Iwakuni MCAS » Preparing for the Move
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Preparing for the Move
Obtain Information:
1. Be sure to download and/or read all the information on the Welcome Aboard Package page
2. Visit the official MCAS Iwakuni website Welcome Aboard section at http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcasiwakuni/ for information about PCSing to MCAS Iwakuni, including travel information, recommended arrival airports, and pet information.
3. Visit MilitaryHOMEFRONT then click on “Troops and Families”, then click “Moving” to download a copy of the installation guide for MCAS Iwakuni (it contains base information and a phone directory, and a lot of your questions may be answered by browsing this guide); this document is also available for download onmy Welcome Aboard page. There is also a move planner on the same MilitaryHOMEFRONT site that will generate a calendar to help you plan your move every step of the way.
Medical and Suitability Screening:
If accompanied, as soon as you obtain your orders, go to medical to begin the required medical screening process for overseas suitability for all family members.
The process includes your completion of an entire medical background, so have that information available, but you are not required to bring it with you to the screening appointment; the appointment is just to provide you with the necessary paperwork, to be filled out and returned as soon as possible. The screening process can take some time to complete, so it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Upon determination of overseas suitability, your S-1 will request an “Area Clearance” from the S-1, MCAS Iwakuni. A sponsor will be assigned by MCAS Iwakuni upon approval of “Area Clearance.”
Below are some of the forms that you and your physician may be required to complete. These references and checklists should provide you a quick and accurate answer to many of your questions on what preparations are necessary for your overseas PCS. Please note, however, that these may not be the most current forms in use; I am providing these links simply to aid you in understanding the process. Your medical facility will supply you with the current forms needed.
The following forms are in fillable PDF format, meaning you can fill in the information on your own computer and print out the forms:
Passports:
You will need to obtain a passport for each member of your family prior to flying to Japan. You should obtain them as soon as possible, because it can take up to two months to receive a passport (though it is often much sooner than that, especially when applying for a “no-fee” passport on base).
There are two types of passports: “no-fee” and “tourist.” There is a difference!
“No-fee” passports are available on base free of charge, however, these can only be used in conjunction with official orders and for PCS purposes.
According to the passport office at Iwakuni (x5591, ask for passport information): You can travel on a no-fee passport back and forth to the United States on leave with your sponsor, or without your sponsor, while you are stationed here in Japan. You may also travel to other countries on a no-fee passport while you are stationed at Iwakuni, as long as the country you are visiting does not object. Contact the destination country’s Consulate or US Embassy to determine whether or not entry is allowed with a no-fee passport.
After your tour here in Japan is over and you are at the next duty station, or you are back in the States, you can no longer use your no-fee passport for traveling to other countries, because it is only to be used while you are in conjunction with official military travel. If, for example, you wanted to come back to Japan to visit a friend, you would need to obtain a tourist passport.
“Tourist” passports may be used for all of the same situations as no-fee passports, with one additional benefit: you can use a “tourist” passport for travel to any country (in other words, those countries which do not allow you to enter with a “no-fee” passport). A tourist passport may be obtained through your local post office, and you will be charged a fee of about $80 per passport. This fee is typically not eligible for reimbursement on a PCS travel claim, since no-fee passports are available. However, it never hurts to ask, especially if you think you might need or want a tourist passport while you are stationed in Japan.
Regardless of which type of passport you decide to obtain, you will need to present a certified copy of your birth certificate when you apply, which will be mailed in to obtain your passport and returned to you when you pick up or receive your passport.
Active duty on official orders may travel on the orders without a passport.
More information about passports can also be obtained online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html.
Birth Certificates:
A certified birth certificate has a registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. To obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate, go to http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm, locate the state in which you were born, and follow the instructions provided on the appropriate link. You may be charged a small fee (around $10) for obtaining the certified copy of the birth certificate, and you should allow 30 days for processing (though most states do not take that long).
Marriage Certificate:
Be sure you have a copy of your marriage license/certificate at this time, as they are often ordered through the same department that handles birth certificates (vital records).
Pets:
If you plan to bring your cat or dog (or perhaps other pets) to Iwakuni, you will need to begin the process of preparing your pet immediately, because the entire process from start to finish takes a considerable amount of time. Click the “Pets” link on this web site for details on the process of bringing pets to Japan under the new military guidelines.
You are allowed to bring a maximum of two fur-bearing pets to Iwakuni. Please be aware, however, that dogs are only allowed to reside in the townhouses, which are currently undergoing renovation for new air conditioners, and your wait time may be extensive, possibly to the point of your having to obtain housing off-base until a townhouse is available. Cats are allowed in both the mid-rises and townhouses.
Many off-base living quarters do not allow pets, so you may opt to leave dogs behind with family or friends until you can obtain suitable housing, then send for them to be shipped to you via a commercial air pet cargo shipping service, such as that offered by United.
Terrorism Awareness Course:
You will have a contact person at your current duty station for assisting you through the process of obtaining area clearance. One part of the area clearance is completion of an Anti-Terrorism Awareness Course, which can be done online. Be sure to print the certificate at the end of the course, and turn it in to your point of contact. This must be done individually for each person who is coming to Iwakuni.
Area Clearance:
Upon approval of area clearance, do the following-
Make contact with your assigned sponsor. Provide him/her with your telephone, address, and contact information while on leave en route.
Visit TMO to arrange household goods shipment.
Visit the Passenger Travel Office to make travel arrangements.
Provide your sponsor with copies of your PCS Orders (web orders will suffice), Area Clearance Approval Message, and your travel itinerary as soon as possible. Emailing the PCS Orders and Area Clearance to the sponsor as soon as you receive them is the fastest and easiest method, so that he/she can print off as many copies as are needed. These documents enable your sponsor to obtain your post office box (begin forwarding your mail to it a few weeks before you leave your current duty station, and you can ship items to yourself ahead of time so they are here when you arrive), make temporary lodging arrangements (and kennel reservations if you are bringing a pet; pets are not allowed in temporary lodging), secure your housing appointment and placement on the advanced housing list, and inform the base schools of arriving students (if applicable).
Travel with an adequate amount of cash for any emergency situations such as overnight delays or use of local transportation due to missed flights. Estimate no less than $200 per adult and $100 for each child, converted to Japanese Yen before leaving the United States.
Temporary lodging is available for up to 60 days. You are responsible for paying your bill every 15 days. Keep your receipts to file for reimbursement with the Finance Office.
Should you find it necessary to take care of these items yourself, or if you simply prefer to do so, visit the Iwakuni Contact Info page to obtain contact information for these offices.
Finances:
When PCSing (moving, Permanent Change of Station) to Iwakuni, you will be eligible for pay allowances (“free money”) for different expenses. Please Note: The following list is an overview of the allowances you may receive; not everyone will be eligible for all those listed.
DLA (Dislocation Allowance, amount varies by rank and number of dependents.)
Advance Travel Pay (NOT Advance Pay, that comes out of your next pay check, thereby reducing your next pay amount!)
TLE (Temporary Living Expenses)
TLA (Temporary Living Allowance, overseas only)
MIHA (Move-In Housing Allowance, overseas off-base only; Helps defray the start-up costs associated with moving into civilian housing, such as turning on utilities, etc.)
Per Diem
Mileage Allowance
You may also want to check out this page: Military Pay Explained.
Be certain that you have enough money to pay for Temporary Lodging on base until you obtain a housing assignment. You will need money for food, transportation, and for purchasing a vehicle, when that time comes (refer to the section on Vehicles under Transportation for details).
Upon Arrival:
Immediately upon arrival, you must have your PCS Orders endorsed. During working hours: Report to the Joint Reception Center (JRC), Building 335. After working hours: Report to the Staff Duty Officer, Building One.
On the next duty day, service members must check-in at the following offices:
Unaccompanied personnel (E-5 and below): JRC, Building 335
All: Station SACO, Building One
All: IPAC New Joins Section, Building One
All: Check in at Medical/Dental
All personnel, ages 13 and up, must attend the Welcome Aboard Indoctrination. Visit http://www.marines.mil/units/mciwest/mcbjapan/mcasiwakuni/, http://www.mccsiwakuni.com or contact the Marine and Family Services, Relocation Assistance Office for more information.
Telephone Numbers (the first number is for dialing from on base, and the second number is for dialing from within the United States):
Staff Duty Officer: 253-4001 (011-81-827-79-4001)
Joint Reception Center: 253-3365 (011-81-827-79-3365)
Relocation Assistance Office: 253-3311 (011-81-827-79-3311)
Family Housing Office: 253-5541 (011-81-827-79-5541)
