Personal property facilitates paramount performance

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  From moving mission-essential cargo around the world, to assisting personnel during a permanent change of station and temporary duty assignments, the 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron's traffic management flight keeps Airmen on the move.

The Airmen of personal property explain how their operations play a vital role in the success of the Wolf Pack's mission here.

"We handle all outbound shipments once we receive a member's orders," said Tech. Sgt. Yolanda Reynolds, 8th LRS personal property NCO in charge. "In the past, we would give mass briefings to all members of Kunsan, but now the process has been simplified. Each member schedules a briefing with us giving them the opportunity for personal counseling on their entitlements, etc."

Personal property Airmen counsel personnel on their personal property movements, review official travel orders and determine transportation entitlements. In the same way, they use tariffs and rates to determine the mode and cost of commercial transportation to move personal property.

"We also arrange for shipment and storage of the member's personal property," Reynolds said. "Then we make cost comparisons between various modes of transportation and between government and commercial storage facilities. This allows us to validate the need for and use of temporary storage."

Not only do these customer service oriented logistics Airmen handle questions and concerns from members at their own building, but they also coordinate quality assurance inspections of all deliveries as requested by the member.

"When Airmen receive their household goods shipments, they sometimes have issues with the carrier we've contracted for delivery," Reynolds said. "So our QA inspector is dispatched to handle any and all discrepancies. They're always out assisting Airmen as best they can."

But according to Reynolds, the bulk of their work is at their customer service counter.

"People always have questions when they're PCSing in and out," she said. "And with the high turnover rate we have here at Kunsan, there's always someone coming in with a question. We're just happy we can help."

"I think what we do is extremely important," added Senior Airman Katrina Greer, 8th LRS traffic management journeyman. "Members wouldn't leave without us. The new Defense Personal Property System can be frustrating as it puts all the stress on the members. We're the experts on the DPS website, so we're here to help counsel members as they navigate it."

This consistent contact with servicemembers allows these Airmen to make a positive impact on the experience of a member's PCS. However, Reynolds said Airmen can help her section in a number of ways before even stepping foot in their office.

"Members PCSing here want their property as quick as possible," she said. "So we'll go into the DPS and check their status. It's imperative they have an account and regularly update any information the system prompts them for along the way."

The section lead said they get a lot of people in their office who wait till the last moment to bring in their orders. Reynolds said the sooner they get a members orders the sooner they can get them processed and into the system. This equates to less hassle on both sides of the service desk.

"The member can rest easy and we can help others get on the right track too," she said. "Never wait till your one or two weeks from leaving to bring us your orders, always bring them in as soon as you get them."

Reynolds wanted to remind Airmen too that everyone is authorized storage in transit. What this means is that if a new address has not been found at the member's follow-on assignment, their personal property will remain in temporary storage at the Air Force's expense.

"Members don't need a delivery address," Greer said. "Just get yourself signed up in DPS through the www.move.mil website so we can ensure your transition from Kunsan to your next base is a smooth process."

Airmen are authorized 90 days of storage in transit to assist in the PCS process.

"We're here to help you," Reynolds said. "So help us help you."

[Editors note: This story is part two of a three part series highlighting the 8th LRS's TMO flight.]