Officials launch improved system for personal property moves

  • Published
  • By Army Maj. James F. Lowe
  • U.S. Transportation Command
After extensive testing and evaluation, transportation officials have launched an improved system to better compensate servicemembers who personally move their household goods on military orders.

All services began using the new system April 15. Moves initiated prior to that date will continue to process under the terms in place at the time of initiation. Members can make final moving plans with their local transportation office.

"Personally Procured Move, or PPM, gives our servicemembers a choice. They may elect to personally move some or even all of their personal property and receive an incentive for doing so," said Lt. Col. Ronald Coleman, deputy director of Transportation Command's Defense Personal Property System.

PPM replaces Do it Yourself, or DITY, moves. 

The new system calculates for reimbursement using a "best value" method. Most moves will fall into one of three scenarios:

-- Servicemembers will receive 95 percent of the "best value" the government would pay to move the goods as an incentive;

-- Actual Cost Reimbursement will pay servicemembers actual cost not to exceed the "best value" of the move and is used for pre-approved special handling such as assembly and disassembly and packing fragile items; or

-- When a government-furnished moving service is not available, ACR pays the actual cost for the entire move subject to service headquarters pre-approval.

Some moves will not qualify for the new system. Rules for moves can be found in the DPS Smart Book at www.move.mil, along with additional service-specific guidance.