FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — The War Department's newest special activity — the Personal Property Activity — met April 23 with moving, shipping and logistics leaders to provide an update on the accelerated reform aimed at improving one of the most critical quality-of-life issues facing military families, the permanent change of station moving process.
The engagement brought leaders from across the household goods industry together with Personal Property Activity officials to identify operational challenges, improve accountability and implement solutions ahead of the 2026 PCS peak season. It marked the organization's first in-person industry engagement since transitioning from a task force to a permanent special activity earlier this year.
"If you want to influence the future, please work with us and give us your ideas," said Army Maj. Gen. Lance Curtis, PPA commander. "We cannot do it without you; we need you, alongside us, at the tip of the spear to rewrite our future."
Discussions focused on increasing shipment predictability for service members and their families, improving communication, strengthening performance standards and modernizing the Defense Personal Property Program.
The engagement supported President Donald J. Trump's broader priority of delivering more efficient, accountable government services for military personnel. It also aligns with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's directive to fix long-standing issues within the military moving system.
When announcing the establishment of the Personal Property Activity in January, Hegseth called the organization "a permanent solution for all service members who move" and emphasized the department's responsibility to deliver reliable household goods services to warfighters worldwide.
Personal Property Activity leaders emphasized that reform will be data-driven and facts-based and that industry plays a critical role in delivering results.
The organization also highlighted measurable progress already underway, including an increase in self-reported claims satisfaction from 52% to 69%, signaling improved service quality for service members and families navigating the relocation process.
Army Col. Mike Ashton, Personal Property Activity director of operations, announced a departmentwide website, "where service members and providers will be able to find all the resources and advisories all collocated in one place."
The website will be a one-stop shop for military movers and providers, and it will go live May 1.
Industry partners received an update on the reform and actions taken to address workforce challenges, commercial best practices, pricing structures and operational innovations experienced by industry. The improvements are intended to enhance the program's overall performance across the relocation enterprise and improve the quality of service delivered to military movers.
"We have seen a noticeable increase in responsiveness to industry's concerns since Secretary Hegseth announced the Personal Property Activity," said Chuck Kuhn, an industry partner. "Maj. Gen. Curtis and his team have been aggressive with the right sense of urgency to engage with industry to hear and address our concerns, while proactively improving the overall moving experience for military families."
The Personal Property Activity continues working with industry partners to modernize military relocations, improve the quality of life for service members and ensure PCS moves support readiness rather than disrupt it.
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