USAG Japan, Zama  Military and Family Support Center

Your Military and Family Support Center provides relocation assistance to help make PCS moves as smooth as possible. Resources include:

• PCS planning: Most relocation assistance programs offer consultations to help you with the moving process. If this your first military move, your first time moving overseas or you have challenging or complex circumstances contact your installation Relocation Assistance Program as soon as possible for support.
• Plan My Move: An online Defense Department relocation tool that provides you with customizable checklists and links to helpful resources for the tasks ahead.
• Military OneSource: A website and call center that offer 24/7 support for moving information and resources. Learn more about PCS basics and download this fact sheet 7 Steps to Make Your Household Goods Move a Smart Move. For comprehensive moving resources and information, including Defense Personal Property log in details, visit Moving Your Personal Property.
• Workshops and briefings: Workshops vary by location. You may find classes on housing options, moving with children, moving with pets and more.
• Predeparture briefings: These sessions provide essential information about your move and may be required for some populations.
• Special needs: If you have a child or family member enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, contact your installation EFMP-Family Support office to assist you.
• Settling-in services: Look for welcome programs or local area tours that may offered. Overseas services may include introductory language classes and cultural awareness activities.
• Foreign-born spouse support: Assistance includes information and referral to resources such as immigration and naturalization.
• Emergency assistance: Sometime emergencies occur while moving. The Military and Family Support Center has the resources to provide emergency financial assistance, as well as information and referrals.
• Authorized housing flexibility options: Eligible service members with PCS orders may be entitled to flexibilities such as extended stays in government housing and early housing eligibility. Contact your military personnel office for more information.
• Spouse licensure reimbursement: Your service branch may reimburse spouses up to $1,000 for relicensure and certification costs resulting from relocations or PCS moves. See this Military OneSource article Transferring Your Professional License for more information and specific service branch policies.

Army Community Service’s Relocation Readiness Program office, located in Building 402, provides assistance to relocating service members, Department of the Army civilians, their family members and retirees.

Loan Closet items are loaned out for 30 days while waiting to receive household goods. Personnel will receive their housing prior to receiving HHG, so you will need to pack linens in your luggage or mail them ahead of your arrival because the Loan Closet does not provide linens. Limited supplies of furniture are available from the Housing Furnishing Management Branch; they can provide projections for available furniture around your arrival.

Before you leave your present duty station, coordinate with the local Relocation Assistance Program at your family service center. The ACS RRP office provides assistance in every aspect of relocating. A wide range of services are offered to help you before, during and after your move.

You will receive post-move assistance shortly after your arrival. Our in-processing office will provide an easy-to-follow, step-by-step sheet of areas you need to check in with, including finance, housing, driver training and vehicle registration.

You will automatically be enrolled in the two-part Command Right Start Program:

• Part I -- Newcomers Orientation: A welcome briefing by the installation commander and key representatives from the community, facilitated by ACS. This day includes breakfast items and beverages and a Taste of Japan luncheon. This mandatory orientation is held the first and third Thursday of each month for military and civilian personnel stationed within the Camp Zama environments. Adult family members are welcome and encouraged to attend. We recommend active duty bring a change of civilian clothes in order to participate in the Train Tour in the afternoon.
• Part II -- Japanese Head Start: A weeklong Japanese language, customs and culture class for military and civilian personnel conducted by the Academic Training Division (Education Center). Adult family members may also attend.

Military and civilian personnel are required to attend both of these programs within 60 days of their arrival at Camp Zama.

Personnel who are leaving the military are also required to out-process through the Army Career and Alumni Program. Adult family members who are relocating with their sponsor should visit ACS Relocation Assistance well in advance of their permanent change of station. There is also job search preparation information for the next assignment.

The Information and Referral Program at ACS includes driving and train maps to other bases as well as points of interest.

ACS will also distribute welcome packets upon request. Weekly English as a Second Language classes and Japanese classes are offered at no charge.

For more information, call ACS at 011-81-46-407-HELP (4357) or DSN 315-263-HELP (4357).