SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --   The U.S. Transportation Command and the Army's Military Surface Distribution and Deployment Command announced that Phase II of the Defense Personal Property System began live operations Wednesday.

The DPS is the automated, end-to-end management system for movement of household goods for members of the Armed Services and Department of Defense civilians. The system automates much of the process of pre-move counseling, scheduling, tracking, invoicing and claims-filing for household goods shipments.

Phase II initiates DPS operations at 18 Personal Property Shipping Offices designated in conjunction with their service headquarters. The locations include:

 Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany
 Chelmsford, Mass.
 San Antonio, Texas
 Colorado Springs, Colo.
 Grafenwohr, Germany
 Camp Zama, Japan
 White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
 Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
 Fort Sill, Okla.
 Fort Belvoir, Va
 Fort Bragg, N.C.
 Miami, Fla.
 Alameda, Calif.
 Kodiak, Alaska (start delayed until early Dec.)
 Camp Lejeune, N.C.
 Naples, Italy
 San Diego, Calif.
 Puget Sound, Wash.

Deployment of the DPS to PPSOs worldwide is scheduled for early 2009.

DPS was designed by SRA International, Inc., a leading provider of technology and strategic consulting services and solutions to government organizations and commercial clients.

"We have been working together with SRA to develop and deploy a system that will make life easier for our service members when they are relocated," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Carberry, U.S. TRANSCOM Joint Program Manager for DPS. "It's all about improving quality of life."

"Streamlining the often-stressful components of a move for a military family truly does help to put families first," said Stan Sloane, SRA President and CEO. "Our military personnel deserve all the support we can provide."

The DPS system will replace the aging Transportation Operational Personal Property Standard System legacy system.

For more information on DPS, visit www.move.mil.