Military Storage & PCS Storage
Forward Storage is built for military life. Five of our 26 locations sit adjacent to major bases, with PCS-friendly lease terms, online rental, and the flexibility military families actually need.
Why military families pick Forward Storage
Most national storage chains treat military families like any other customer. The result: rigid annual leases, no understanding of PCS timing, no flexibility when orders change, no recognition that you might need to rent from a thousand miles away while you’re transitioning.
Forward Storage was built differently. Five of our 26 locations are within 30 minutes of major military installations:
- Beaufort SC + Port Royal SC — Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort + Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
- Fredericksburg VA — Quantico (Marine Corps Base) + Fort Belvoir + Fort A.P. Hill
- Pine Bluff AR — Pine Bluff Arsenal
- Other near-base locations — most Forward Storage properties have meaningful military customer bases
We’ve helped hundreds of military families through PCS, deployments, retirements, and the in-between moments that military life is full of.
What military storage looks like at Forward Storage
Month-to-month leases — always
Military orders change. Yours might too. Every Forward Storage unit is month-to-month, no exceptions. Cancel with 30 days’ notice. No long-term contracts, no early-termination fees, no penalty for changing your mind.
If you get extended overseas orders, you can keep paying remotely. If you get unexpected stateside orders, you can break the lease in a month. If orders change mid-PCS, you can change unit size or move to a different Forward Storage facility.
Online rental — rent before you arrive
You don’t need to be at the property to rent. Reserve and pay online from anywhere in the world. Your access code is ready when you arrive.
This matters for:
– Sponsoring families who arrive ahead of their service member
– Families with one spouse handling PCS while the other reports
– Anyone who’s PCSing to a base and just needs storage figured out before they get there
PCS-friendly access hours
Most of our military-adjacent properties offer extended-hours access (typically 5am-10pm; some 24-hour). Moving in or out at odd hours because you’re working around a military schedule? Not a problem.
Flexible payment options
We accept:
– Credit / debit cards
– ACH bank transfer
– Military pay allotment (set it up once, paid every month)
– Auto-pay so storage doesn’t lapse during deployments
Climate control for military gear
Military families often store:
– Wool uniforms (need climate control)
– Leather boots (climate control)
– Electronics
– Document files (always climate control)
– Books and educational materials (climate control)
– Wood furniture
– Artwork and family photos
Most of our properties offer climate-controlled units. See the climate control guide for what needs it.
Forward Storage properties near major military installations
Beaufort SC + Port Royal SC
Forward Storage Beaufort — 878 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort, SC 29906
Forward Storage Port Royal — 1720 Ribaut Road, Port Royal, SC 29935
Serves:
– Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort — 15 minutes
– Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island — 10 minutes (Port Royal); 20 minutes (Beaufort)
– Beaufort Naval Hospital
Common uses:
– PCS storage for incoming/outgoing MCAS Beaufort families
– Recruit training storage (Parris Island recruits’ civilian belongings)
– Deployment storage during overseas rotations
– Snowbird storage (Lowcountry is popular winter destination)
Tour Forward Storage Beaufort →
Tour Forward Storage Port Royal →
Fredericksburg VA
Forward Storage Fredericksburg — 690 Warrenton Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22406
Serves:
– Marine Corps Base Quantico — 25 minutes north
– Fort Belvoir — 45 minutes north
– Fort A.P. Hill — 25 minutes south
Common uses:
– PCS to/from MCB Quantico
– DC-area military families (Pentagon, JBM-HH) who want storage closer to home than DC pricing allows
– Reserve/National Guard drill weekend storage
– Officer-in-training programs at Quantico that need short-term storage
Tour Forward Storage Fredericksburg →
Pine Bluff AR
Forward Storage Pine Bluff — 3005 N. Midland Park Drive, Pine Bluff, AR 71603
Serves:
– Pine Bluff Arsenal — direct vicinity
– Little Rock Air Force Base — 50 minutes north
Common uses:
– Civilian contractor storage for Pine Bluff Arsenal workforce
– LRAFB family overflow storage
Forward Storage Warner Robins 1455 (GA)
Forward Storage Warner Robins 1455 — 1455 Feagin Mill Rd, Warner Robins, GA 31088
Serves:
– Robins Air Force Base — 10 minutes
Common uses:
– PCS to/from Robins AFB
– Civilian DoD contractor storage
– AF Reserve weekend drill storage
PCS-specific storage advice
Timing your PCS storage rental
4-6 weeks before move: Reserve your storage unit at the new duty station. Don’t wait for confirmed orders if you have a likely date — Forward Storage’s month-to-month means you can cancel if orders change.
2-3 weeks before move: Confirm reservation, get gate access code and manager phone number.
Move week: Coordinate movers to unload directly into the storage unit if helpful; or unload at your TLF/TLA and load storage with what you can’t keep at temporary lodging.
Move-in day at new home: Pull what you need from storage first; leave the rest for unhurried unpacking over the next 1-2 months.
What military families typically store during PCS
The “definitely store” list:
– Off-season clothes (winter coats during summer PCS, etc.)
– Holiday decorations
– Books and reference materials
– Large appliances (if base housing comes with them)
– Out-of-season sports gear
– Patio furniture
– Mature kids’ bedroom furniture (until you confirm what fits in new place)
The “probably store” list:
– Most furniture if you’re going to base housing (which often comes furnished or partly so)
– Hobby gear, workshop tools
– Office furniture if you’ll have less workspace
– Specialty kitchen items
The “bring with you” list:
– Daily wardrobe basics (2 weeks worth)
– One bed setup per person
– Basic kitchen kit
– Important documents (always carry these, never store)
– Children’s “comfort items” (favorite toys, blankets)
– Medications, toiletries, daily essentials
Special considerations for OCONUS moves
Overseas PCS adds complications:
– DPP / DPS handles your shipped goods — they don’t deliver to storage units; they deliver to your overseas home
– NTS (non-temporary storage) through DPS is FREE for items going into long-term storage (typically up to 4 years) — use this for “won’t take overseas” items
– Forward Storage works best for the gap period — between move-out and POV shipment to overseas, or between arrival back stateside and confirmed home
If you’re storing for the duration of an overseas tour, NTS through DPS is almost always the right choice (free, government-paid). Forward Storage is the right choice for gap storage during the transition.
What about Personal Property weight allowance issues?
If your DPS weight allowance won’t cover everything, you have three options:
1. Pay out of pocket for the excess weight (often hundreds of dollars per excess hundred pounds)
2. Donate / sell the excess before shipment
3. Store with Forward Storage for the duration
Option 3 is often cheapest for items you want to keep but can’t currently ship. At $100/month for a 10×10 unit, a 3-year overseas tour costs $3,600 — typically far less than excess-weight shipping fees on a full pack.
Military discount
Forward Storage offers 15% off the first 3 months with valid military ID (active, reserve, retired, or dependent). Mention it during online checkout or at the property.
Combined with our standard “50% off first 2 months” new-customer promotion, military families typically save substantially on their first 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my BAH for storage?
If storage is between PCS moves (move-out / move-in gap), yes — your moving expenses including storage are usually covered. Save receipts and submit through your finance office.
What about deployment storage?
If you’re deploying and need to vacate housing, Forward Storage’s month-to-month model is purpose-built for this. Set up auto-pay before you deploy. We’ll keep your unit safe; come back to it whenever orders bring you home.
Can I rent without being at the property?
Yes. Reserve and pay online from anywhere — Korea, Germany, Japan, or three states away. Your access code is ready when you (or your sponsor / movers / family) arrive.
What if my orders change mid-rental?
Standard month-to-month rules apply: cancel with 30 days’ notice. No fee.
Can a family member or sponsor access my unit?
Yes — you can authorize additional access codes for family members or sponsors. Set this up at the property or by calling 888-684-4933.
What’s the best size for a typical PCS?
Depends on family size and how much you’re storing:
– Single service member, junior enlisted: 5×5 or 5×10
– Married couple, no kids: 5×10 or 10×10
– Family with kids: 10×10 or 10×15
– Larger families / multiple PCS-related storage needs: 10×20 or 10×25
See our Size Guide for detailed sizing.
Can I rent for just one or two months?
Yes — month-to-month means you can rent for any duration from one month forward.
Ready to rent?
Active military discount: 15% off first 3 months. Combine with new-customer promo (50% off first 2 months).
Find your nearest Forward Storage location →
Or call 888-684-4933 to discuss your PCS-specific needs. Mention you’re military when you call.
Further reading
- Complete Self-Storage Size Guide — pick the right unit for your family size
- The Moving & Storage Guide — full PCS-friendly moving advice
- Climate-Controlled Storage — for uniforms, electronics, and documents
This guide is maintained by the Forward Storage team. Last updated: 2026-05-20.