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.

The Relocation Assistance Program is a comprehensive program that supports military personnel and Department of Defense civilian employees assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain. The program offers a Newcomers Orientation that includes intercultural relations programs and classes. For more information about Relocation services, contact the RAP directly from stateside 011-973-1785-4046 or DSN 318-439-4046.

Installation Specific Information

Welcome to Bahrain. One of the most important things you'll need to remember while you are on the island of Bahrain is that you are a guest of the Bahrain government. As guests, we have the responsibility of abiding by Bahrain laws and customs. Your presence in Bahrain places you in the role of an unofficial ambassador of the U.S. The Bahrain people have seen many Americans, military members, their families and tourists. They may have already formed impressions of us and our way of life. Those of us who were good ambassadors in the past helped to build a bond of common respect and understanding. The opportunity to build and strengthen our relationship among the Bahrain people awaits you.

In any country where we are guests, it is inappropriate to make critical remarks about our hosts, their government, traditions, social institutions, national or local leaders, foreign or domestic policies or most importantly, the king or the royal family. It would also be very inappropriate for us to criticize the Bahrain military forces or those of any Middle East ally. Any suggestion of a dominant U.S. military should also be avoided.

Fleet and Family Support Center provides a variety of services designed to assist military personnel and DOD civilian employees and their families as they change duty stations. Our goal is to help members in planning and managing their PCS to Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

Contact us for information about your new duty station, local area information including cost of living estimates, housing availability, community services, employment assistance and resume preparation and individualized relocation information.

Attending the Naval Support Activity Bahrain Newcomers Orientation is required for anyone assigned in Bahrain for 90 days or more. This program includes information about base services and policies as well as an Arabic culture brief and island tour. Sponsors are encouraged to sign up newcomers in advance with the FFSC. Ask your sponsor to send you a Naval Support Activity Bahrain "Welcome Aboard" package electronically or hard copy. It contains information about pet importation, shipping household goods, Arabic culture and a copy of our “Camel Crossings” book. If you have not heard from your sponsor, send us an email, and we will work with you to connect with your gaining command.

Sponsorship Training

Training is offered monthly and at command request. This training provides sponsors the knowledge and resources they will need to be effective. Please register for this class with the FFSC.

Intercultural Relations

In addition to the brief and tour provided as part of the Newcomers Orientation, classes are offered throughout the month to enhance your Bahrain experience. Sessions include Arabic language and culture; gold, pearl and carpet buying and henna painting. Our intercultural relations specialists are also available for a one-on-one consultation.

Loan Closet

There is no Loan Closet available at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Landlords can provide most items of this kind upon request.

Smooth Move Workshop

Attend this two-hour workshop when you receive orders for your next duty station. We bring the experts from personnel support detachment, Navy Passenger Transportation Office, TRICARE, Personal Property Office and customs to review the PCS process and answer your questions. This workshop is held monthly. Contact the FFSC for timings and registration.

Information and Referral

This program provides a service with which members and their families can find out what is offered and how to access the services they want or need. Typically, the Information and Referral program provides information such as organization names, telephone numbers and addresses.

Fleet and Family Support Center Naval Support Activity Bahrain is on Facebook. We post our training schedules, community events, photos and have a PCS discussion board. Join the conversation.