RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Servicemembers preparing for a permanent change of station must now use a Web-based system, accessible at http://www.move.mil, to facilitate the transportation of their household goods.
Called the Defense Personal Property System, or DPS, it allows Airmen as well as Department of Defense civilians to establish an online account to process and manage their shipments, request delivery, file a claim and complete a customer satisfaction survey.
DPS also gives users the information provided at briefings usually given by personal property counselors at the base they are leaving.
"Members can do their own briefing, then come to us for verification," said Phyllis Billingsley, 902nd Logistics Readiness Squadron personal property counselor. "Once members submit their information, they don't have to sit through a briefing. They get a login and do the briefing themselves. DPS gives you the ability to self-counsel and submit your application online instead of traveling to a transportation office."
Although DPS has been operational for a while, many people are not taking advantage of the system, said James Sowders, also a 902nd LRS personal property counselor.
"We are trying to get people to obtain a password through the system," he said. "They will have to have a password anyway if they want to file a claim."
Mr. Sowders said using DPS should prove advantageous for military members and civilians, especially during the summer moving season, May 15-July 31, when the volume of shipments is greater than commercial industrial capacity.
"During the summer months we try to push the self-help module," he said. "The advantages of self-counseling are that you don't have to come to a briefing, you don't need your common access card and you can do it at home. The same briefing we give is available online."
Mr. Sowders said each personal property counselor conducts an average of eight briefings per day. Each briefing lasts from 30 minutes to one hour.
He said servicemembers still have to provide the traffic management office with their orders for final processing. He said they can fax or email that information.
Military members and DoD civilians also have to be flexible in regard to their packing and pickup dates, Mr. Sowders said.
"They have to know that their dates are not confirmed until the transportation service provider contacts them," he said.
Counselors emphasized that early booking is a key to success during the summer moving season and that providing an email address in DPS is mandatory. It is also important since members will receive email notifications throughout the move process.
Another advantage of DPS is completing the customer satisfaction survey, which gives users the opportunity to make sure only quality, reputable companies handle and ship personal belongings.
Ms. Billingsley said the best time to access DPS is during evening hours, generally after 4 p.m.
"It may be more difficult during daytime working hours," she said.
Mr. Sowders said first-time movers are still required to come in for a briefing.
"We go through their entitlements, let them know what they can and can't ship and ensure all documents and information are correct," he said.
DPS is part of the Defense Personal Property Program, or DP3, mission, which was developed by the DoD, the United States Transportation Command and the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command to improve the movement of household goods.