MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- "A successful move is not a matter of chance. It is the result of planning and hard work. At the center of these efforts is you - the shipper. If you expect a good move, you must play an active role."
These words appear in the beginning of a pamphlet from the Traffic Management Office given to all service members when they come in to request information on shipping their household goods.
"People need to be aware that these are their personal affects, and that they have to take an active role in the process," said Staff Sgt. Ibn A. Taylor, a 28-year-old, Philadelphia native and personal property shipping office staff noncommissioned officer in charge.
The process starts as soon as the service member receives his permanent change of station orders. According to information provided by TMO, service members should come in and start making arrangements at least four to six weeks before their departure date. The sooner they get started, the easier it will be when they get to their new duty station.
"People can make their move easier by discarding old unwanted items, things they haven't used in a while," explained Taylor.
Since all shipping entitlements are based on weight, it's best to get rid of unnecessary items to stay under weight limitations, stated Taylor. If the household effects exceed the weight entitlement for the service member, it will cost the individual anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand, he said.
"The next step is to make sure things are separated. Items for the express shipment are in one place, and regular household goods are in another place," said Taylor.
As he explained it, the express shipment should be items such as clothes, which will be needed as soon as people get to their destination, along with cooking utensils, plates and bedding. Since the weight is limited and all items must fit into containers of a specific size, no furniture can be in this shipment. It's best to send this shipment out three to four weeks before departure, said Taylor. The regular household shipment should be the majority of the service member's possessions and is usually picked up one to two weeks before departure.
"They should also take pictures of expensive items to show proof or ownership and the condition of the items," stressed Taylor.
People are encouraged to document all valuables by taking photos of them and making sure they have receipts or proof of value for these items.
TMO recommends having valuables appraised and taking small items such as jewelry, coins and stocks or bonds with the individuals in their luggage.
They also recommend personal possessions, along with important papers such as passports and airline tickets, be packaged and stored somewhere else, such as the car trunk or at a friend's house when the carrier comes to pack up the rest of the household goods. This prevents the movers from packing these items in the household goods shipment.
Also recommended is to make sure all pets are secured in cages and kept in separate locations, such as a closet or a friend's house, or tied up outside. Taylor pointed out that it's quite easy for a pet to get accidentally packed up in a box.
In fact, TMO provides everyone with information on how to make his or her move smoother. They have pamphlets which tell exactly what people should do and when to do it, as well as giving them advice and information on ways to protect their property. Furthermore, this same information can be found online at http://www.mtmc.army.mil/frontDoor.
So the bottom line is, the more active role people take in their move, the better things will be down the line and at their next duty station.