DOD Creates Permanent Unit for Military Moves

(roibu/Getty Images)

American Trucking Associations praised a recent move by the Department of Defense designed to improve the moving process for service members.

On Jan. 23, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced an immediate update to processes linked to the moving system. Specifically, the department transferred its Permanent Change of Station task force to a permanent, joint activity.

Led by Army Maj. Gen. Lance Curtis, the new Personal Property Activity will operate from Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and officially commence May 1. The aim, the secretary explained, is to enhance the moving of goods across the military.

On social media, Hegseth expanded on the new system: “Its mission is to guarantee high-quality, reliable and efficient household goods and vehicle shipment services to the more than 300,000 warfighters worldwide who move somewhere every new year. Baggage and other household effects, they need to arrive on time and they will.”

The department’s announcement was seen by stakeholders as a positive shift for military families and the moving industry. ATA Moving & Storage Conference Executive Director Dan Hilton said the announcement demonstrated the secretary’s focus on assisting the warfighters as well as their families.

PCS was broken—We fixed it.

We listened to warfighters, removed failed leadership, and built a permanent solution. pic.twitter.com/n3S8q7nYMu — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) January 23, 2026

“Today’s announcement is an important step toward more reliable, predictable services for military households – and toward ensuring the Permanent Change of Station process strengthens, rather than strains, readiness,” he said.

“That’s why,” Hilton added, “we’ve long pushed for practical, common-sense reforms that help every relocation be handled smoothly and dependably for those who serve — and why we’ll continue to work with the PCS Joint Task Force and the new Personal Property Activity (PPA), Maj. Gen. Curtis, and Congress to support our nation’s warfighters with the level of service they deserve.”

Image

Hilton 

Movers for America, an advocacy group, also applauded the announcement.

“Treating military moves as a priority and placing direct responsibility under the secretary sends a clear message that the readiness of service members and their families matters to America’s national security,” the group said in a statement obtained by Transport Topics.

Last year, the secretary pressed for reforms to the military’s moving program. At the time, he called on the U.S. Transportation Command to make “immediate modifications” and address “deficiencies” to guarantee military members and defense civilians experience successful moves.

“Placing our people where most needed to defend the nation is critical to the department’s success,” Hegseth wrote in a memo to the DOD’s senior Pentagon leadership last year. The secretary’s focus on the issue followed long-standing concerns from stakeholders. “Relocating our personnel is critical to the military mission, putting human resources and expertise where they are needed to defend the nation.”

The recently enacted annual defense authorization law also sought reforms to the moving process. A provision in the law requires future contracts to ensure moving and storage companies can assist with readiness as well as the safe, reliable transportation of possessions.

After its congressional approval in December, Hilton affirmed: “Our industry takes pride in facilitating hundreds of thousands of seamless moves each year, relocating military families and their possessions wherever and whenever duty calls. We appreciate Congress’ willingness to listen to our concerns and address these issues by enacting measures that will improve the process of military moves and ensure proper oversight is in place.”