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How to combat moving shortage through PCS season

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Phaff
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs

With shortages caused though the Air Force due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so members have had trouble with moving to their next base.

 

From April 15th to, 269 members have gotten counseling and organized moves into or out of Laughlin Air Force Base.

 

The biggest hardship members have are the desired date of moving not being available or mover no-shows.

 

The Traffic Management Office (TMO) has faced some difficulties as well like as last minute entitlements counseling, members not being flexible with dates and the movement window shifting from seven to 14 days.

 

“Communication is critical between the members and the transportation service provider, members have to identify and book the service and work with TMO to help provide assistance, said David Farrell 47th Flying Training Wing, director of Logistics.

 

Please contact the TMO Personal Property Processing Office at extensions 5227,4695, and 5189. Or visit them during their office hours Monday-Friday 7:30 - 4:30 in building 246

 

These shortages are effecting the Air Force as a whole as stated in the article “Current PCS, household goods affected by supply shortages” by Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. 

 

According to a newly released communiqué from the Air Force’s Personal Property Activity Headquarters, “Department of Defense demand this peak (PCS) season has greatly exceeded commercial industry capabilities, largely due to resource constraints associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Per industry, this resulted in a 25% decrease in their labor pool, resulting in (decreased) personal property movement capacity necessary to support private sector and government demand.”

 

To mitigate negative impacts on DoD families, the Air Force Joint Personal Property Shipping Offices are employing all available tools and options to accommodate shipment and delivery requests. Individual DoD services and United States Transportation Command leaders are working with commercial industry to modify business rules, adding flexibility to achieve maximum carrier capacity.

 

For those scheduled to PCS this year, there are some actions that can add more flexibility to your plans and help the Household Goods community with an expanded opportunity to move personal property:

 

• Get shipping requests in four to six weeks prior to the pickup window.

• Ask about expanding pack/pickup (a.k.a., “spread date”) windows from the current seven-day requirement to 14 days.

• Contact the assignments team to determine if they can postpone the move by changing the report not later than date.

 

Airmen can take more control over their move this summer by doing a personally procured move (formerly known as the Do-It-Yourself move). According to the communiqué, this option allows personnel to “control your move dates and ensure you have ready access to your property upon arrival at your new location. There are several PPM options, including one that reimburses up to what the government would have paid for the move and another where you could receive a financial incentive of 100% of the government’s constructed cost, plus fuel surcharge, and other (accessory costs).”

 

In addition to the old “rent a truck” PPM option, Airmen now have access to new modes within the commercial industry called portable moving and storage containers. These containers are dropped at the home, the service member packs them and the company picks up, transports, stores and then delivers at the destination. Some companies also offer a menu of associated,  including full or partial packing.