MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Provost Marshal's Office has implemented a new policy that allows Station residents to have their residence checked while temporarily unoccupied.
The new order requires occupants who go on leave or temporary assigned duty for more than 15 days to notify PMO and the Housing Office prior to leaving the residence.
"When the housing unit is unoccupied, it become easy targets for vandalism or theft," said Staff Sgt. Bernard Higdon, Physical Security and Crime Prevention specialist. "With PMO checking the vacant quarters, the likelihood of mischief is cut drastically."
People asking PMO to perform courtesy checks on their quarters must go to PMO and fill out the housing courtesy check form.
After the form has been filled out, the PMO desk sergeant will file it and enter pertinent information into the housing check logbook.
"Each night, the logbook will be issued to a PMO patrol unit before they go on duty for the night" said Higdon. "The duty watch commander will ensure that all vacated quarters are checked each night by assigning them to a patrol unit. After the patrol unit checks the residence, it will be logged in to the logbook."
If for some reason the check is not finished by the end of the shift, the watch commander will ensure the oncoming duty is told which residents were not checked, and those will be checked during the day.
"Patrol units who complete residents checks will ensure thorough inspections are done," said Higdon. "They will check the residence for forced entry, including broken windows, screens, pry marks on doors and windows. They will also look for overall damage to the quarters, signs of vandalism, unsecured doors and windows and any other significant changes to the residence like if the car is not there when it is supposed to be or if the lights are on when they should not be."
When the occupants return, they must call the PMO desk sergeant or go to PMO in person and report that they have returned and the checks are no longer needed.
"This new policy gives everyone, including myself, reassurance that the base is trying to take care of the families," said Reyes. "It's good to know that there is someone who will be there watching our homes when we can't."
For more information on the new housing courtesy checks, call Gunnery Sgt. Mark Doyle or Master Sgt. Rodney Redmon at 253-3516.