MTMC speeds personal property functions

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (USTCNS) --- The Military Traffic Management Command is moving ahead to centralize its personal property operations.

Personal property offices in Stuttgart, Germany, and Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, will now report directly to MTMC's headquarters.

The change affects approximately 12 employees. They will now report directly to the office of Col. Nonie Cabana, Deputy Chief of Staff for Passenger & Personal Property.

"We feel this change will result in a faster and simpler reporting of personal property actions," said Hank Spieler, transition coordinator.

"It streamlines the chain-of-command and meets broad MTMC goals related to centralization of processes."

This means, said Spieler, that a personal property specialist in the Pacific or Europe can contact MTMC Headquarters directly for a fast response to questions about policy impacting the theater.

The reorganization was effective Dec. 15. It will have no impact on employment levels - just reporting chain, said Spieler.

With the reorganization comes a change in names.

The 598th Personal Property Division will now be called MTMC Personal Property Office - Europe. The 599th Personal Property Division will now be called MTMC Personal Property Office - Pacific.

The functions of the offices will not change.

"The offices will continue to support installation personal property shipping offices, embassies and oversee/assist in theater household goods contingency movements," said Spieler. "They provide guidance, information, staff assistance and training for the local theater personal property specialists."

Also impacted in the move is the Oahu Vehicle Processing Center in Hawaii. The center now reports directly to MTMC Headquarters, as do similar facilities in the continental United States.

"This is all about reducing layering," said Spieler. "This is a method that will work a lot faster and ultimately benefits the service members."

The realignment process has been a five-month effort for Spieler. He thanked MTMC employees at every level - in particular the 598th and 599th -- who supported the change.

"Because of their enthusiasm, we met all the established timelines," said Spieler.

The centralization was praised by Terry Head, president, Household Goods Forwarders Association of America, Inc., of Alexandria, Va.

"I think it's a good move," said Head, who represents both United States and overseas movers. "MTMC is streamlining the chain-of-command and flow of information up that chain and to me that is key.

"The people are still geographically in place and that is important. The changes can only help improve the communication process, which is important to the moving industry."

The change is the latest move in the centralization of the personal property organization at MTMC Headquarters. In the fall of 1999, personal property work at the Deployment Support Command, Fort Eustis, Va., was centralized at MTMC Headquarters. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).