R 212014Z MAR 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 151/13
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC L LP(UC)//
SUBJ/2013 SUMMER HOUSEHOLD GOODS PEAK SEASON PREPARATIONS//
POC/F. D. HYDEN/CIV/UNIT:LPD-2/-/TEL:(703) 695-7765 /EMAIL: FREDERICK.HYDENATUSMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO REMIND U.S. MARINE CORPS LEADERS, SERVICE MEMBERS, CIVILIAN MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES OF THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVING IN THE SUMMER AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR HOUSEHOLD GOODS SHIPMENT DIFFICULTIES. THIS MARADMIN IS BEING RELEASED TO COINCIDE WITH U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND'S "PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) WEEK" MEDIA BLITZ.
2. INFORMATION. ALMOST 65 PERCENT OF ALL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) HOUSEHOLD GOODS MOVES ARE PERFORMED DURING THE SUMMER PEAK SEASON PERIOD OF 15 MAY THROUGH 30 SEPTEMBER. LAST SUMMER, THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS INDUSTRY PERFORMED BETTER THAN IN PREVIOUS PEAK SEASONS. HOWEVER, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND AN INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR MOVES CONTINUES TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT INDUSTRY CAPACITY. ALSO, PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FACE THE POTENTIAL OF REDUCED STAFFING DUE TO PLANNED FURLOUGHS, WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACTS COUNSELING AND SHIPMENT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. PROPER PLANNING, CAREFUL PREPARATION OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS, FLEXIBILITY IN MOVEMENT DATES AND EARLY COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS CARRIERS CAN REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR SHIPMENT DIFFICULTIES.
3. ACTION. MARINES AND CIVILIAN MARINES ANTICIPATING A PCS MOVE FROM 15 MAY THROUGH 30 SEPTEMBER 2013 ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
3.A. PLAN YOUR MOVE. ATTEND A "PCS SMOOTH MOVE" OR OTHER COMMAND-SPONSORED PCS WORKSHOP WHERE OFFERED.
3.B. VISIT WWW.MOVE.MIL AND REVIEW THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS MOVE PLANNING TOOLS AVAILABLE. TAKE THE TIME TO REVIEW THE "IT'S YOUR MOVE" PAMPHLETS, FRONT LOAD WASHER SERVICING NOTICE, FLAT SCREEN TV REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER USEFUL TRAINING AND INFORMATION TOOLS PRESENTED ON THE DEFENSE PERSONAL PROPERTY SYSTEM (DPS) WEBSITE.
3.C. ESTABLISH A DPS ACCOUNT AT WWW.MOVE.MIL MOST MARINES AND CIVILIAN MARINES CAN ESTABLISH AN ACCOUNT WITH DPS AND PROCEED WITH SELF COUNSELING. HOWEVER, FIRST-TIME MOVERS, SEPARATEES, RETIREES AND OTHER SPECIAL CATEGORY PERSONNEL MUST ALSO BE COUNSELED AT THE LOCAL PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE. A DPS ACCOUNT IS STILL REQUIRED TO TRACK AND MANAGE SHIPMENTS AND FILE CLAIMS. LOCAL BASE OR STATION PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICES CAN ASSIST IN SETTING UP THOSE ACCOUNTS. UPON COMPLETION OF SELF COUNSELING, IMMEDIATELY PROVIDE A COPY OF OFFICIAL WEB, SEPARATION OR RETIREMENT ORDERS TO THE PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE. APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSEHOLD GOODS MOVES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A VALID COPY OF OFFICIAL ORDERS. ALL PERSONNEL ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL COUNSELING ASSISTANCE WHEN NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK THAT CAN BE RELAYED THROUGH THIS HEADQUARTERS TO THE COMMANDER, UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND (USTRANSCOM), THE OWNER OF THE DOD PERSONAL PROPERTY PROGRAM, FOR USE IN DRIVING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT TO THE PROGRAM.
3.D. ENSURE FLEXIBILITY IN PACKING, PICK-UP AND DELIVERY DATES. THE MOST POPULAR PICK-UP DATES FOR PCS MOVES ARE JUST PRIOR TO THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY. EXECUTING HOUSEHOLD GOODS MOVES DURING THIS "PEAK OF THE PEAK" SUMMER SEASON PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGES SINCE SHIPMENT VOLUMES STRETCH THE LIMITS OF INDUSTRY CAPACITY. DESPITE A SLIGHT ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PAST TWO PEAK SEASONS, INDUSTRY REPORTS THAT LOCAL MANPOWER AND LINEHAUL DRIVER AND TRUCK CAPACITIES REMAIN STRAINED DURING THIS "PEAK OF THE PEAK" PART OF THE SUMMER SEASON. PICK-UP DATES SHOULD BE PLANNED TO ALLOW FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEW DAYS BETWEEN REQUESTED AND ACTUAL PICK-UP DATES IN ORDER TO VACATE HOUSING, COMMENCE TRAVEL AND EXECUTE OTHER PCS-RELATED EVENTS. THE LAST FEW DAYS AND THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF EVERY MONTH ARE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT DATES SINCE MOST LEASES AND RENTAL AGREEMENTS START OR END DURING THAT TIME. AS A REMINDER, FINAL PACK AND PICK-UP DATES ARE NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRE-MOVE SURVEY, SO BE SURE TO OBTAIN CONFIRMATION OF PACK AND PICK-UP DATES BEFORE MAKING ANY FINAL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS. IF CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE A CHANGE TO THE AGREED UPON PACK AND PICKUP DATES, THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK THAT NEW REQUESTED DATES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN EXECUTING YOUR MOVE.
3.E. STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS MOVING COMPANY, NOW KNOWN AS THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PROVIDER (TSP). DPS PROVIDES POINT OF CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR EACH TSP SUPPORTING EACH MOVE. PICKUPS FOR MULTIPLE SHIPMENTS SHOULD NOT BE SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DAY (HOUSEHOLD GOODS, NONTEMPORARY STORAGE AND UNACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE, WHEN APPLICABLE) AS CONFUSION MAY CAUSE THE WRONG ITEMS TO BE PLACED INTO THE WRONG SHIPMENT.
3.F. IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE LOCAL PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE SHOULD ANY UNFORESEEN ISSUES ARISE DURING THE MOVE.
3.G. CONSIDER PERFORMING A PERSONALLY PROCURED MOVE (PPM), FORMERLY KNOWN AS A DITY MOVE. ELIGIBLE MARINES MAY BE PAID UP TO 95 PERCENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COST FOR PERFORMING A SIMILAR MOVE. A PPM OFFERS THE GREATEST FLEXIBILITY WHEN PERFORMING AN ELIGIBLE MOVE. MARINES ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM PPM COUNSELING WITHIN DPS OR AT THE LOCAL PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE AND COMPLETE ALL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS WITHIN DPS INCLUDING THE DD FORM 2278. MARINES MAY BE ADVANCED UP TO 50 PERCENT OF THE COST BASED ON THE ESTIMATED WEIGHT OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS. NOTE THAT PPM SHIPMENTS MAY BE INSPECTED TO ENSURE ONLY AUTHORIZED HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE MOVED. PPM SETTLEMENT CLAIMS MAY BE TURNED IN TO THE NEAREST UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS (USMC) PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE OR MAILED TO THE MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS COMMAND (MARCORLOGCOM) TRANSPORTATION VOUCHER CERTIFICATION DIVISION (TVCD). INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO FILE A PPM CLAIM ARE LOCATED AT WWW.LOGCOM.USMC.MIL/TVCD. EMPTY AND FULL WEIGHT TICKETS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE REIMBU SEMENT CLAIM. THE INCENTIVE PAYMENT MAY NOT BE AUTHORIZED WITHOUT THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION.
3.G. IF THERE ARE ANY DAMAGES INCURRED DURING YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS SHIPMENT, ENSURE THE TSP IS NOTIFIED OF YOUR INTENT TO FILE A CLAIM, USING THE DPS CLAIMS MODULE, WITHIN 75 DAYS OF DELIVERY AND IDENTIFY THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE DISCOVERED DAMAGED AFTER DELIVERY. CLAIMS MUST BE COMPLETED AND FILED WITH THE TSP WITHIN NINE MONTHS OF THE DELIVERY DATE TO RECEIVE FULL REPLACEMENT VALUE AND A SEPARATE CLAIM MUST BE FILED FOR EACH SHIPMENT (HOUSEHOLD GOODS, NONTEMPORARY STORAGE AND UNACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE SHIPMENTS WHEN APPLICABLE). THE CLAIMS SUBMISSION PROCESS IN DPS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO USE BUT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE "HOW TO FILE A CLAIM IN DPS" VIDEO AT WWW.MOVE.MIL WILL HELP NAVIGATE YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS. IF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED, CONTACT THE LOCAL PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE. IN THE EVENT AN EQUITABLE SETTLEMENT ON YOUR CLAIM CANNOT BE REACHED THROUGH THE TSP, CONTACT THE MARINE CORPS CLAIMS OFFICE AT (703) 784-9533 FOR GUIDANCE.
3.H. IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE NOT PICKED UP OR DELIVERED ON THEAGREED UPON DATES, YOU MAY HAVE THE OPTION OF FILING AN INCONVENIENCE CLAIM WITH THE TSP FOR AUTHORIZED OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
4. AFTER YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE DELIVERED, AN EMAIL WITH A LINK TO COMPLETE A SHORT 12-QUESTION CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY WILL BE SENT FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD GOODS SHIPMENT. COMPLETING EACH SURVEY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS YOUR RATINGS AND COMMENTS DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT SHIPMENTS EACH TSP WILL RECEIVE AS A BEST VALUE PERFORMER. SURVEY RESULTS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS REWARDING TOP PERFORMERS AND ELIMINATING POOR PERFORMERS. COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE COMPLETION OF THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY A PART OF THEIR PCS CHECK-IN PROCESS.
5. PLANNING, PREPARATION, FLEXIBILITY AND COMMUNICATION ARE THE KEYS TO EXECUTING A SUCCESSFUL HOUSEHOLD GOODS MOVE. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PERSONAL PROPERTY OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY WILLIAM M. FAULKNER, LTGEN, DEPUTY COMMANDANT, INSTALLATIONS AND LOGISTICS.//