Relocation Assistance

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.

Ensure the military member and/or family members have the required passports and/or visa prior to final out-processing. Military members and/or family members are not allowed to final out-process without the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or family members. Military members electing the accompanied tour will not be permitted to out-process without having the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or family members.

These actions are necessary to prevent unforeseen hardships to the military members and their families. Therefore, as a last reiteration, it is essential that members do not out-process without having the appropriate passports/visas for themselves (if applicable) and/or for their family members.

Services for Outbound Personnel

Outbound Services – Moving overseas presents unique challenges and opportunities. Individual service members and families are offered relocation counseling with details tailored to their specific needs and concerns.   There is an hour and a half Smooth Move class available at our Center, twice a month.  One-on-one appointments are available.   

Departure Temporary Living Allowance (Air Force Only)– Before departing in compliance with a PCS order, please be sure to check in with the Housing Management Office, located at Hickam Communities in Building 6500, to file your TLA before you depart. This office is the only office that can process your outgoing TLA. You will not be able to file your departure TLA with your gaining command. Please call 808-312-0199 and 808-590-1402 or jbphh_mho@us.navy.mil, if you have any questions.

Loan Furniture (Air Force Only) – Temporary furniture is handled through the Furnishings Management Office at 808-448-0300. A copy of PCS orders, lease rental documents and signed loaner agreements are required.

Loan Furniture (Navy only) – Arrival and departure furniture arrangements are made through the Housing Services Center at the Navy Aloha Center, or by phone at 808-474-1820/1821.

Transition Assistance Program – This mandatory three-day workshop provides transitioning service members with an intensive overview of transition resources including information and referral for veterans’ benefits and services, individual transition plan consultation and labor market analysis.

Additional two-day workshops are available for all transitioning service members and their spouses but are mandatory for service members with a tier 3 assignment. The two-day tracks available are the Department of Labor Employment, My Education, DOL Vocational and Boots to Business (entrepreneurship) workshops. In most cases, it is required that you attend TAP 365 days before your date of separation or retirement. Spouses are encouraged to attend. Navy members must register through their command career counselor. Air Force members must book an appointment for initial counseling with a transition counselor at the Military and Family Support Center. You will be booked for TAP and additional workshops that fit your transition needs during the initial counseling session.

Services for Inbound Personnel

Sponsorship Training (Sponsor Orientation) – In support of the Sponsorship Program, MFSC Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam offers weekly trainings at the MFSC Pearl Harbor Moanalua Center. Please refer to the MFSC JBPHH Great Life Hawaii website for respective dates, times and locations (subject to change). This class not only covers the latest changes in policy and regulations that affect incoming personnel and their families but also provides insight into what makes an effective sponsor.

Welcome Aboard Information/Sponsor Information – Welcome Aboard information should be obtained three to six months prior to your arrival in Hawaii.  If you do not receive information from your sponsor, please ask your sponsor to send you information.  If you do not receive information prior to your arrival, please stop by the MFSC JBPHH to gather information after your arrival.  Contact our relocation services personnel for information and assistance.   Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7:30  a.m. to 4 p.m.

JBPHH Newcomer's Orientation.  This orientation occurs on the Second Tuesday of every month at the Hickam Chapel and is available to Navy and Air Force service members, family members, and JBPHH civilians.  Registration is available at the MFSC JBPHH Great Life Hawaii Website, https://jbphh.greatlifewhatii.com/support/military-family-support-center/mfscclasses.  Also available in conjunction with the Newcomer's Orientation on the Second Thursday of the Month from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m is the Arizona Boat Detachment "Harbor Tour."  Contact 808-472-0296 for information and reservations for the Harbor Tour.

Play Groups – The JBPHH play group provides parents new to the base and caregivers the opportunity to network in a safe and fun environment. This program is available for children ages 0-5.  For more information, call the Armed Services YMCA at 808-448-1972, located on Hickam Air Field, at 100 McChord Street, Building 1859 or E-Mail their office at branchdirectorph@asymcahi.org.  Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Installation-Specific Information

Each Fleet and Family Support Center and Military and Family Readiness Center has a Relocation Assistance Program manager/counselor/staff member ready to assist you with the relocation process and to help prepare you for your PCS move. Contact your local FFSC or MFRC to schedule an appointment. Your receiving command should have a sponsor assigned to assist you with your transfer. Be sure to check with your gaining command if you have not heard from your sponsor. The mission of the RAP Office is to help relieve some of the overwhelming stress associated with a move. Whether it is a PCS, separation or retirement, we offer service members and their families individual counseling, workshops, seminars and resources covering all aspects of the relocation process. We encourage you to take advantage of the variety of services available.

Installation information for JBPHH is available at https://installations.militaryonesource.mil; click on OConus, Navy or Air Force, Hawaii, and JBPHH. 

Relocation Assistance

Upon arrival, call the MFSC JBPHH for any assistance you might need. MFSC JBPHH provides information and referral for resources available in the community and at other nearby military installations. Arrival services include the Sponsor Orientation class as well as information and referral on housing, schools, home buying, culture information, newcomer briefs, loan closet and more. Call 808-474-1999 or visit the MFSC JBPHH, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sponsorship training is available through your Command Indoctrination Program, contact your Command Sponsor Coordinator (CSC), for Navy personnel.  In accordance with OPNAVINST 1740.3E, Sponsor Orientation classroom training is available at MFSC JBPHH.   A 'Sponsor's Checklist'/ 'Command Sponsor Duties and Responsibilities' List is available for your convenience in the OPNAVINST 1740.3E as Enclosures (1) and (2).