ins are welcome Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm, or call 254-213-5522. You can also check your repair status online.
Printable PCS device checklist
- [ ] List every device and photograph its serial number
- [ ] Fix weak batteries, ports or cracked screens before the move
- [ ] Back up phones (cloud) and computers (cloud + external drive)
- [ ] Confirm console saves are synced
- [ ] Confirm two-factor settings and save backup codes
- [ ] Move authenticator apps before wiping an old phone
- [ ] Pack phones, laptops and chargers in your own vehicle or carry-on
- [ ] Sign out of and reset anything you're selling or leaving
- [ ] Test every device right after unpacking
- [ ] Photograph damage and start your claim
Frequently asked questions
Should I ship my laptop with household goods during a PCS?
We'd recommend keeping laptops, phones and tablets with you in your own vehicle or carry-on. They hold your most important data, and they're easy to damage in a moving truck.
How do I avoid getting locked out of accounts when I change phones?
Before you wipe the old phone, confirm your two-factor authentication settings, move any authenticator apps to the new phone, and save backup codes. Update your phone number on important accounts while the old number still receives codes.
What should I do if my device was damaged in the move?
Photograph the damage, follow your transportation office's claims process, and get a diagnosis before replacing anything. At 254 Repair in Killeen, diagnostics are free.
Does 254 Repair offer a military discount?
Yes. 254 Repair is veteran-owned and offers a military discount. Call 254-213-5522 or stop by 3921 E Stan Schlueter Loop, Ste 103, Killeen.