The  other three pilots are described below. Status of the Navy Pilot As of March 1999, 223 servicemembers have participated in the pilot. Program results thus far show (1) participation has been  relatively low compared to the other pilots that are under way or planned,  (2) servicemembers are satisfied arranging their own move, according to  limited survey data, and (3) workload would increase for personal property  officials because this option adds an alternative to the current program. Of  the 30 surveys, 23 indicate that the pilot was a better quality move than  other military moves. The U.S. Transportation Command  (USTRANSCOM) is currently in the process of developing and coordinating  an evaluation plan with the services to evaluate the personal property pilot  tests, and it will make a recommendation as to the follow-on course of  action. Presently, the pilot has only been tested as an option to the current  program at a few Navy sites and not as an option at the other pilot sites. Conclusions

The Navy pilot program differs from other ongoing or proposed pilot  programs because it adds an option to the current program; it is not  intended to replace the current program. Further, the draft evaluation plan does not identify a specific  method for assessing the pilot’s unique features. Doing so would test the Navy pilot in an environment that is more  consistent with the changes being considered and likely to be  implemented.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO provided information on the Navy Personal Property Pilot.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) between January 1998 and March 1999, 223 servicemembers have used the pilot program to arrange their own move rather than use the current program; (2) participation has been relatively low compared to the other three pilots under way or planned, which involve substantially more shipments--approximately 1,400 to 45,000 shipments annually; (3) survey data indicate that participants are satisfied with the pilot and would use the option again; (4) because the pilot offers servicemembers a choice between the current program and arranging their own move, implementing the option increases the workload for local personal property officials; (5) the member arranged move option is not featured in any of the other pilots, which are broader in scope and are intended to replace the current program; (6) while the U.S. Transportation Command is responsible for evaluating all of the pilots to determine which one could provide better long-term results, its plan for doing so has not been finalized; and (7) in addition, the U.S. Transportation Command's draft evaluation plan proposes to collect information on the extent the Navy pilot works as an option within the current program at a few Navy sites, which may not provide adequate data to assess the Navy pilot's feasibility or its compatibility with the other pilots' results.