Check-in Procedures

For Air Force personnel

Upon arriving at Joint Base Charleston base introduction information can be provided at either base gate or at the base lodging office. This information covers key facilities and phone numbers a newcomer should find helpful. The Inns of Charleston (lodging), located at 214 Arthur Drive, is the 24-hour arrival point. Those arriving after normal duty hours, on a holiday, or weekend should report there to sign in.

Newcomers arriving on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. must report to their unit Commander's Support Staff (CSS) for in-processing on the day of arrival. The following documents are required for in-processing: your in-processing package (large sealed envelope), your in-processing worksheet (from gaining unit), Air Force Form 330 and a copy of your orders. The CSS in your gaining unit will schedule you for the next Newcomer's Orientation workshop hosted by the Military & Family Readiness Center. Newcomers arriving after normal duty hours, on a holiday, weekend or after 3:30 p.m. each business day, must turn in their in-processing package at their unit CSS on the next duty day after arrival.

Your sponsor or unit designee will assist you with completing required paperwork related to in-processing, and be a big help pointing you in the right direction and/or taking you to key locations until you are settled into your new community.

If authorized, request approval for permissive temporary duty travel for house hunting at your unit's LeaveWeb point of contact office. Your AF Form 988 will be filled out at this time; however it must be approved by your gaining unit commander prior to beginning leave. Your gaining unit can grant up to eight days.

You must in-process at your gaining unit prior to taking permissive or ordinary leave.

** Please note that if your unit does NOT have a CSS, you can come to the MPF to finish in-processing **

For Navy personnel

Please contact your gaining command to make arrangement for a sponsor to meet you for checking in during and after working hours. If you are unsure of where you should "check in" for your new command at Naval Weapons Station, Joint Base Charleston, call the Base Quarterdeck for directions and guidance as to proper check-in procedures. They can be reached 24 hours a day by calling 843-794-7565/7648/4462 or DSN 312-794-7565/7648/4462. Please note Naval Support Activity Charleston's Quarterdeck is not staffed 24/7. 

If reporting to a tenant command, please refer to the Major Units Listing tab for their contact information to learn of their procedures.

If authorized, request approval for permissive leave for house hunting while in-processing. Your request will be filled out at this time; however it must be approved by your gaining command prior to beginning leave. Your gaining unit can grant up to eight days.

Your sponsor will be a big help in pointing you in the right direction and/or taking you to key locations until you are settled into your new community. Review the article regarding Sponsorship and how you can request one assigned to you.

Important papers should not be packed with your household goods or unaccompanied baggage. Plan to take the following items with you: identification cards, PCS orders, passports, leave authorizations, shot records for you and your family, medical records, all documents pertaining to the shipment of household goods including your personal inventory and/or pictures of your possessions, appraisals for valuable items, last Leave and Earnings Statement, Power of Attorney (check expiration date), wills, banking information, state and federal tax records, deeds and mortgages, professional licenses, car registration, spouse resume and last pay statement, copy of investment portfolio, Social Security cards, school records for children, letters of credit for utility waivers, original birth and adoption records and naturalization records. Keep your sponsor, Key Spouse (Air Force personnel), quarterdeck (Navy personnel), and Command Ombudsman (Navy personnel) phone numbers with you at all times. Communicate freely and as needed.

It is in your best interest to make temporary lodging arrangements as soon as possible. **Please remember your sponsor can and should assist with making your lodging reservations.**

Temporary lodging on the Naval Weapons Station is available at Foster Creek Villas - Reservations can be made by calling 843-794-2120.

Temporary lodging on the air base is available at the Inns of Charleston - Reservations can be made by calling 843-963-8000 or DSN 312-673-8000.

If on-base lodging is not available, a non-availability letter can be provided with a listing of off-base hotels.

Make kennel arrangements for pets if you will be staying in the military lodging system or hotels or motels that are not pet friendly. **Foster Creek Villas does have one pet friendly villa**

When getting married in conjunction with permanently changing station of assignment:

1. If you get married before departing your current station - please visit your local ID card/DEERS office to add your spouse/dependents. Be sure to update your sponsor!
2. If you get married en route, you can visit the nearest ID card office. Use this link for available locations: https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/
3. You can also wait to visit the ID card/DEERS office until arrival at your new duty station to update dependency status and get ID cards. Remember that your spouse/dependents are not covered for benefits until they are loaded into DEERS, so do not delay any longer than necessary.

Be sure to review information at MilConnect regarding what documents to bring for ID cards/DEERS enrollment, and what can happen if you delay entering your spouse/dependents into DEERS: https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/public/faq/Life_Events-Marriage