RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM

Room 1-1-7
Hours - M-F 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Closed Sat-Sun & Holidays

Trena.Philo@dla.mil

74 Washington Ave N
Battle Creek, MI 49037-3084
 

Welcome to Battle Creek Michigan
Home of the Hart-Dole-Inouye (HDI) Federal Center

             Welcome! My name is Trena Philo, the Relocation Assistance Manager (RAM) for the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center.  Congratulations on your assignment to Battle Creek, Michigan.  The Relocation Assistance Program (RAP) provides personnel a point-of-contact for questions that may come up before, during and after a move.  The Relocation Assistance Program is for both civilian and military personnel.  This office, in collaboration with the applicable unit First Sergeant or sponsor, will assist any military member or government employee in the area.

The relocation services provided to the military and civilian community are to keep the community informed on destination area information such as housing, child care, spouse employment, cultural adaptation, and community orientation.  The Relocation Assistance Program (RAP) helps civilian, military members and families understand and manage the emotional impact of frequent moves.  The goal is to update everyone on what is available on the web and the resources available to assist the future Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center community, as well as information for the existing community.

We are all aware that Congress has directed DoD and each branch of the military to downsize.  There are several force reduction initiatives in progress, resulting in a reduced full-time workforce, and often the relocation of those remaining.  There are new tools to help with the relocation transition. Two of the resources are the web-based Military OneSource  and Military HomeFront.

  Military OneSource is provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve (regardless of activation status) and their families. It is a virtual extension of installation services.  Visit Military OneSource today at www.militaryonesource.com or call 1-800-342-9647.

MilitaryHOMEFRONT is the official source information for all DoD Quality of Life programs and services for Service members and their families, military leaders and service providers.

There are tools on Military OneSource and Military HomeFront that will provide the client with everything needed to know about a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).  These tools are as follows:

1.        Military HOMEFRONT's Military Installations tool contains information on more than 250 military installations worldwide, including 55 directories of programs and services available on the installations. 

2.                   Military HOMEFRONT's Plan My Move provides information about entitlements and benefits, points of contact, checklists, planning tools, education, and employment.

3.                  Military HOMEFRONT's Moving 101 is a guide especially for first time movers that explains what to expect and who to contact upon receipt of the first PCS orders.

4.                   The Military OneSource's Relocation Essentials helps to compare communities throughout the United States by using several features:  Cost of Living Reports, School Report Cards, Community comparisons, a Salary Analyzer, Crime and Safety Reports, Community Explorer, and calculators. 

In conjunction with the Military OneSource tools, the local Relocation Assistance Program internet website provides many local resources and information, such as child care, education, employment assistance, hospitals, military specific information, movers, real estate and rental, regional links, miscellaneous resources, TRICARE, utilities, vehicle and transportation, and relocation specific information.  Please feel free to print off any of the materials that interest you and your family. This information will not be included in the welcome package. If you do not have access to a computer, please let me know. I will gladly print off the materials for you and include them in your welcome package.

Upon notification of your upcoming arrival, I will send you information about Battle Creek and other surrounding communities.  If I can be of any assistance during your transition or in the future, please call me commercial (269) 961-7385, (DSN) 661-7385 or visit my office at the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center, Building 1, Floor 1, Room 7.  You may also contact me at my Email address Trena.Philo@dla.mil or send a fax to commercial (269) 961-4523, (DSN 661-4523).

Sincerely,

Trena S. Philo
DES-WLQ
Relocation Assistance Manager (RAM)
TRICARE Assistance Manager
Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center

Available now in the Relocation Assistance Program Office, DLA's The Quick Series Guide to Buying A Home. "Home ownership is becoming a reality for more and more Americans. During 2000, the U.S. homeownership rate reached 67.7%, the highest rate ever. Yet many Americans don't realize that homeownership is within their grasp. A home is a financial asset and more: it's a place to live and raise children, it's a plan for the future; it's an investment in your community. To become a first-time homebuyer, you need to know where and how to begin the home buying process. This guide can give you a foundation of the basic knowledge. In addition to helping you begin, this quick-reference guide will give you the tools necessary to navigate the entire process -- from deciding whether your're ready to buy, all the way to that final proud step, getting the keys to your new home." The Quick Series guide to Buying A Home is a good refresher tool for current homeowner's considering purchasing a new home too! Stop in the Relocation Assistance Program Office (room 1-1-7) and pick one up before making your final home purchasing decision!

TRICARE - North Region

Training

What is Relocation Assistance?
Why do I as a supervisor need Relocation Assistance?
Why do I as a new employee need Relocation Assistance?
Check out this link to get the answers!



Designed and developed with the Military Services, the Office of the Secretary of Defense has spearheaded an initiative to bring standardized sponsorship training to all appointed unit sponsors regardless of Service. The Office of Communications, MC&FP is pleased to announce prime time use of the eSponsorship Application & Training program." To begin, please click on the below “eSponsorship Application Training” tab. To guide you through the eSponsorship Application & Training, please click on the Quick Start Guide below that applies to your position, i.e. sponsor or transferee. Thank you!




 

Plan My Move Relocation Assistance Links
(Updated 2/16/10)

Tell us how we are doing!

Click on ICE

Local Information
(Updated 2/16/10)

Helpful Tools
(Updated 2/26/10)

The appearance of a NAME AND CONTACT on this website does not imply official endorsement by the DoD; this list is not intended to be considered all-inclusive -- the information is merely provided as a convenience to you, the client.