Check-in Procedures

Keep your sponsor informed of your arrival date and time, size of family, and amount of luggage you are bringing, so they can arrange for transportation.

If your sponsor does not meet you, there is a Welcome/Information Center in the arrivals area of the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport for the use of military personnel and their families. The Welcome Center has information on Guam and phone numbers to all quarterdecks. The desk is manned during peak arrival times, usually from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. A phone is available to use when the desk is not manned.

Navy personnel must report to their command and attend a Housing brief before Temporary Lodging Allowance begins. If you arrive on island during nonworking hours, report / contact your command's quarterdeck to have your orders stamped. Check-in with / contact your Command Pay and Personnel Administrator (CPPA) for the current procedure. It is recommended you make contact with the Naval Base Guam Fleet and Family Support Center to schedule Area Orientation Brief / Intercultural Relations (AOB/ICR) or connect with your sponsor to see if they have registered you for the program. AOB/ICR is a required program for all newly reporting Navy personnel to attend. The Housing brief is conducted during this mandatory orientation, this will also initiate the housing process and TLA reimbursement. To reach FFSC, call 671-333-2056/57 or the Housing Office, please call 671-333-2081/82. Attending AOB/ICR and the Housing brief will ensure you are on the housing waiting list and assure your TLA status.

Check in with your command in the uniform of the day. Ask your sponsor what uniform, if any, is required during and after working hours.

On the first day that you report, be sure to bring:

• Original orders — service record
• Plane tickets — hotel receipts
• Travel log — marriage certificate, spouse's and children's birth certificates; if family is not command sponsored

Ensure your orders reflect your arrival date and time, this affects the amount of leave you will be charged (if any). Rely heavily on your sponsor for assistance with the check-in procedure.

When traveling to Guam, it's imperative that you hand carry all important documents. This will assure they do not get lost if your baggage is lost or misrouted.

Some important documents and items to hand carry are:

• Permanent change of station orders
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce or annulment papers
• Birth or baptism certificates for all family members
• Adoption papers
• Death certificates
• Citizenship papers
• Children's school records / report cards
• Immunization records (check currency for all family members)
• Child custody documents
• Medical records
• Military identification cards and driver's license
• Wills
• Social security cards
• Savings account books
• Checkbooks
• Credit cards
• Addresses and phone numbers
• Property deeds of creditors
• Hold baggage, household goods shipment and storage documents
• Vehicle title or lien-holder certificates
• Insurance policies
• Vehicle shipping papers
• Passports

Either a visitors or no-fee passport for all family members are highly recommended when traveling to Guam. Check with your separating Command Pay and Personnel Administrator or Personnel Support Detachment on how to obtain a no-fee passport and the restrictions on when you are allowed to use the no-fee passport.

Temporary Lodging Reservations

Because Guam is a prime tourist destination in the Pacific, local hotels can be costly. Average off-base lodging will cost approximately $125 to $200 a night per couple. Inbound members should coordinate with Navy Gateway Inns and Suites to arrange for temporary lodging. New arrivals should be prepared to cover initial expenses up front for a minimum of 10 days.

Prior to arriving on island, individuals with command sponsored dependents should contact the Family Housing Office at 671-333-2081/2 to register for the weekly Housing brief. You are further advised to submit an advanced housing application (DD-1746) to verify housing eligibility and planning of government quarters availability. Applications can be faxed to 671-339-4048 or submitted via https://homes.mil/heat/DispatchServlet/HeatEntry, along with a copy of the member's orders and service record page 2 (for dependent verification). This determines if Temporary Lodging Allowance will be authorized and for how long.

Incoming service members with command sponsored families will be authorized TLA pending assignment to government quarters. Members MUST contact the Navy Gateway Inns and Suites at 671-339-5259 for reservations or obtain a "NON-AVAILIBILITY" letter with a control number. If you plan to travel with pets, check with the Navy Gateway Inns and Suites on their pet policy.

Command Sponsorship

Due to the high cost of living, limited resources, and the distance from the United States, command sponsorship and command approval of family members is very important when being stationed on Guam. Not having command sponsorship could affect medical care, children's schooling, housing and many other benefits that you would be able to obtain if family members were command sponsored.

If you get married before you PCS, you MUST inform your command and follow the procedure exactly as you are given them. New spouses will need to be added to orders and ensure an overseas screening is done before the PCS. The military WILL NOT PAY for travel and housing of your spouse if you do not follow proper procedures.