For many families, living in government housing provides easy access to community services and amenities such as schools, youth programs, Commissary/Exchange, and food services. This is especially true in overseas locations where you will find yourself dependent on the support facilities and services on the installation much more than in the U.S. Living in government housing provides a safe and secure place to reside and provides a mentoring and supportive environment for families.
All accompanied members are required to report to the Military Housing Office NLT 48 hours (2 Business Days) after arrival.
Government housing is provided to military members who meet the following criteria:
- Military members accompanied with authorized dependents
- Military-Married-to-Military couples assigned to same or adjacent base and residing jointly
- Key and Essential Personnel
- Eligible Civilians (space available)
All accompanied active duty personnel will be assigned to government owned family housing until such time as the occupancy rate exceeds 90%. Compliance with these procedures is mandatory in order to maximize use of existing and available housing inventory while meeting specific Marine Corps goals and requirements. Additionally, Family Housing does not assign housing by address unless on the Key & Essential List. For more details, please see MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT TO US GOVERNMENT OWNED FAMILY Housing.
Contact the MCASI Military Family Housing (MFH) office if you have questions about the housing eligibility at DSN (315) 253-5541 or commercial number from U.S. 011-81-827-79-5541 and/or send an e-mail to iwknfamilyhousing@usmc.mil.
Main Base housing consists of tower units, town homes, three (3) floor row houses, and single unit housing for all ranks. Atago Hill housing consists of single unit homes and duplex town homes for senior enlisted, company grade and field grade officers. Family Housing does not assign housing by address unless on the Key & Essential List. For minimum bedroom requirements, see Quarters Size and Minimum Bedroom Requirements.
Accompanied personnel with a permanent change of station (PCS) to MCASI are authorized a certain weight limit. Please ask your local HR for authorized JTR weight allowance. Because government quarters can be small, accompanied personnel are encouraged to NOT ship their full JTR weight allowance; instead we recommend that you use your non-temporary storage (NTS) entitlement at the departing location. If you ship your full JTR weight allowance, be aware that MCASI Housing does not have storage facilities to accommodate excess household items, and local rental storage is very limited. Further, you are not entitled to ship items back to the continental U.S. (CONUS) for NTS. FH will provide washer, dryer, stove, and refrigerator and offer loaner furniture kits for up to 60 days or until HHGs arrives. DO NOT SHIP washers, dryers, refrigerators, and stoves.
Aggressive or potentially aggressive dog breeds are not allowed on the installation. For complete information, see the III MEF MCIPACO 10570.1 Domestic Animal and Control.
MCASI SPECIFIC PET RESTRICTION
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All non-tower units: Authorized up to two dogs and/or cats--no more than two, total
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Designated Towers, first two floors: Authorized up to two dogs and/or cats--no more than two, total.
Contact a MFH office counselor in advance to check the availability of a pet friendly tower unit before shipping dogs and/or cats. We cannot guarantee that a pet friendly unit will be available when you arrive. If you elect to bring your pet and wait for pet friendly unit, your TLA entitlement may be terminated.
APPLYING FOR GOVERNMENT HOUSING
Submit an advance application for assignment (DD Form 1746) through the MFH office at your losing installation and include a complete copy of your PCS orders. The effective date of the application is the date you depart your prior installation (including members with TDY enroute) or the date ordered to active duty. Send your application and orders to iwknfamilyhousing@usmc.mil. Please see PROCESS FOR ON BASE ASSIGNMENT TO HOUSING.
Applications may also be submitted upon arrival during your first visit to the MFH. The MFH staff will assist you in completing the application and will review PCS orders and housing options with you. For walk-in applications, as long as you apply for government housing within 30 days of arrival, you will be placed on the waiting list effective the date you departed your previous installation. If you process your application after 30 days, the application date will be the date of the walk-in. Make sure your application identifies and includes supporting documentation for an impending promotion or gain of dependents so we can place you on the appropriate waiting list.
APPLYING FOR OFF-BASE HOUSING
For information, see PROCESS FOR OFF-BASE HOUSING ASSIGNMENT.
The use of the commercially available broadband high-speed satellite internet system (such as Starlink™) is authorized for personal use on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Government use of Appropriated Funds to purchase or use these systems for official government purposes is subject to approval by the U.S. Marine Corps Authorizing Official and must be requested through the S-6 Department. On-base personal users are advised that the Air Station Commander may direct the termination of operations of any privately owned on-base communications system if it causes electromagnetic interference with military operational communications. Users should also contact the housing office prior to any modifications to government assigned quarters such as antenna mounting. This notice is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any commercial services.
TLA will be paid in accordance with Joint Federal Regulation (JTR) and III MEF/MCIPAC-MCBBO 7220.1B. Member receiving TLA may reject the first available adequate housing offered. However, TLA will stop on the date which adequate/available housing would have been assigned. Please see TLA information.
If you have any questions, please contact the Military Family Housing Office at DSN (315) 253-5541 OR commercial number 011-81-827-5541. You may also send inquiries to iwknfamilyhousing@usmc.mil.
We highly encourage you to obtain legal liability and personal property insurance for your possessions and should choose the options and amounts that best fit your needs and lifestyle.
MCCS Iwakuni provides following services;
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MCX Marine Corps Exchange
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Auto Hobby Center
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Child Care & Youth Programs
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Enlisted and Officers Club
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Fitness Centers & Annex IronWorks
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Library
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Indoor/Outdoor Pools Aquatics
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Outdoor Recreation / Equipment Rental
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Kennel and Pet Services
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Strike Zone Bowling Center
Developing a sense of community here starts before you arrive at MCAS Iwakuni. We recognize the efforts behind this transition and want to make sure you are satisfied with the details of your move. To obtain Referral and Relocation Assistance, we encourage you to reach out for personalized services provided by the Family Housing (FH) Office staff.
While active-duty U.S. military personnel may enter Japan under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with proper Department of Defense (DoD) identification and travel orders, all SOFA family members, civilian employees and contractors must have a valid passport and, in some cases, a SOFA visa to enter Japan. Active-duty military personnel should obtain a tourist passport prior to leaving the United States to accommodate off-duty travel elsewhere in Asia as obtaining one while in Japan can take several weeks. Personnel whose duties will include official travel should also obtain an Official Passport before coming to Japan to avoid delays of up to 2 months, as from overseas these applications must be referred to a special office in Washington, adding processing times. DoD travelers should consult the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide, DoD 4500.54, before leaving the United States. Additionally, AMC has also begun to enforce the requirement for Special Issuance Passports (i.e., No-Fee) for USCS civilians and dependents of SOFA members travelling to Japan. Please consult your Sponsor for verification.
The Department of State offices in Japan disseminate threat information through their nationwide email warden system and posts current threat information on the U.S. Embassy in Japan website. Anyone may sign up for emailed warden system messages through the Web site. The Department of State continues to develop information about potential threats to American citizens overseas and to share threat information through its consular information program documents available at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page. The government of Japan is vigilant in tracking terrorist threat indicators and remains at a high state of alert. Local police substations (Koban) and police emergency dispatchers (tel. 110) should be contacted to report suspicious activity.
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad."
PLANNING YOUR MOVE
Moving to an oversea location requires additional planning to make sure you and your family are prepared for the transition. There are many things you can do before you arrive to ensure the process settling into your new home and community is seamless.
Prior to travel to MCAS Iwakuni, arrange to meet your sponsor or someone from your unit upon arrival. Communication with your Sponsor is key to a successful transition to MCAS Iwakuni.
HOUSE HOLD GOODS
Due to the smaller size of government quarters and community housing, all members are highly encouraged not to ship their full JFTR weight allowance. Therefore, we recommend that you utilize your Non-Temporary Storage entitlement at origin. In the event you ship your full JFTR weight allowance, MCAS Iwakuni has limited storage facilities at a cost to you that will accommodate excess household items. Local rental storage units are also limited and DMO will not ship items back to the continental U.S. for non-temporary storage.
LODGING
Prior to your arrival, you need to secure temporary accommodations. Visit the Inns of the Corps Website for contact information and details about the lodging facilities and amenities.
DRIVER’S LICENSE
Persons who desire to operate a privately owned vehicle must possess a U.S. civilian license and attend the MCAS Iwakuni Local Conditions Course (offered at Welcome Aboard brief). Active Duty, DoD civilians, SOFA status contractors and their dependents may attend this course. Personnel must be assigned to MCAS Iwakuni and on PCS or TDY orders more than 30 days. Once you complete the required drivers training, you will be granted a USFJ Form 4EJ, the drivers' license legally valid for use in Japan by U.S. forces operating a privately owned or SOFA registered vehicle. For more details, please visit the Driving in Japan page.
POWER REQUIREMENTS
The electrical current in Japan is 100 volts and 50 hertz as opposed to 120 volts and 60 hertz in the United States. Small appliances, with the exception of appliances with timing devices installed, will work at this lower voltage, but check the data plate on the back of your devices before shipment. Departing service members often sell their used 100 volt appliances for a reasonable price. Visit local Iwakuni Facebook pages for sample advertisements of products available for sale.
TELEPHONE, INTERNET AND TELEVISION
Fiber Optical and cable TV are becoming mainstreams for telephone (IP phone), internet, and TV services. If an antenna for digital broadcasting is installed at your house, you can watch Japanese TV channels. If you wish to watch American channels, you must have either fiber-optic or cable TV. Decoder boxes may be used, but are subject to eligibility and availability in Housing Self-Help. There are many options for telephone, internet, and VPN’s. Recommend visiting local Iwakuni Facebook pages and ask around. You’ll find many choices when it comes to these options with everyone having views on the service they are getting.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please contact the Military Family Housing Office at DSN (315) 253-5541 OR commercial number 011-81-827-5541. You may also send inquiries to iwknfamilyhousing@usmc.mil.
Phone:
253-5541
E-mail:
iwknfamilyhousing@usmc.mil
Address:
Bldg. 200
Hours of Operation:
Mon: 1300-1630
Tues-Fri: 0800-1200; 1300-1630
Trouble Desk:
253-3131 Option 1 (For Maintenance Issues)
Main Base Self-Help:
Mon: 1300-1630
Tues-Fri: 0800-1200; 1300-1630
Atago Self-Help:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 0900-1200
After Hours, For Emergency Only:
From Japanese Cell: 080-3343-7844
From US Cell: 011-81-80-3343-7844