Moving with the Military: HomeSafe Alliance Updates

The process of moving with the military has always been a significant undertaking, involving meticulous planning and coordination to ensure a smooth transition by the service member and their family. The Department of Defense (DoD) is introducing HomeSafe Alliance, the new Global Households Goods contractor, this year. The new contractor reports it is aimed at enhancing efficiency and service quality. These updates promise to make military relocations more manageable and less stressful for service members and their families.

HomeSafe Alliance: Key Updates

The DoD’s new program enhancements, announced in a recent update, are set to transform the military moving experience. HomeSafe Alliance, the contractor managing household goods shipments for the military, is central to these improvements. Here are some of the key updates:

1. Enhanced Customer Service: HomeSafe Alliance is implementing an easily accessible customer service approach, which includes 24/7 support and a user-friendly online portal. This aims to provide military families with timely communication and real-time tracking of their shipments, ensuring they are always informed about the status of their belongings.
2. Improved Technology Integration: The updated program leverages advanced technology to enhance the efficiency of the moving process. This includes the use of easy to read electronic inventories with photos of customer’s belongings allowing for verification of pre-move and post-move condition of items. This, in theory, will make the claims process post-move easier.
3. Increased Accountability: The new program emphasizes accountability and transparency in the moving process. HomeSafe Alliance is required to adhere to stricter performance standards, and there are enhanced mechanisms for addressing and resolving issues that may arise during the move. This focus on accountability is intended to ensure that military families receive the high-quality service they deserve.
4. Support Services: HomeSafe Alliance’s services will include pre-move consultations and post-move assistance. This approach aims to address the various needs of military families before, during, and after their move, making the entire process more seamless and less disruptive.

Tips for Organizing Before a Move

Effective organization can significantly ease the moving process. Here are some general tips to help you prepare before your next move:

1. Create a Moving Checklist: Use comprehensive checklist of tasks to complete before, during, and after the move. This should include everything from notifying utility companies and updating your address to packing and organizing important documents. A well-structured checklist will help keep you on track and ensure that nothing is overlooked.
2. Sort and Declutter: Go through your belongings and sort them into categories: keep, donate, or discard. Decluttering reduces the volume of items you need to move and makes unpacking easier. Consider donating items you no longer need to local charities or put them up on your local Buy Nothing Group.
3. Label Boxes Clearly: Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This will make unpacking much more efficient and help movers place boxes in the appropriate rooms, saving you time and effort. There are QR stickers you can use to digitally manage what is in each box, or simply use color coded stickers for each room and label what is in each box.
4. Pack a Moving Essentials Kit: Prepare a moving essentials kit with items you’ll need immediately upon arrival at your new home. This might include toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, and basic kitchen supplies. Having these essentials readily accessible can help you settle in more quickly.
5. Notify Important Parties: Time to prepare for the lengthy task of informing banks, insurance providers, healthcare providers, subscription providers, friends and family of your change of address. Don’t forget to pause anything that is on auto-ship!
6. Take Inventory of Valuables: Make a detailed inventory of valuable items, including electronics, jewelry, and important documents. Consider taking photos or videos of these items for insurance purposes and to help you keep track of them during the move.
7. Coordinate with HomeSafe Alliance: Engage with HomeSafe Alliance early in the process to understand their updated services and requirements. They can provide valuable guidance and ensure that your move aligns with the new program’s standards.

The recent updates to the household goods shipment program, led by HomeSafe Alliance, mark a significant change in the military moving experience. By incorporating advanced technology, enhancing customer service, and expanding support services, the DoD aims to make relocations more efficient and less stressful for military families. Time will tell what tangible impact these changes have for military families. Until then, it is business as usual for the service member and their families to organize as much as you can ahead of time and keep a meticulous record of all communication between the Transportation Service Provider, local DMO/TMO and any other involved parties.

As said in Hunger Games, May the odds be ever in your favor.