SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL (USTCNS) --- The current system of moving personal property for service members and their families during a permanent change of station has existed for almost three decades. The U.S. Transportation Command and the Military Traffic Managament Command believe the status quo is not good enough.

Today’s program fails to provide service members the quality moves they deserve. The system is being reengineered to incorporate best business practices.

Since the mid 1990s, USTRANSCOM and MTMC have been evaluating a series of pilot programs throughout the Department of Defense to find more efficient methods of moving personal property. Based on the results of the recently completed analysis, fixing the program and limiting cost increases requires a focused approach on three specific areas:

· Streamlining the claims/liability process
· Improving carrier performance through performance based contracting
· Implementing an integrated movement management system

Consequently, USTRANSCOM established a program oversight office at the MTMC to work with the Services and industry to develop an implementation strategy based on these findings.

The goal is to develop a prototype moving program, with supporting milestones and estimated costs prior to the end of the current fiscal year.

The Department of Defense spends roughly $1 billion annually to conduct an average of 500,000 personal property moves. All of these shipments are coordinated through the MTMC, one of USTRANSCOM’s Transportation Component Commands headquartered in Alexandria, Va.