|
| Military
Relocation Overview |
Depending on your service branch, the name of the
government office which will handle your relocation varies:
The Department of Defense -
Joint Personal Property Shipping Office
Air Force -
Traffic Management Office
Army -
Installation Transportation Office
Navy and Marine Corps -
Personal Property Shipping Office
Coast Guard -
Household Goods Shipping Office
Contacting these offices will put you into contact with personal property
entitlements counselors who can advise and assist you on your move.
Peak season
for relocation is usually May through August. Most people prefer to move
during the summer months, and most commands are in competition with other
military activities as well as both the commercial market and the corporate
market. This creates shortages of drivers, packers and helpers, not to mention
trucks and warehouse space. Because of this added competition for service,
most van lines are saturated during this peak season, which causes added
stress for all.
As a result, it is best to plan and book shipments of household goods as
far ahead of time as possible. In fact, many offices require 30
days from the scheduled appointment to set
up a shipment. During non-peak time many shipments can often be scheduled
within 10 days of counseling.
To ensure a successful move, be sure to provide the following to your personal
property entitlements counselor:
- Alternative pack/pickup dates (just in case
the dates you want are not available)
- Accurate contact phone numbers
- In-route point of contact phone number/address
When meeting with your counselor, be sure to also
bring the following:
- Six (6)
legible copies of the member's orders (per shipment)
- Proof of dependents,
from the member's service record
- Dependent Entry Approval
- A Power of Attorney or Letter of Authorization,
notarized or countersigned by a commissioned officer, if someone other
than the member will be signing documents on the member's behalf
- Information on prior shipments if
household goods will need to be moved from a location other than the
member's current residence
- The registration for any motorized vehicle,
motorcycle, boat or trailer that is being shipped
- The make, caliber, and serial number of
any firearm being shipped
- For a home of record move, in addition to
the above, members will need to bring two
(2) copies of their enlistment contract
or officer home of record papers, and two
(2) copies of every set of orders received
up to the current duty station (this additional paperwork is required
to correctly calculate the entitlement)
What's Next:
Types
of Moves and Basic Entitlements
|
|
|
