We will be pcsing to Camp Zama late June/early July 2012 from another base in Japan.  We have 3 children in high school and middle school (3), ages 16, 15 and 12 so I'm assuming we'll qualify for a 4 bedroom as we did here. 

I've tried looking at the housing site but I couldn't find the answers.  Does anyone know if the field grade housing is single family or multi-plex?  We have 2 dogs so I know we can't reside in the towers.  Also, does housing provide lawn care or are we responsible for it like we are here??

Last question is does anyone know if American High School has culinary arts classes?  One of our daughters is taking them here, as that's her chosen career path, and she's hoping to continue to take them there.

Thanks in advance for any questions you can answer!  I've tried to research this online but couldn't find these answers!!

Families assigned to the Camp Zama installation may reside in one of 3 housing areas. (1) Camp Zama (CZ), (2) Sagamihara Family Housing Area (SFHA), (3) Sagami General Depot Housing Area (SGD). Family Housing located at Kure is available for personnel assigned to Akizuki, Pier 6 located at Hiroshima, Japan. On-post family housing is usually available for all authorized personnel assigned to the Camp Zama installation and Akizuki Pier 6 installation. However, the waiting period fluctuates depending on housing availability and family composition. At this time, on-post family housing is available within 30 days of arrival. Government quarters are authorized for military personnel in grades E-1 and above, eligible DOD civilian employees who are authorized Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) and American Red Cross personnel of equivalent grade.

Individuals who are authorized command sponsorship but are delayed or prefer not to have concurrent travel of family members may live in Unaccompanied Personnel Housing (UPH). Assignment of a family housing unit may be made within 30 days of their official dependent(s) travel reporting date to Camp Zama or Akizuki Pier 6 installation.

In-processing will include preparation of a housing application form (USAG-J Form 1591) which you will obtain upon checking into the In-processing Center, Camp Zama, Japan. This form will be completed and validated by either Military Personnel Division (MPD) or servicing Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC) and submitted to the Housing Management Division within 3 working days of arrival to the installation.

The criteria for assignment to a bedroom entitlement is based on the number of command sponsored dependents and family composition.

Request for larger family quarters due to excess of household goods is not authorized. Have your assigned sponsor visit the Housing Office to obtain housing information.

Family housing units consist of the high-rise, two level townhouses or a single dwelling unit. Some townhouses and all single dwelling were built between 1951 ~ 1959. These units have wooden floors, with the exception of bathroom and kitchen. They are heated by steam and cooled by window air conditioners. There are no cellars or basements; but, the unit has an outside storage shed.

Majority of the housing assets were built by the Government of Japan. These are 3 and 4 bedroom concrete townhouses located at CZ and SFHA.

All furniture and appliances normally required for family quarters (to include baby cribs) are available for issue with the exception of TV and components, kitchen items, towels, computers etc. We highly encourage all family housing occupants to bring their favorite furniture, especially their master bedroom (Queen-size bed) or furniture. All family quarters have a small storage space available. Additional storage may be obtained from the Camp Zama Community Recreation Division, Outdoor Recreation Facility at a cost to you.

Linen and blankets are available for temporary issue pending arrival and delivery of your unaccompanied (express) shipment. Recommend you pack your essential necessities in your unaccompanied shipment.

Army Community Service (ACS) does not loan out linens. However, limited quantities may be issued pending delivery of your express baggage. We highly recommend to ship your beddings, towels, TV/DVD/VCR, microwave, and kitchen items in your unaccompanied (express) baggage.

Since there is adequate available on-post housing, all requests for off-post housing must be approved. Your command must be able to support your Living Quarters Allowance (LQA), and also budget LQA.

A variety of floor plans are available to assist you in planning your shipment to the Camp Zama installations. No King-size bed or German shrunks or over-sized furniture are authorized to be shipped.

Please do not hesitate to call the Chief, Family Housing Management Branch at DSN: 263-3572 or COMMERCIAL 011-81-46-407-3527

UNACCOMPANIED OFFICER PERSONNEL HOUSING (UOPH) Return to top

UOPH located on Camp Zama for eligible enlisted, officers and DOD eligible civilian personnel authorized Living Quarters Allowance (LQA). In addition, UOPH is available at Akizuki Pier 6 located at Hiroshima, Japan, Akasaka Press Center (Hardy Barracks) located in Tokyo, Japan and Torii Communication Station, Okinawa, Japan.

For officers in the grade of O6 and civilians with grade equivalent to GS-15 are authorized Senior Officers Quarters (SOQ). These quarters range in size from 788 ~ 817 square feet.

Officers in the grades of 03 ~ 05, and civilians with grades equivalent to GS-10 and GS-14 are authorized Bachelor Officers Quarters (BOQ) Suite(s) with private bath and kitchenette. The minimum size is 448 square feet, and majority of the size is 460 square feet.

Senior enlisted personnel (grades of E-7 ~ E-9) and officers (01 ~ 02, WO1 ~ CW2), and civilian personnel in grades equivalent to GS-09 and below are authorized a studio (smaller unit) with private bath and kitchenette. These studios are approximately 340 square feet in size (this space is limited, consider carefully what you bring). All quarters have central or air conditioning and heat. The UOPH facilities are fully furnished with government furniture. There are no large storage spaces available for excess household goods. Additional storage may be obtained from the Camp Zama Outdoor Recreation Facility at a cost to you.

Army Community Service (ACS) does not loan out linens. However, limited quantities may be issued pending delivery of your express baggage. We highly recommend to ship your beddings, towels, TV/DVD/VCR, microwave, and kitchen items in your unaccompanied (express) baggage.

Floor plans are available to assist you in planning your shipment to the Camp Zama installation.

Please do not hesitate to call the Chief, Unaccompanied Personnel Housing at DSN: 263-4843 or COMMERCIAL: 011-81-46-407-4843 for UOPH information.

FURNISHINGS Return to top

All quarters are adequately furnished with modern quartermaster furniture and appliances. Washers and dryers are provided in communal laundry rooms. Personnel who elect to ship their own furniture may do so. Upon receipt of your household goods, excess government furniture will be removed upon request. The shared storage spaces are LIMITED for small items such as small boxes, luggage etc.

No King size bed or German shrunk are authorized to be shipped and no over-size furniture since space is limited.

Therefore incoming personnel are discouraged from bringing excess personal belongings (excessive personal items such as bulky furniture, etc., will have to be stored at the occupant's expense). You may be authorized 50% (accompanied personnel) and 25% (unaccompanied personnel) of your JTR for household goods shipment based on your rank or grade. Again, it is very important to visit your Transportation Office for your authorized weight allowance. It is imperative to have your sponsor visit the housing office to obtain housing information. Camp Zama is a weight restricted area. Keep in mind that there is no governmental storage available!

SUGGESTIONS Return to top

** If you are traveling in the winter do not bring your spring clothes, ship them. You will be staying in temporary housing and your storage space will be limited.

** If you are a single and/or unaccompanied person bring sufficient only for your BOQ Studio or Suite space. Your space, although comfortable is VERY limited. The housing computer desk is not large; you may want to bring your computer desk.

** Almost everyone accumulates additional items during any overseas tour.

Shipping light from the states will give you room to ship accumulated treasures home without incurring excess charges.

PET POLICY Return to top

FAMILY HOUSING:

Reference USAG-J Reg 40-650, Medical Services, (Housing and Control of Pets) and USAG-J Family Housing Handbook.

The number of registrable pets will be limited to any combination of two (2) animals (Dogs and/or Cats) per household only in family housing units NO exceptions will be approved to exceed the 2 pet policy! NO PET is authorized in any of the High-Rise buildings.

UNACCOMPANIED PERSONNEL HOUSING:

No pets are authorized in Unaccompanied Personnel Housing (UPH) facilities. This policy is necessitated by the close proximity between common use areas and individuals quarters that are usually found in UPH, and which generates annoyances such as pet odors and noise, possible flea and tick infestation of common use areas and furniture, urine damage to area room carpeting, and uncollected pet droppings.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

a. It is recognized that many of our housing occupants desire to have pets. With the privilege of owning a pet; however, comes the responsibility not only to protect and properly care for the pet, but also to preserve and protect the safety and welfare of the community. It is the policy of this command that private property rights are subordinate to public rights to be safe and free from nuisances.

b. Non-human primates (monkeys, apes, etc.) or any other feral or wild animals will not be authorized as pets.

c. Personnel arriving or departing who own pets may kennel them in the Camp Zama Kennel on a space available basis at their own expense or utilize off post facilities. Contact the Camp Zama Kennel, at DSN 263-5915 or Commercial 011-81-3117-63-5915 for reservations.

d. Contact the Housing Management Division at DSN 263-3527 / 4843 or Commercial 011-81-46-407-3527 / 4843 for additional information.

http://www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil/im...p24-29.pdf

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Hospitality and Tourism: Students explore career fields that include managing restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events, and travel-related services.

http://www.dodea.edu/curriculum/profTech.cfm#

I was just asking my wife about the courses you're interested in and she just happens to know knows the HS Counselor there, if you don't get the answer you need I'll have her make a call for you.

Thanks!! Looks like we could be either multiplex or single family. Do you know if housing provides lawn care or not? We're debating on whether or not to keep or lawn mower when we move.

No lawn care is provided. They do have mowers you can check out from self help.

Thanks kdc. Do you know if there are any services there you can hire to do the lawn care for you? They have that here at Kadena and it's relatively inexpensive. My other question is do you know what field grade housing is like (O-4)? Whether it's multiplex or single family? We have 2 dogs and are wondering if we'll be able to put up a fence Other than that- we're pretty open to anything.........

I live in a tower so not really sure if you can hire anyone for lawn care.

I have not seen many single family units around. I have noticed a few in SHA but most housing is duplex or multiplex. Never looked that close but I do not recall anyone having a fence for their yard.

I'm not sure other than the eagles nest that housing is really that different from anyone else as a field grade officer.

Posted By kdc on 01-04-2012 2:42 PM
I live in a tower so not really sure if you can hire anyone for lawn care.

I have not seen many single family units around. I have noticed a few in SHA but most housing is duplex or multiplex. Never looked that close but I do not recall anyone having a fence for their yard.

I'm not sure other than the eagles nest that housing is really that different from anyone else as a field grade officer.

Thanks, I'll make sure that hubby doesn't get rid of the lawmower then! 

Bummer about the fence- but we'll adjust if we can't have it.  Housing sounds fine (duplex or multiplex)- just wanted to know if the fence was feasible for what we would get.    Thanks for the help- I appreciate it!

For an 04 you will have fourplex housing available. You would get a four bedroom either in SHA or Camp Zama. You are able to put up a fence, but housing will have to approve the type you put up. Basically it can cost at least $1000 to purchase the type you will need to have. You will have to search the Japanese stores to find something. They do have a dog park at each housing location. From what I remember, the high school does not have culinary arts class. My oldest is a sophomore.

THANKS!

I'm in field grade housing where I'm at and it's a tower but I think that wouldn't be the case if we only had a dog.

Yokota,

We are PCSing to Zama at the beginning of June.  We are having a hard time with our HHG weight allowance.  Our RFO states we are authorized to take 50% of our allowance.  The paperwork we received today with our concurrent travel approval said we are only authorized 25%.  Where did you find the regulation you posted with the allowances in it?  We have searched everywhere all day and have only found the 25% number.  I made a visit to the housing office on our installation and the paperwork they have says as of December 1, 2011 the weight allowance for accompanied and unaccompanied is only 25%.  Any advice from anyone???  25% for a family of 4 is not much more than clothing and linens!  Okay a little more than that...but not much  Any help would be appreciated!!!!

I have never heard of a 50% or 25% restriction, why have a limit if you only get a %? Are you required to store the rest? Does that apply to everyone in all ranks PCSing into Japan or is that globally?

All of your limits are technically located in the JFTR from there it's reprinted by a million different people.

TABLE OF JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS WEIGHT ALLOWANCES

***In Pounds***

PAY GRADE PCS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS PCS WITH DEPENDENTS TEMPORARY ALLOWANCE
0-10 18,000 18,000 2,000
0-9 18,000 18,000 1,500
0-8 18,000 18,000 1,000
0-7 18,000 18,000 1,000
0-6 18,000 18,000 800
0-5 16,000 17,500 800
0-5/W-5 16,000 17,500 800
0-4/W-4 14,000 17,000 800
0-3/W-3 13,000 14,500 600
0-2/W-2 12,500 13,500 600
0-1/W-1 10,000 12,000 600
E-9 13,000 15,000 600
E-8 12,000 14,000 500
E-7 11,000 13,000 400
E-6 8,000 11,000 400
E-5 7,000 9,000 400
E-4 7,000 8,000 400
E-3 5,000 8,000 400
E-2 5,000 8,000 400
E-1 5,000 8,000 400

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR STAYING WITHIN YOUR WEIGHT ALLOWANCE.

NOTE: A member selected as Sergeant Major of the Army, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, or Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard is authorized a weight allowance of 17,000 pounds with dependents and 14,000 pounds without dependents under PCS orders issued on or after receiving notice of selection to that position and for the remainder of their military career.

This may come in handy too: http://ogc.hqda.pentagon.mil/EandF/...H10%29.pdf

Japan is a weight restricted area, at least for us. I believe most of the people on JB are mostly other branches or contractors. I can't speak for other branches but for the Army Japan is a weight restricted area. We know what our total weight allowance is but we are restricted by the local base allowances. A paper I got from housing today has many different bases in Japan and they all have their own allowances. We are confused because our RFO has 50% and our concurrent travel has 25%. The government will store the rest of our belongings at their expense. We still need to stay within the entirety of our HHG allowance.

That's interesting.... I wonder if you exceeded your "reduced" HHG weight could or would they ever require you to reimburse anyone because the JFTR is the actual regulation.

I traveled over here prior to 1 Dec 2011, and I wasn't on military orders this time around... I discovered that civilians are handled differently as well which was a surprise to me.

Civilians aren't allowed professional items (separate shipment)
Civilian dependents aren't authorized per-diem when traveling without the sponsor.

However we were authorized full HHG shipment and full storage as well, shipping a vehicle was not authorized but storage of a vehicle was.

One would think the rules would be the same for everyone, but I suppose not. Now that you may be reduced to 25% what does that mean you can only bring suitcases?

Yes apparently my husband read in the JFTR if you exceed your % they will bill you...heavily because it's an overseas move. We got our RFO amended to allow for the storage of or POV at Government expense.

Not only are the rules not the same for everyone but no one we talk to seems to even know the rules because we are getting a lot of conflicting information.

We have known for awhile that we were going to Zama. My lists have lists at this point! However, since our orders haven't been officially cut yet we haven't been able to do a whole lot. Nor should we have since we have known SEVERAL people in our career that have been burned by being too prepared too soon and things fell apart!!! We are still in a holding pattern that is so frustrating!!!!! Housing sent us a letter projecting housing from our June 1st arrival.... Would be really nice to get those orders!!!

Posted By hmccullo77 on 04-04-2012 12:27 PM
Yes apparently my husband read in the JFTR if you exceed your % they will bill you...heavily because it's an overseas move. We got our RFO amended to allow for the storage of or POV at Government expense.

Not only are the rules not the same for everyone but no one we talk to seems to even know the rules because we are getting a lot of conflicting information.

We have known for awhile that we were going to Zama. My lists have lists at this point! However, since our orders haven't been officially cut yet we haven't been able to do a whole lot. Nor should we have since we have known SEVERAL people in our career that have been burned by being too prepared too soon and things fell apart!!! We are still in a holding pattern that is so frustrating!!!!! Housing sent us a letter projecting housing from our June 1st arrival.... Would be really nice to get those orders!!!

Same situation here!  We've known for a while that we'll be going and we've also been told by his BAO that our report date is set for Aug.15 and early arrival 30 days prior is approved.  We do plan to arrive by Jul 15th because school starts Aug 14th in Japan at the DOD schools and we want to have things be as normal as possible for our children before starting.

Lots of lists and nothing that can be done, it's maddening isn't it!

We just got our definitive answer on our weight allowance. The regulation did indeed change for pick ups after December 1, 2012. 25% it is! Hard to fathom that. I know they provide all the furniture but 25% isn't really much of anything. We are playing the weighting game (pun intended!) to try to figure out what not to take now while we wait for official orders, which he has been promised, will be here next week. My husband currently works in the pentagon in one of the budgeting offices. They work on a 1-N list of priorities for the Army at large. He talked to me tonight about applying the 1-N strategy on our HHG. We have done decision matrices for our orders before. Now 1-N list for HHG....Calgon take me away!!!! So all that being said...I know there have been several comments on here before about things to take/not take but I'd like to get more opinions if possible. I want to spend my allowance as wisely as possible...One comment was about wishing they hadn't brought a vacuum cleaner...any input would be greatly appreciated!!! We will be at Camp Zama and my husband is an 04 and we have 2 children with no pets.

Dec 1, 2012? Did you mean 2011? 

Yep. 2011 sorry!

Hello

I have been here four months and I would like to know if there a army recruiter on this base I have a daughter that is interested. If so can you email me your number thank you

Posted By nene2 on 06-09-2012 7:35 PM
Hello

I have been here four months and I would like to know if there a army recruiter on this base I have a daughter that is interested. If so can you email me your number thank you

http://www.goarmy.com/locate-a-recruiter.html