Featured

Military relocation contract could run into issues with new Texas-based provider

Shipping and relocation nightmares and supply chain woes have become commonplace in recent months, but new questions are being raised about whether those challenges may soon have an even greater impact on Military service members and their families.

Last month, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) announced the award of a lucrative $6.2 billion contract to a new entity -- Houston-based HomeSafe Alliance. The Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) is designed to provide comprehensive relocation, transportation and storage services for members of the military, particularly when they are being moving from base to base.

The outsourcing of the GHC to a single, accountable provider was promised to provide sweeping transformation to improve the experience for service members and their families, who have long complained about delays, lost or damaged belongings, and poor communication. But the award of the high-stakes contract to a newly formed entity composed of companies that either lack experience or have poor performance histories could make the experience even worse for service families.

According to a TRANCOM report, one of the two HomeSafe partners – Tier One Relocation – was responsible for 50% of the moves “turned back” to the Department of Defense this summer, during peak military move season. When moves are turned back, it results in considerable disruptions for military families who find themselves at the mercy of contracted moving services. The cost of replacing damaged or missing goods can also be significant.

According to a KPLC InvestigateTV analysis of federal data from 2015 to 2019, “military members submitted damage claims to moving companies totaling more than $450 million for household items that were damaged, destroyed.” Andrea Cacho and her husband, Spc. Christopher Cacho, described their moving process with Tier One as a “nightmare experience” according to reporting from the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle.

When they moved to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, delivery of their belongings was delayed more than six weeks and many personal items, including her wedding ring set, were lost or damaged.

“Living a military lifestyle is not easy. ... We move every few years, sometimes continents away from our friends and families,” said Andrea Cacho in an interview with the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle. “The absolute least we can expect is a moving company to handle our items in an adequate and professional manner.”

The award of the GHC contract to HomeSafe is under protest, and it remains to be seen whether TRANSCOM will throw out the contract and start the process over again.

Javier Manjarres

Javier Manjarres is a nationally renowned award-winning political journalist. Diverse New Media, Corp. publishes Floridianpress.com, Hispolitica.com, shark-tank.com, and Texaspolitics.com He enjoys traveling, playing soccer, mixed martial arts, weight-lifting, swimming, and biking. Javier is also a political consultant, and has also authored "BROWN PEOPLE," which is a book about Hispanic Politics. Learn more at www.brownpeople.org Email him at Diversenewmedia@gmail.com

Recent Posts

Texas Lawmakers Hear Local Testimony After Devastating July 4 Floods

In the wake of one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history, state lawmakers…

2 days ago

LONESTAR — 8.1.2025 — Texas Senate Passes Bill Banning THC — Texas Mobilizes Emergency Response for Texas Panhandle — and More...

This week, the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 5 (SB 5), a controversial bill that…

2 days ago

Texas Senate Passes SB 5 Banning THC

This week, the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 5 (SB 5), a controversial bill that…

3 days ago

Texas Mobilizes Emergency Response Ahead of Panhandle Flood Threat

Governor Greg Abbott (R) has ordered the activation of emergency response resources as heavy rainfall…

3 days ago

LONESTAR — 7.31.2025 — Abbott Announces Disaster Unemployment Assistance — New Texas Map Adds Five GOP Seats — and More...

This week, Governor Greg Abbott (R) announced that the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is now…

3 days ago

Texas Leads U.S. in Veterans Using VA Education Benefits

Texas students are preparing to head back to school, and tens of thousands of veterans…

3 days ago