Incoming naval service members and their families will soon be required to live within the fence and on base, if housing is available.
The question now comes, would this affect housing outside the base? As military members do contribute to Guam’s housing and rental market.
“To maximize occupancy and best utilize government housing assets on Naval Base Guam, mandatory assignment for all newly reporting/incoming accompanied servicemembers to Military Family Housing will be implemented when the occupancy rate in each specific bedroom category is at or below 90%,” said the Department of the Navy in a media release.
The policy applies to service members E-1 to O-6.
This was authorized by the Commander of Joint Region Marianas, Rear Admiral Benjamin Nicholson.
In a statement to PNC, JRM commented that this, “In order to maximize the use of on-base Military Family Housing and minimize any real or perceived market pressurization created by the military’s need for off-base family housing.”
According to the Navy, the policy is effective for all newly reporting or incoming accompanied military personnel who are relocating to Guam from off-island, and who complete their initial check-in with NBG Housing Service Center on or after February 20th.
The policy also applies to previously unaccompanied service members residing in NBG Unaccompanied Housing who acquired an on-station, command-sponsored dependent during their tour and become eligible for MFH.
The Navy says that declining the mandatory housing will result in loss of eligibility to receive Overseas Housing Allowance as well as Move In-Housing Allowance entitlements for off-base housing during their tour.
As for how military members affect the island’s housing and rental situation, JRM said that they are “closely monitoring the dynamic housing situation in Guam, and will continue to coordinate with the Government of Guam to ensure military housing policy decisions are made in the best interest of the entire community that calls Guam Home.”
