Shaw personnel can now submit damage claims online Published March 2, 2007 By Senior Airman John Gordinier 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Shaw Airmen and government employees can now submit claims for damage to their household goods and personal property online. The only "filing" required after that is dropping off the pink copy of the shipping documents at the base legal office. The Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps consolidated the processing for these types of claims by creating the Air Force Claims Service Center in Dayton, Ohio, said Tech. Sgt. Keith Vershay, 20th Fighter Wing legal office claims examiner. Claims for lost or damaged household goods and privately owned vehicle shipments as well as damage to personal property located in government quarters or other authorized locations can all be processed online at https://claims.jag.af.mil/ "As employees complete their claims online, they can get customer service via the Web site or over the phone," Sergeant Vershay said. "Claimants are also receiving payments from the regional Defense Finance Accounting Service quicker." Once they complete the process online, claimants simply drop off the pink copy of the DD Form 1840/1840R, "Joint Statement of Loss or Damage at Delivery, Notice of Loss and/or Damage," to the local base legal office within 70 days from the date of delivery of household goods, said Master Sgt. Sabrina Cylin, 20th FW legal office law office superintendent. This new initiative converts paper filing to electronic filing and cuts down manpower, therefore, saving the Air Force money, said Maj. Scott Boehne, 20th FW legal office deputy staff judge advocate. Prior to the initiative, each claim was filed through the base legal office, which was more time consuming and created filing. The new process came about through the Judge Advocate General Corps 21 initiative, which is similar to the Air Force Smart Operations 21 program. JAG Corps 21 examines how the corps provides legal services and assesses whether such services could be provided more efficiently, Sergeant Cylin said. "With regard to claims services, the corps determined that a central claims processing center could better serve our clients than the prior method of decentralized claims services at each base legal office," she said. The corps opened the center in late 2006. It is taking over claims responsibilities for individual bases on a phased-in approach with the goal of serving the entire Air Force by spring 2007, Major Boehne said. For more information or to file a claim, go to the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps Web site or call at 1-877-754-1212 or DSN 986-8044.