WELCOME TO OKINAWA MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING (MFH)
Welcome to Department of Defense (DoD) Family Housing (FH) on Okinawa! We are pleased to have you as a member of our community, and we hope your stay in family housing is a pleasant one. The Air Force is the Executive Agent for MFH as a Joint Service Program. This means the family housing process is centralized for all accompanied Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen regardless of which base/camp/installation of assignment. There are more than 6,928 on-base housing units located on seven bases and camps throughout the island of Okinawa.
MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT TO US GOVERNMENT OWNED FAMILY HOUSING
All active duty accompanied personnel are required to reside on base if adequate MFH units are available. To keep the process fair to all families with complete application packages, the first available unit in inventory will be offered to the first eligible family on the waitlist that has provided all required documentation. However, we highly recommend that all families reserve lodging in the case that a home is not move-in ready upon arrival.
All active duty accompanied personnel must report to MHO NLT 72 hours after arrival to properly check in.
To ensure we have homes available for all services and to reduce transit time to work, we have a “Live Where You Work” policy. This policy sets two locations for housing assignment based upon the duty location on the military member’s orders.
If you were assigned to Military Family Housing but desire to live in town, you can seek to move off-post after 12 months. To be approved to move off-post, occupancy in your grade (rank) and entitlement (bedrooms) must be at or above 90% in both your primary and secondary assignment locations. Your command must concur with the move and the relocation considered a convenience move and the cost associated is not funded.
If there was no Military Family Housing available when you arrived at Okinawa, you can seek to move on-post after 12 Months in community housing. To do so, ask to remain on the Waiting List in the "Lease Bypass" category. Once 12 months has passed, when a home becomes available in your grade (rank) and entitlement (bedrooms), you will be contacted. If you decline the family housing unit, you are removed from the wait list. This is considered beneficial to the U.S. Government and the cost of relocation is funded.
GOVERNMENT HOUSING
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. 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
APPLIANCES & LOANER FURNITURE
Major appliances and loaner furniture will be provided for on-base and off-base housing for those who are eligible. Appliances are provided for duration of the tour however loaner furniture will be provided for 90-days for inbound only. For eligible personnel during PCS, 60-day loaner furniture available as well. Appliances include Stove, Refrigerator, washer, dryer and dishwasher (on base only).
YARD MAINTENANCE
All on base residents are required to mow if a yard is present. Fences are not provided.
OKINAWA ENVIRONMENT
Mold is prevalent in this environment. Due to the subtropical climate of Okinawa, moisture and humidity are high and temperatures are just right for mold growth. This contributes to a higher incidence of mold and mildew concerns than may be experienced in other climates. Dehumidifiers are not provided.
PET POLICY IN GOVERNMENT FAMILY HOUSING
Dogs coming to Okinawa are subject to very strict control by the Government of Japan. The quarantine process is a minimum of 6 months (180 days) and it is recommended you begin the process immediately. A dog can serve the quarantine prior to arrival, but only if very strict conditions are met.
A dog can serve the quarantine duration on a military installation if the owner is assigned to military family housing and the pet will be restricted to an on-post family housing unit. Since 1 in 3 families will be living off-post, please consider the risk associated with bringing a pet to the island before the quarantine process is completed. Pets are not considered a factor when family housing assignments are made, and you could be housed in the local community where quarantined animals are not allowed. The expense of kenneling a pet on-post for the quarantine period can be EXTREMELY high. (minimum $25 per day)
Aggressive or potentially aggressive dog breeds are not allowed on the installation. For complete information, see the Local Pet Policy. All non-tower units: Authorized up to two dogs and/or cats--no more than two, total Designated Towers, 1st, 2nd and 3rd floor: Authorized up to two dogs and/or cats--no more than two, total. 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 Kadenahousing.customerservice@us.af.mil.
Applications may also be submitted upon arrival during your first visit to the MFH. Please allow 2-3 business days to allow the MFH staff will review all require documents. For walk-in applications, if 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. If you apply prior to your arrival as Port To Home application, you will be placed on the waiting list effective the date you will arrive. 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.
CIVILIANS LIVE OFF-POST
Department of Defense Family Housing is assigned according to a priority system. Since there are not enough homes for all accompanied military families, on-post homes are not currently being offered to Department of Defense Civilians. The exception to this policy is placement on the Key and Essential Personnel List which is centrally controlled by the 18th Wing with input from MCIPAC, USN and USAG-Okinawa.
K&E PERSONNEL
Key and Essential Personnel are those positions, either military or civilian, which are designated by senior island leadership as critical during emergencies. The list is updated annually or as requested by the 18th Wing, MCIPAC, USN or USAG-Okinawa. A copy of this policy is available upon request at the DoD housing office.
UNACCOMPANIED PERSONNEL
Each service component provides unaccompanied housing to their own population. Unaccompanied personnel should work closely with their unit, sponsor, or family readiness officer to learn more about available on-post and off-post processes.
INFORMATION CENTER