PROFESSIONAL BOOKS, PAPERS, AND EQUIPMENT (PBP&E/PRO-GEAR)

1. PBP&E allowances have changed for members whose travel orders are issued 1 May 2014 and after. The new allowances limit PBP&E to 2,000 pounds net weight and no longer include personal computers and accompanying equipment, and/or awards presented for significant contributions while performing official duties.

NOTE: Members/Employees whose travel orders were issued prior to 1 May 2014 are not subject to the PBP&E weight limitation and may include personal computers and accompanying equipment, and awards presented for significant contributions while performing official duties. Members who have transported more than 2,000 pounds of PBP&E overseas prior to the change will be grandfathered and allowed to return the same amount to the CONUS. Please see the JTR, Paragraph 054309, for further information.

2. Member:

a. PBP&E/PRO-Gear is defined as: HHG in a member’s possession needed for the performance of official duties at the next or a later destination.
b. If you have PBP&E/PRO-Gear to declare, you must do so in MilMove or DPS.
c. If your estimated and declared PBP&E/PRO-Gear weighs 1,000 pounds or less, there will be no additional approval or review of your declared PRO-Gear and it may be included and packed with the rest of your HHG.
d. If your estimated and declared PBP&E/PRO-Gear weighs more than 1,000 pounds, your Service may review your declaration and items at their discretion outside of MilMove or DPS.
e. When PBP&E/PRO-Gear is properly declared in MilMove or DPS, the weight of PBP&E/PRO-Gear does not count against the total weight of your shipment(s). Before signing your inventory prepared by the TSP(s), be sure these items are declared as “PBP&E/PRO-Gear”. The proper designation of these items and the exclusion of the weight can be very important.
f. The following items are considered PBP&E/PRO-Gear:

(1) Reference material not ordinarily available at the next Permanent Duty Station (PDS)
(2) Instruments, tools, and equipment peculiar to technicians, mechanics, and members of the professions
(3) Specialized clothing such as diving suits, astronaut’s suits, flying suits and helmets, band uniforms, chaplain’s vestments, and other specialized apparel not normal or usual uniform or clothing
(4) Communications equipment used by a member in association with the Military Affiliated Radio System 
(5) Individually owned or specially issued field clothing and equipment
(6) Government- or uniformed service-owned accountable Organizational Clothing and Individual Clothing property issued to the employee or member by the Service/DoD component for official use.

NOTE: Excluded from PBP&E/PRO-Gear are:

1. Commercial products for sale/resale used in conducting business
2. Sports equipment
3. Office furniture
4. Household furniture
5. Shop fixtures
6. Furniture of any kind even though used in connection with (ICW) the PBP&E (e.g., bookcases, study/computer desks, file cabinets, and racks)
7. Personal computer equipment and peripheral devices
8. Memorabilia, including awards, plaques, or other objects presented for past performance (includes any type of going-away gifts, office decorations, pictures, etc.)
9. Table service, including flatware (including serving pieces), dishes (including serving pieces, salvers, and their heating units), other utensils, and glassware
10. Other items of a professional nature that are not necessary at the next/subsequent PDS, such as textbooks from previous schools unrelated to future duties; personal books, even if used as part of a past professional reading program or course of instruction; and reference material that ordinarily would be available at the next/subsequent PDS either in hard copy or available on the Internet.

3. Member’s Dependent Spouse:

a. Member's Dependent Spouse PBP&E/PRO-Gear. The Service concerned may authorize an additional weight NTE 500 pounds for PBP&E/PRO-Gear that belongs to the member’s spouse when on a PCS. PBP&E/PRO-Gear for a member’s spouse must meet the definition of spouse PBP&E/PRO-Gear in the JTR, Appendix A, and is necessary for employment or community support activities at the next duty station or a later destination. The declaration and shipment of PBP&E/PRO-Gear for a member’s spouse is in the same manner and under the same conditions as the member’s PBP&E/PRO-Gear.
b. The following items are considered the Member’s Dependent Spouse’s PBP&E/PRO-Gear:

(1) Reference material
(2) Instruments, tools, and equipment peculiar to technicians, mechanics, and members of the professions
(3) Specialized clothing such as diving suit, flying suits and helmets, band uniforms, nurse uniforms, chaplains’ vestments, and other specialized apparel not normal or usual uniform or clothing.