General
pcs
What does pcs mean?
'Permanent Change of Station' — an official relocation of a service member (and often family) from one duty station to another for an extended assignment.
""We PCS to Germany in the spring — start packing now.""
Origin
US military personnel abbreviation of 'permanent change of station'.
Frequently asked questions
What does PCS stand for?
Permanent Change of Station — an official long-term relocation of a service member, and often their family, to a new duty station.
Can PCS be used as a verb?
Yes — service members say things like "we PCS to Germany in the spring," meaning they're being reassigned there.
How is PCS different from TDY?
PCS is a permanent move to a new station, while TDY (Temporary Duty) is a short assignment after which you return to your home station.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.