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A permanent change of station (PCS) is one of the largest financial events in a military career. Between deposits, temporary lodging, travel days and household goods, families often front real money before reimbursement arrives. The Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) describes a dislocation allowance (DLA) as an allowance that "partially reimburses a service member for expenses incurred when moving a household" (travel.dod.mil). Because most PCS entitlements are reimbursements rather than up-front payments, the families who map their cash flow earliest tend to feel the least strain.