R 012049Z MAR 19
MARADMIN 128/19
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC L LP WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2019 PEAK MOVING SEASON PREPARATIONS//
POC/F. D. HYDEN/CIV/LPD-2/TEL: (703)695-7765/EMAIL: FREDERICK.HYDEN@USMC.MIL//
POC/B. S. IMLER/CIV/LPD-2/TEL: (703)695-7765/EMAIL: BRIAN.IMLER@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to provide Marines, Civilian Marines, and their families conducting a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move during peak season (15 May through 31 August 2019) with direction and information on how to ship and store their Personal Property, (also known as household goods (HHGs)), unaccompanied baggage (UB), Mobile Homes and privately owned vehicles (POVs).  Paragraph nine (9) of this MARADMIN also recognizes the importance of pets as members of the Marine family and explains how Marines with PCS Orders overseas must coordinate early to reserve pet spaces aboard Air Mobility Command-Patriot Express (AMC-PE) flights.  In addition, this MARADMIN emphasizes the importance of completing the Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS) for each shipment made during the PCS.
2.  Situation.
2.a.  Personal Property Shipment and Storage Requirements:  Once notification is received that PCS Orders are forthcoming or the Orders are actually in hand, Marines should visit the recently updated website www.move.mil.  The Tutorials link provides a wide range of subjects and information associated with the shipment and storage of personal property.  This is the starting place for Marines to learn how the Move process works, locate the nearest Personal Property Office (PPO), estimate Personally Procured Move (PPM) monetary allowances, receive initial personal property entitlement and allowance information, review POV shipment and storage instructions, review instructions on claim filing, and so much more.
2.b.  First time movers should not attempt the moving process alone.  Engage the local PPO to receive an initial counseling and instructions on how to schedule your move using the Defense Personal Property System (DPS).
2.c.  POV Shipment and Storage:  Marines conducting a PCS move to, from or between locations Outside of the Continental U.S. (OCONUS) may be entitled to move or store one POV at government expense.  Contact the local PPO for information regarding POV entitlements based on the OCONUS destination and prepare required documents needed to ship or store the POV.  Marines must use www.pcsmypov.com to make an appointment for POV drop-off or pick-up.  For information on how to prepare POV’s for shipment or storage, review the documents Shipping Your POV, Appendix K3 and Storing Your POV, Appendix K4 of the Defense Transportation Regulation at www.ustranscom.mil/dtr/dtrp4.cfm.  Click on Appendix A-V, then click on Appendix K3 for Shipping Your POV and Appendix K4 for Storing Your POV and follow the guidance accordingly. Marines must also be able to validate all safety recall repairs have been performed on the POV prior to turning the POV in to a Vehicle Processing Center.
3.  Counseling.
3.a.  Marines must create or update an account in the DPS and perform counseling.  Marines are encouraged to take notes on entitlements, allowances and procedures during counseling.  Upon completion, upload the required documents such as PCS Orders and endorsements, and note any questions not covered by DPS Counseling.  Contact or visit the nearest installation PPO to receive targeted counseling on questions noted during DPS counseling.  Confirm the requested primary and alternate pick-up dates with the counselor and submit any additional documents, including documents for a Personally Procured Move (PPM, also formerly known as Do It Yourself or DITY), that are required to complete shipment and/or storage applications.
3.b.  Additional Counseling and Contact Information:  There may be local PCS workshops and Transition Assistance Program briefs available at the local installation.  Marine Corps Distribution Management Offices (DMOs) should provide additional local guidance and policies on shipment and storage of personal property, such as DMO Personal Property Office hours of operation, contact phone numbers for Quality Assurance Inspections, etc., to the local installation Communication Strategy and Operations Office (formerly Public Affairs) for publication in installation newspapers and Wide Area Network emails, if available.  The official Marine Corps Facebook Page for Personal Property is located at www.facebook.com/usmchouseholdgoods.  Sailors assigned to Marine Corps units can access the Navy Household Goods and Personal Property website at www.navsup.navy.mil/public/navsup/hhg/home/.  This website is another great source of information for all DoD service members and civilian employees.
3.c.  Counseling Webinars:  The Marine Corps Personal Property and Passenger Transportation Section (LPD-2) has partnered with the Navy NAVSUP Household Goods Director to conduct various counseling Webinars for all Marines, Sailors, and their families executing a PCS move.  The Webinar schedule is available throughout the year at www.navsup.navy.mil/public/navsup/hhg/home.
4.  Actual Move.
4.a.  Planning Move Dates:  Marines must provide a Primary and an Alternate move date, and there must be at least three (3) Government Business Days (GBDs) between them.  Marines must complete their DPS counseling and submit their requested Primary and Alternate move dates at least 90 days in advance of their Primary move date to provide Moving Companies with advance notice to ensure supportability.  The most popular peak season pick-up dates (the peak of the peak season) are between early June and mid-July.  HHG moves in this window are difficult to schedule, so the sooner an application is submitted, the sooner the primary date can be awarded for pick-up.  Also, the first and last two days of every month are difficult to schedule due to timing on rental and lease agreements.  Requested pack and pick-up dates are not confirmed until a representative of the Moving Company, either in person or telephonically, conducts the pre-move survey.  Should unexpected circumstances require a change to pick-up and or delivery dates, Marines should be aware that new pick-up and or delivery dates may not be available during peak season.  Marines must contact the PPO counselor immediately to attempt to schedule new pick-up and or delivery dates. Note: OCONUS movers will have multiple shipments and each shipment will be performed by a different company using their employees and local agents.  Do not overlap multiple shipment pack, pick-up and delivery dates because it increases the risk of the wrong items being packed and placed in the wrong shipment.
4.b.  Move Application Processing and Follow-Up Actions:  Marine Corps Personal Property Offices (PPOs) are Front Office operations and perform duties such as Counseling and Quality Assurance Inspections.  Back Office operations, such as shipment awarding and management, invoice management and selected Quality Assurance actions are performed by regional Joint Personal Property Shipping Offices (JPPSOs).  Some Marines may be contacted by a JPPSO representative to ensure the application change is understood and processed correctly.
4.c.  During the Move:  At origin, Marines may need to contact the origin PPO Quality Assurance Section, the Moving Company or the Moving Company local agent responsible for packing and picking up the shipment, should issues arise requiring immediate resolution.  At destination, Marines may need to contact the destination PPO Quality Assurance Section.  Origin PPO’s will annotate the contact phone numbers of Origin and Destination Quality Assurance Sections in the Remarks Block of the DD1299, Application For Shipment and/or Storage of Personal Property.  In the event the DD1299 is misplaced, Marines may use website www.move.mil/resources/locator-maps to locate the nearest PPO Quality Assurance Section.
4.d.  PPM (DITY Move):  BE IN CONTROL OF THE MOVE.  There are several benefits to executing a PPM, especially during peak season, (1) Marines choose who, when and how to move their HHG, (2) money in the Marines pocket based on how much they do themselves, (3) no delays in receiving the HHG at destination, (4) MARINES ARE IN CHARGE OF CARING FOR THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLD GOODS.  Marines executing a PPM inside the Continental United States (CONUS) or to Hawaii, Alaska and U.S. territories and possessions must be counseled and documents properly prepared BEFORE the move is performed.  Also, Marines may receive an Advance Operating Allowance (AOA) of up to 60% of the expected cost to move the estimated weight.  The PPM (Do-It-Yourself) Estimator is located under Helpful Links on the www.move.mil homepage.  Note, Marines who are using only their POV(s) to execute a PPM will not receive an AOA.  Further, Marines receiving an AOA may be required to accommodate a Quality Assurance Inspectors request to verify the items listed on the weight estimator to ensure overpayment of an AOA does not occur.  Review the PPM website at https://www.logcom.marines.mil/Capabilities/Personally-Procured-Move/ for the latest information on how to prepare and submit a PPM Claim and the estimated processing and payment dates.
4.e.  After the Move (Completing the Customer Satisfaction Survey):  After the HHGs, UB and or Non-Temporary Storage shipments are delivered, Marines MUST complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS) for each shipment.  Ratings and comments must reflect the quality of the Moving Company. The scores given to the Moving Company DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES toward eliminating poor performers from the Defense Personal Property Program and ensures only the best moving companies get the most shipments.  Commanders are highly encouraged to require completion of the CSS as part of the Inbound check-in process.  During 2018, only 28 percent of the Marine Corps sponsored shipments received a CSS score (the second lowest percentage of the military Services).  TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE MOVE, MARINES MUST MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD BY COMPLETING THE CSS, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
5.  Overseas Moves.
5.a.  Overseas Suitability Screening and OCONUS counseling:  Upon receipt of PCS orders to OCONUS locations, dependents authorized to accompany Marines must initiate suitability screening through the Military Medical Treatment Facility to ensure suitability for OCONUS assignments.  Marines must make an appointment as soon as possible since the process may take an extended time period.  In the meantime, Marines should continue to plan to execute their shipment pick-up dates while this process is ongoing.  In the event the orders are modified or canceled, Marines must notify the PPO immediately for further instructions.  Additional OCONUS counseling information is also available at www.move.mil/moving-guide/oconus.
5.b.  Marines Traveling to Okinawa Accompanied with Dependents: Coordinate with the command-designated sponsor and the Housing Office to determine availability of on-base housing.  The housing modernization project will impact availability through FY 2023.  To obtain the latest status of available housing, contact Housing directly at DSN 315-634-0582 or kadenahousing.customerservice@us.af.mil.
6.  Claims.
6.a.  Lost and Damaged Claims:  For DPS shipment claims, please visit the guide located at www.move.mil/moving-guide/claims.  For non-DPS claims, or if Marines still have questions on DPS claims, Marines should contact the nearest PPO for support.
6.b.  Inconvenience Claims:  When HHG are not picked-up or delivered on the agreed upon dates, Marines may file an Inconvenience Claim with the Moving Company.  Contact the local PPO for additional support and details.
7.  Professional Books, Papers and Equipment (PBP and E, or Pro Gear).  Net weight limit for Pro Gear for Marines regardless of rank is 2,000 pounds.  Marines may request an additional weight allowance up to 500 pounds for Spouse Pro Gear required for employment or community service.  The Spouse Pro Gear request must be submitted to the local PPO for consideration BEFORE the move.
8.  Customer Bill of Rights.  Marines should read the Customer Bill of Rights posted on the Marine Corps Personal Property Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/usmchouseholdgoods.
9.  Transporting Pets.
9.a.  The key to a successful pet move is early planning and constant follow-through.  Marines who are made aware of assignments transferring to, from or between OCONUS locations are encouraged to immediately visit their local Passenger Transportation Office (PTO) located within the DMO to establish transportation requirements for pets.
9.b.  PCS orders are NOT required to place passengers/pets on the AMC-PE Pet Hold List.  Because pet reservations will be apportioned on a first come/first served basis, pet transportation needs should be identified to the local PTO as soon as the Marine has a general idea of required departure month.  Recommend that this occur at least 150 days prior to expected flight date.  This will enable the PTO to register the pet movement requirement on the Pet Hold List in the PE on-line booking system.  Reservations will be finalized when USTRANSCOM schedules the flight o/a 120 days prior to departure date.  At that time, pet movement requirements registered on the Pet Hold List will be automatically assigned reservations based on date of initial registration and space available.  However, because the limited space on the AMC-PE is available to members of all Services, there is no guarantee of a reservation no matter how early a Marine registers a pet movement requirement.  Once the Marine completes the PCS Outbound Interview they need to follow up with the PTO to finalize travel arrangements.
9.c.  The government contracted AMC-PE rotator flights offer a discounted rate (ranging from 125 dollars to 375 dollars depending on pet weight), however, the number of pet spaces per flight is very limited and subject to a first come, first serve basis for all DoD Uniformed Service Members and Civilian Employees.  The maximum weight allowed for combined pet and kennel is 150 pounds.  Marines are responsible for obtaining an authorized kennel/carrier bolted with metal nuts/bolts that provides adequate ventilation and ample space for pet movement.  Soft-sided pet kennels/carriers may be accepted for in-cabin movement only.  See HQ AMC Pet Brochure at https://www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/.
9.d.  Other options for moving pets include services offered by regularly scheduled commercial airlines, both US and Foreign Flag-carriers, and dedicated pet relocation services.  Regardless of the method used for moving pets, all dogs/cats going to or returning from overseas require a health certificate from a certified veterinarian.  The animal health screening process may include several visits to the veterinarian, a quarantine period, and shots which may take at least six months prior to the expected travel date to complete.
9.e.  Marines who moved their pets over to Japan via the United Airlines (UAL) Pet Safe Program before March 2018 may be able to use UAL Return Home Exception program one final time to move the pets back to CONUS or other location.  Marines need to contact UAL directly at 1-800-575-3335 to secure a reservation.  In locations like Okinawa and Iwakuni, Japan, pet spaces are in extremely high demand and book very quickly, the following website provides helpful information (to include information concerning pets) for those Marines and Sailors executing PCS travel to Okinawa, Japan: www.mccsokinawa.com/welcomeaboard.  For pet transportation assistance, contact your local Passenger Transportation Office, located in the DMO at Marine Corps installations, and within Installation Transportation Offices DoD-wide or visit the official Marine Corps Passenger Transportation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usmcpassengertravel for additional information.
10.  Myths versus Facts.  The correct source for information related to shipment/storage of personal property and passenger transportation for Marines, Civilian Marines, and their Families is the local DMO or Installation Transportation Office.  Get the right scoop from the right source.
11.  Keys to Success.  Early counseling, planning, preparation, flexibility, and communication are the keys to executing a successful peak season PCS move.  Contact the local PPO for additional information, training, and support.
12.  Release authorized by LtGen C. Chiarotti, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics.//