Ease transition during PCS season

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Vanessa LaBoy
  • Defense Media Activity
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) --  During this year's peak moving season, members of the Personal Property Processing Office will coordinate nearly 50,000 personal property moves.

Service members can ease the movement of their household goods to their new duty location by keeping in mind a few guidelines provided by PPPO officials.

First, you should contact the PPPO upon receipt of your orders.  Don't put it off.

If they receive your orders as soon as possible, it will increase the possibility of receiving your requested or alternate pack and pick up dates and provide added flexibility that will allow adjustment if your preferred pack and pick up dates cannot be accommodated, according to Rodney Phillips, a Personal Property Activity Headquarters official.

"It will also provide the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office time to secure a transportation service provider (or TSP) to conduct your move, and allow time for the selected TSP to arrange a pre-move survey and align the necessary manpower and equipment needed to meet your requirements," he added.

If you haven't been contacted by a TSP representative 10 days prior to your first requested pack and pick up dates, you should alert your local PPPO.

"Even though the business rules used to regulate personal property scheduling and movement require the TSP to contact you within three days of accepting your shipment to arrange a pre-move survey, making contact with PPPO will initiate the necessary inquiry to the JPPSO to ensure the move is on track and allow time for unavoidable adjustments," Phillips said. "This is an added measure used to eliminate or mitigate any unforeseen complications with honoring your move requests."

You are given a household goods weight allowance based on your rank and number of dependents. To avoid exceeding this limit, you should purge your household of those items you haven't used in the past 12 months or no longer need.

"Without a doubt, many of us accumulate things over the years," Phillips said. "Some of these items we forget we have until it's time to move. Disposing of or donating these unneeded items will lessen the possibility of exceeding your household goods weight allowance which, in turn, will reduce the potential you'll be billed for expenses above your allowable limit."

Local PPPO officials can assist you to determine your maximum cost for moving expenses.

Additionally, if possible, Phillips said, you should arrange movement of your personal property before or after the peak household goods movement season.

"Understandably, many factors necessitate the need to move during the busiest time of the year -- end of school year, summer vacation, reporting dates, etc.; however, if your schedule permits an adjustment, we recommend moving your property during an off peak period, typically before May 15 or after July 30, Phillips said.

For more information, contact a local PPPO or visit the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution website at www.move.mil.