Moving tips from TMO

With the spring and summer seasons upon us, most Airmen know that means it’s permanent change of station season. There are a lot of steps that must be taken to ensure a successful move, whether it is going to another state or country.

To help get Airmen started, the 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron Traffic Management Office, is there to help.

Defense Personal Property System is an internet-based system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense United States Transportation Command and the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command to help servicemembers and DOD civilian employees manage their household goods move.

The DPS system allows Airmen in transition the ability to self-counsel anytime, anywhere, as long as they have a compatible operating system and internet browser, such as those listed at http://www.move.mil/common/faq/faq.cfm. DPS also enables Airmen to rate their transportation service provider, as well as start or complete claims.

To get started in DPS, Airmen need to follow these steps:

Visit the website at www.move.mil and click, "Department Of Defense servicemembers and civilians," to prepare for the move. After determining whether the Airman qualifies to use DPS, they may submit a request for an electronic transportation acquisition password via www.move.mil. They may then click on the DPS registration link to begin the process.

The second step is to take the time and decide on what type of move – household goods move, personally procured move or non-temporary storage – they would like use.

What is an HHG move?

An HHG move is when a government contracted transportation service provider performs full packing, loading, transporting, unloading, placement, and debris removal of belongings.

The shipment is covered by Full Valuation Insurance and a claim will be required to repair or replace damaged or lost items. It's important to submit claims as early in the relocating process as possible.

During peak season – May through September – many TSPs are saturated with a high volume of requests, resulting in delay of pickup and/or delivery of goods.

What is a PPM?

The personally procured method allows members to personally procure HHG transportation when they have an entitlement to ship or store HHG.

A member can use any privately owned vehicle, direct hire or rental of a conveyance – with or without operator – to move household goods. Reimbursement of actual costs or monetary allowance is limited to what it would cost the government to move the actual weight shipped and/or stored and must not exceed the member's maximum authorized weight allowance.

Members are reimbursed 95 percent of what the government would have paid if a contracted TSP was utilized or actual cost incurred up to the government constructed cost. Receipts are required for authorized expenses as they are tax deductions and calculated into the final payment.

Freight services such as portable shipping containers are not available in Rapid City or Ellsworth, however, members may utilize similar services offered by non-traditional means.

Customers are allowed three business days from origin to destination to load and unload the trailer. Transit times average between two and five business days. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages when utilizing non-traditional shipping methods so it's important for Airmen to educate themselves prior to choosing a shipping company.

What is NTS?

NTS is long-term storage of household goods in lieu of transportation. This type of move includes necessary packing, crating, unpacking, uncrating and transportation to and from the place of storage.

Property will be stored in a warehouse in Rapid City until delivery is requested. Length of storage is determined by an Airman's orders. Members who PCS to another duty station will have a longer timeline for storage. If they elect to do an NTS, they will not be able to request delivery until they have a permanent address.

This option is most suitable for members who are separating or retiring and have not decided on a location, are having a home built, or will not be ready to receive their property within 90 days of arriving at their destination.

After Airmen have chosen their move type, the last thing they need to do is to schedule for an appointment with their TMO.

Jeffrey Brzezinski, 28th LRS chief of personal property of six years, added it does get very busy during the summer with the increase of not only military members moving, but civilian families across the globe moving during the same timeframe. The most important thing customers can do to help themselves with moving is to schedule an appointment with TMO as soon as they get a physical copy of their orders.