CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (Dec. 16, 2010) -- Once they redeploy from Kuwait, a number of Third Army Soldiers will face a move with their headquarters from Atlanta, Ga., to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
A briefing by Third Army strategic relocation representatives Dec. 13, enabled Soldiers to ask questions and learn about all of the options available to them during the move mandated by the Base Realignment and Closure legislation.
At Camp Arifjan, Kuwait's Zone 1 Chapel, Master Sgt. Barry Leveretter, an operations noncommissioned officer with Third Army's office of strategic relocation, along with Sgt. 1st Class Vincent Poole, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the office of strategic relocation, explained the Defense Personal Property System's role in the move to Shaw. They also resolved issues and questions held by those in attendance.
"We're here to inform the troops about where they're moving to and what they have waiting for them in the area. One of the tougher things about these briefs is not having all of the answers to the questions on the spot, but it's a small obstacle," said Poole.
"What we usually do is write down the questions as people ask them, then we post them to [our] blog site after we get the questions out to the people who can answer them properly. That way, the Soldiers who didn't get their questions answered can check the blog site and get their answers," Poole added.
During the brief, Leveretter and Poole applauded the benefits of using the DPPS and praised the convenience it provides for Soldiers who are facing the move to Shaw Air Force Base while stationed at Camp Arifjan.
"DPPS is much better because it's hands on. It's user friendly and it's interactive. You, the Soldier, are able to take care of yourself by keying the information you want into the system; things like the pickup dates that you want and the delivery dates that you want. No one is going to take care of you better than you will," said Leveretter.
The flexible nature and simplicity of DPPS makes it a valuable asset for Soldiers and their families during the relocation process, he said.
"I believe that it's a good tool for Soldiers and families to use to prepare them for the move to Shaw Air Force base," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson, an early warning operator for Third Army, after the brief.
Use of the new systems is designed to make Soldiers' transition to Shaw smoother, taking considerable stress off of both the individual Soldier and their families.
"To get the move accomplished, the Soldiers and their families need to know what they want to do as far as where their families are going. They just need to go and find a place and then get the ball rolling. Coming to a brief like this will help Soldiers accomplish that mission," said Leveretter.
Every Soldier affected by the move from Fort McPherson to Shaw Air Force Base receives a briefing upon request and learns how to use DPPS (which can be found at http://www.move.mil,) after registering for the site during the briefing.
More information can also be found on the Third Army "Movement to Shaw" page, found at http://www.arcent.army.mil/move-to-shaw/updates-and-information.aspx.
Related Links:
Third Army 'Movement to Shaw' information portal
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