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OKINAWA, Japan - Whether coming or going, moving belongings from one duty station to another is an experience every Marine eventually must encounter.
Luckily, the Traffic Management Office is on hand to assist service members and their families with the process.
With offices located on Camps Courtney, Kinser, Hansen and Foster, TMO is ready, willing and able to ship and receive household goods on and off island.
Last fiscal year, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler TMO successfully assisted more than 6,500 outbound and 3,000 inbound Marines with their household goods shipments.
“Our main mission is to provide prompt, quality customer service to Marines and sailors,” said Staff Sgt. Misty Ford, operations chief for Camp Foster TMO. “Moving can be a stressful time, especially since there are additional aspects to consider when relocating to or from overseas, so we do our best to make the process as smooth as possible.”
In addition to counseling prospective movers, booking shipments and implementing quality control for damage claims, TMO also holds daily classes at 8 a.m. to impart valuable information to outbound movers, regardless of rank.
The information provided in the class familiarizes service members with their entitlements, authorizations, restrictions and offers tips for shipping belongings, Ford said.
It generally takes about 10 business days to properly set up a TMO pick-up, not including the peak months of April-September, when giving notice at least a month in advance is recommended, she added.
“During the summer months, we tend to become extremely congested, so it’s important for Marines and sailors to know they can come in early to ensure they get their desired pick-up date,” said Sgt. Jason Moore, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Camp Foster TMO. “Regardless of what time of year service members receive their orders, it’s never too soon to set up their TMO.”
TMO offers several other services in addition to inbound and outbound household goods and unaccompanied baggage transfers.
“With our temporary assigned duty service, we can place belongings in storage for Marines who are on TAD for more than 180 days,” Moore said. “For deployment storage, service members must show their unit orders. If the orders are unit funded, a carrier will come retrieve their belongings and take them to one of our warehouses located on Camps Kinser, Hansen or Foster. If not on unit-funded orders, the service member must pack and drop off their belongings themselves.”
Representatives from TMO also attend Smooth Move, Transition Assistance Program and retirement briefs to not only inform, but also to dispel misconceptions about the use and process of TMO, according to Moore.
“One of the most common misconceptions is that we can ship items last minute,” Moore said. “This is simply not true. Not only does it erase your chances of scheduling your desired date for shipment, it can mean having to issue a power of attorney to someone else to pack your things for you. It is best to take the time to properly schedule your pick-up in advance.”
TMO office hours are Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information on procedures, requirements and authorizations, contact your nearest TMO office.
TIPS TO REMEMBER
- If going on temporary assigned duty service for more than 180 days, contact TMO to place belongings in storage.
- You must attend the TMO information class before setting up TMO. Classes are held daily at 8 a.m. at the Camp Foster TMO office.
–Schedule your desired pick-up date at least a month in advance to ensure your timing is correct. During the summer months, TMO is extremely busy.
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.24.2011 21:25 |
| Story ID: | 69293 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 759 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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