90% OF THE TIME, YOU WILL BE STAYING AT KUWAE LODGE DURING YOUR TEMPORARY LODGING PERIOD.  TO CHECK OUT WHAT THE LODGE LOOKS LIKE, TAKE A SHORT HOP TO THIS LINK FOR A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE LODGE:    KUWAE LODGE PHOTO GALLERY IF YOU END UP STAYING OUT IN TOWN, THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACE S THAT ARE "TLA" APPROVED.  THE FOLLOW THREE LINKS ARE THE MORE POPULAR  HOTELS/LODGES YOU MAY END UP STAYING AT IF KUWAE LODGE IS FULL:    HAMAGAWA LODGE HOTEL CROWN EAGLE LODGE

I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THE ABOVE TABLE BE USED AS A GUIDE ONLY.... FOR CURRENT AND UPDATED FIGURES,  ENSURE YOU HAVE YOUR SPONSOR FIND OUT YOUR DAILY RATES FOR YOU IN ADVANCE SO YOU ARE NOT DISAPPOINTED.  REMEMBER, THIS IS A GUIDE FOR YOU TO COMPUTE YOUR DAILY ALLOWANCE AND SHOULD BE USED ONLY AS THAT.  HOWEVER, SAYING THAT, I WILL DO MY BEST TO KEEP THESE FIGURES ACCURATE AS THEY CHANGE.

        Exception:  If you are offered government housing while you are on TLA, you will be extended until you can move into those quarters.  Even if you are close to the top of you list, TLA will not be extended unless you actually have a bona fide offer of an on base housing.  TLA will not be extended based on anticipation of an on base offer.
 

CLAIMS SUBMISSION

2.  CLAIMS SUBMISSION.  Claims are submitted every ten days to Marine Corps Base Disbursing through your Administration Support Office.

        a.  You must pay your lodging in advance and include your receipt with your claim.  ( I have found that most facilities that you would stay at will grant you a grace period to pay the lodging after you receive your first check from disbursing.  However, this not a promise.  Having an extra $1000.00 in your pocket and being prepared is not a bad idea.)

        b.  If you are staying in an off base facility, you must get a "Statement of Non-Availability Form" from the your official government lodging facilitye to include with  your TLA settlement claim.  (What this means is that you must be sure your sponsor does not make arrangements for you to stay in any other place except for on base facilities first.  You must get the statement from on base before you can expect reimbursement if you are staying in town or you will have serious problems settling your TLA.... like you probably won't get paid for you lodging.)
 

KEY POINTS

3.  KEY POINTS.

        a.  Validating Searches.  While you are on TLA, you are required to conduct at least twenty searches each 10 day period.  These searches must be documented on the "Record of Housing Search Form" which will be provided by the TLA clerk at your unit.  This Record of Housing Search Form must be included with your claim each 10 day period.  Keep in mind the most important issue here is that you find quarters for your family as quickly as possible.  (The days of taking your time are over so remember that for those who remember when.)  Two searches per day are required to show that you are aggressively searching for quarters and not just waiting for an on base housing unit to become available.  You must search daily; the off base housing situation changes daily so do not lump all your searches into a couple of days thinking you can cover the entire 10 day period all at once, it won't work.  TWO SEARCHES PER DAY IS THE RULE, PLEASE DON'T FORGET THIS!

                Exception:  During your first TLA period, this being day one through day ten, you must conduct a minimum of five housing searches.  Again, don't try to play games, do this right so you don't have any problems with TLA at disbursing.  If your administration personnel tell you that you must accomplish more, then you must comply as your unit is the first step in the approval chain, so be aware that the five days are basic guildlines, not the golden rule.

        b.  Declining Off Base Houses.  If you decline adequate off base quarters, your TLA will stop the date you would have moved into those off base quarters.  There are very few "valid" reasons for a member to decline an off base housing unit.  Some of the common reason you might try, I would suggest you forget are:

                (1) Size of Unit.  If the unit meets or is acceptable as your bedroom requirement, you cannot refuse it because it is to small.  It is common on Okinawa that off base houses will be smaller then what you have come to expect in the United States.

                (2)  Distance From Work.  You cannot refuse a unit off base if it is within a one hour commute, one way during rush hour traffic.

                (3)  House is Too Expensive or Above Your Ceiling.  Agents should not be showing you a house above your rent ceiling.  If they insist, seek out another agency.  Contact your TLA clerk, Disbursing or the Marine Corps Liaison to obtain your correct Rent Ceiling or check this link for the current Overseas Housing Allowance Rates (OHA):   OHA RATES FOR OKINAWA

                (4)  Agency Will Not Accept Pets.  If an agency does not accept pets, you may not decline adequate quarters based soley on that reason.

               (5)  Agency Will Not Honor a Short Term Lease.  A lot of the agencies wil not... the Housing Office offers the by-pass program for personnel required to execute a long term lease.  (This basically means you will stay on the top of the housing list until your lease expires and then you will be moved into the next available quarters for the area you signed up for.

                (6)  School Bus Routes.  You cannot refuse a unit because it is not located on a DoDDs School bus route.  It will be your responsibility to get your children to the bus route nearest you or to school yourself.

        c.  INSPECTION OF OFF BASE QUARTERS.  Ensure that the off base quarters you are intending to occupy have a current U.S. Government inspection.  Ask the agency for the last inspection date.  Off Base Inspectiona are valid for a period of one year only.  If the dwelling has not been inspected during the past year,  you are not authorized to rent the quarters.  This is for your protection!  Do not place your agency fee on an uninspected set of quarters.  If the quarters fail inspection, your TLA will be affected.  You are not authorized to wait for an inspection to take place if you found a unit you like as you must continue your housing searches as identified earlier.  Failure to procure an inspected housing unit will jeapardize your OHA entitlements.

        d.  Acceptance of Off Base Quarters.  Once you have accepted off base quarters and  have your paperwork from the agency, you should:

                (1) Request your government furnishings be delivered immediately.  (Upon request, you can have furniture such as; a couch, chairs, beds, dressers and table/chairs delivered for your use while stationed on Okinawa.  These same items can be used in government quarters when you move in to a permenant base housing unit.

                (2) Request any monitory advances you may need from your Administration Support Office.

                (3)  Sign the lease when the agency directs you to come back.  Do not sign the lease if there's anything you don't understand or have questions about.  (BE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR SIGNING,  ESPECIALLY IF THE LEASE IS MONTH TO MONTH OR AN EXTENDED LEASE.)  If you have questions, contact the Housing Office at 634-1271 or the Marine Liaison for Assistance at 634-0114.

                        Note: Once you've signed a lease, bring it and all your receipts to the Housing Office you received you briefing at  to complete the OHA and MIHA paperwork.

        e.  Declining Government Quarters.  (NOT A GOOD IDEA)  If you are offered government quarters while you are on TLA and you decline the quarters, your TLA will terminate  as of the date you would have moved into those quarters.
 

GENERAL INFORMATION

4.  General Information.  If you have specific circumstances that an extension for TLA could be deemed as appropriate, during your mandatory housing brief, you will be provided information on how to submit a request for the extension.  If you're not provided this information, then you should ask if you believe you might need special consideration.
 

HOUSING BRIEFS

5.  Housing Briefs.  Housing briefs are required for all personnel, regardless of service upon arrival or as soon after as possible.  The housing briefs are provided at different locations based on where you will be assigned for duty.  The following locations and phone numbers are provided for you to contact your respective location for assistance or questions:

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