By Patricia Kime

A reimbursement increase for service members who move themselves that was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic is now permanent.

Troops who move themselves as part of a Personally Procured Move, commonly referred to as a do-it-yourself, or DITY, move, will receive 100% of what the government would pay a contracted moving company.

Until May 26, 2020, service members had been reimbursed 95% of the government's "Best Value" for DITY moves. On that date, the Defense Department lifted a stop-move order that had been put in place during the pandemic and increased the reimbursement rate by 5% to help clear the backlog of permanent change of station moves.

The change is permanent as of Jan. 1. It ensures that service members are reimbursed at 100% for the actual household goods weight transported -- up to their allowable amount, according to guidance issued Jan. 1 by U.S. Transportation Command.

As of Thursday, roughly two-thirds of all DoD installations remained under travel restrictions -- the result of an increase in coronavirus cases in their communities.

In early November, the DoD reached a peak in the number of installations cleared for travel during the pandemic, with 153 of 231 bases, or 66%, green-lighted for travel and PCS moves.

That number has decreased steadily since, with just 88 of installations, or 38%, open to travel.