MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- It’s that time in your career — time for you to change duty stations. You have your departure date. You have your ticket out of Hawaii. You even have a carrier for your dog, Scruffy. But wait a minute … what are you doing with your belongings, now boxed away and stacked to the ceiling?
During a permanent change of station, many service members may wait to deal with their household goods until the final days of their time in Hawaii. A lot of service members receive their orders months before heading to the Distribution Management Office. By the time many finally get to DMO, they end up waiting longer before receiving their belongings at their new duty station.
Cpl. Victoria Ellis, a household goods clerk with DMO, said visiting her office is one of the first things Marines should do, as shipping their belongings may take anywhere from 36 to 65 days, depending on where they are PCSing. For household goods going overseas, the usual transport time is 60 days; for goods going to the East Coast, 65; Midwest, 55; and West Coast, 45.
“It is important for (service members) to be there for their shipment because they would be the ones to let (the shippers) know if they want something packaged a certain way and to make sure they’re not throwing everything into one box — no one is going to care more about their stuff than the actual person,” Ellis said.
The total weight of household goods shipped must be under that service member’s weight entitlements, meaning the total amount one can transport, correlating with their rank and marital status.
Marie Calvo, the program manager of the Family Member Employment Assistance Program and Relocation Services, said that because the average service member typically relocates often during a 20-year career, it’s important for service members and their families know how to move and ship their goods, and what programs are available to them should they remain on the island after their belongings are gone.
Calvo said she encourages service members and their spouses to attend the PCS and Moving Workshop because while they may be able to get the information online or by word-of-mouth, there is nothing better than actually learning it in person.
Run by the Marine Corps Community Services’ FMEAPRS, the workshop provides further information regarding the shipment of one’s household goods or personally owned vehicle, and the usage of programs such as the Lending Locker.
The workshop also provides an opportunity to talk to various department representatives, such as the Finance Office, Legal Assistance and the Personal Financial Management Program. Registration is required, but service members do not need their orders to attend and may attend the workshop multiple times, if desired.
The next PCS and Moving Workshops are scheduled for June 24 and July 8 from 8 a.m. to noon. Classes are held in classroom 7 of building 1090. Registration for the workshop is required. Orders are not required to attend. For more information regarding the PCS and Moving Workshop, call 257-8354 or visit mccshawaii.com/trpworkshops.