In the United States Armed Forces, a permanent change of station (PCS) is the assignment, detail, or transfer of a member or unit to a different duty station under competent orders which neither specify the duty as temporary, nor provide for further assignment to a new station, nor direct return to the old station. (For a more detailed definition, see the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), Appendix A.).
This is distinct from a permanent change of assignment (PCA), which describes the reassignment of active duty personnel to a new unit within the same military post.
This term is also used for other United States government employees, such as a Foreign Service Officer, special agent, diplomats, and other civilian, non-military personnel, being stationed in embassies and consulates around the world.