Constantly moving every two to three years is one of the toughest, and most rewarding, aspects of a military lifestyle. While the chance to see the world is one of the appeals for a career in uniform, finding a new house, wondering what community to live in, and uprooting family members creates significant stresses for service members.

The Navy Region Southeast Housing Service Centers throughout the southeastern installations may not be able to remove all the pressure of a military move, but they sure can ease the burden a little.

The excitement of that new set of orders is understandable, but before anyone starts making decisions on where to live, the housing office recommends that one of your initial calls be to them.

“Absolutely, the first call when relocating should be to the housing office and the first internet search should be to the housing website,” Naval Air Station Jacksonville Housing Director Lorenzo Steele said. “Before you ever leave your base, finish the housing process. People who wait until they get here are already behind.”

Housing offices maintain the priority lists to get set up with base housing, which can sometimes take months. That is hardly all they do. For example, NAS Jacksonville has 310 housing units on base, but around 21,000 people working on the installation.  The Housing offices provide key resources that help answer important questions about where to live: “Where is most affordable?” “What are the high crime areas?” “Where are the high traffic areas?” “What are the best schools?”

“We know areas where Sailors have had issues,” Steele emphasizes. “Call us and tell us what you are thinking and we can advise you on where you should be looking.”

Additionally, through the Rental Partnership Program, housing offices maintain lists of landlords whose properties have met strict Navy inspection requirements and who have agreed to a number of concessions, such as reduced fees and a waiver of at least a portion of the security deposit. The program is open to all service members, and no one can be denied based on their credit history.

Property owner participation in the program is promoted by the housing office and includes condominiums, apartments and single-family homes. Credentialed housing staff perform property inspections every three years to enable the home to remain in the Rental Partnership Program.

Not only can the housing office help you find your next home, but if you live in base housing, they can help ensure your check-in and check-out goes smoothly.

“By adding additional assistance with the move-in and move-out process, Service members and their families have another layer of protection to help make their housing experience positive,” Regional Housing Coordinator Rich Dye said.

These checkouts are important to ensure the family receives the full security deposit back, and Navy Installations Command is working to increase the staffing at installation Housing Service Centers to help Sailors. The increase in qualified housing specialists will enable the office to more fully focus on important parts of the check-in and checkout processes, such as a thorough inspection of the unit during the check-in. The housing office has a comprehensive checklist to help the service member identify any discrepancies in the unit.

A proper checkout is an important part of the move out process. Service members must contact the housing office 30 days prior to their move out to schedule their checkout inspection. That way, the housing office can inspect the home, along with the service member and the management company, and write down the items the Sailor needs to take care of prior to leaving the home.

While that service is not normally provided for service members living away from base housing, the housing office can help mediate disputes between a landlord and military affiliated tenant. If the mediation is unsuccessful, then the housing office will assist the military member and connect them with Navy Legal Services.

The key thing for Sailors and their families to remember is that they are not alone in the relocation process. Housing Service Centers across the region are staffed with experienced professionals who can  not only assist you in finding that ideal new home, but also ensure your move into and out is as worry-free as possible.

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