Location
USA, Guam. This is a military town and a high cost area, but our rich World War II history makes it an interesting assignment. Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam is located on the north end of Guam, approximately 15 miles from the capital, Agana (or Ha-gan-ya). Andersen AFB is in the village of Yigo (pronounced “Jeego”). There are plenty of recreational and travel opportunities which make Andersen a popular tour among the adventurous. Guam is the most southern island in the Marianas Island chain. The closest neighboring islands are Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. The base operator’s phone number is 671-366-1110 or DSN 315-366-1110.
History
Andersen AFB, 36th Wing, Air Mobility Command (AMC), opened as North Field in 1944, and was primarily used as a B-29 staging base in the Pacific during WWII. Later it was renamed after Brigadier General James R. Andersen, former Chief of Staff for the Army Air Force, Pacific, who was lost at sea returning to Honolulu in 1945. The base continues to support strategic operations in the region, and serves as a staging base for activities in Asia and the South Pacific. The bulk of Andersen’s duties since WWII have been as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base, supporting activities in Korea and Vietnam. For more information visit Andersen’s homepage.
Mission
To provide peacetime and wartime support for aerospace forces in the Asian-Pacific theater.
Population Served
Andersen AFB serves DoD Personnel, families, civilians, and joint services. Tenant Units include: 734th Air Mobility Squadron (AMS),Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Twenty-Five (HSC-25), and Detachment 5, 22 Space Operations Squadron.
Air Force Officers: 190
Air Force Enlisted: 1,500
Air Force Military Family Members: 1,700
Navy Officers: 75
Navy Enlisted: 319
Navy Military Family Members: 502
AFR Officers: 56
AFR Enlisted: 258
GS Employees: 285
WG Employees: 144
NAF, Contract, & Private Employees: 872
Guam Military Retirees: 2,366
Base Transportation
Andersen AFB Bus Shuttle is available only on Andersen and does not go outside the base, from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, this schedule is subject to changes. Bus schedules available from the Airman and Family Readiness Center.
Sponsorship
It is strongly recommended that every individual (or family) reporting to Andersen AFB have a sponsor! Although Guam has many of the amenities associated with a stateside tour, there is no substitute for having contact with an individual on-island who has first hand knowledge and who also has a personal interest in your well-being. Andersen AFB is quite proud of its sponsor program. You can make a request for a sponsor through your orderly room. Your sponsor can greet you at the airport and assist your family.
If you require assistance with sponsorship, call the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 671-366-8136 or DSN 315-366-8136. If you are arriving unaccompanied, the Postal Service Center will assign a permanent PSC box to you at your sponsor’s request with a copy of your orders. If you will be accompanied, your sponsor (with your orders) can get you a temporary General Delivery address until you find quarters, after which the U.S. Postal Service, not the PSC, will take care of your mail. The Postal Service Center is located in Building 21001, adjacent to the U.S. Post Office.
Temporary Quarters
All newcomers need to check in at the Andersen AFB Housing Office upon their arrival. They will acquire a TLA form to stay off base. Reservations can be made in advance. On base temporary lodging is not available for individuals who are PCSing to Guam. Individuals will need to work with their sponsor to make reservations at a downtown hotel. Pets are not allowed in temporary lodging and must stay in the kennel or other pre-arranged shelter.
Andersen Pet Lodge
The Andersen Pet Lodge serves three main functions: first, it acts as a quarantine facility for pets (dogs & cats) arriving on Guam (Guam is a rabies free territory); second, it serves as a boarding facility for pets already residing on Guam; and third it raises the quality-of-life for individuals and pets arriving and residing on Andersen AFB.
Relocation Assistance
The Airman and Family Readiness Center has a loan locker available for newcomers to utilize. There are TVs, DVD players, vacuums, dishes/pots and pans, linen, microwaves, and many other items. Loan Locker hours are Monday thru Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on holidays and family down days.
A Spouse’s Newcomers’ Orientation is held the third Thursday of the month. All Air Force personnel are eligible for PCS child care and can receive 20 hours of free day care per child. For more information about Airman and Family Readiness Center programs, please call 671-366-8136 or DSN 315-366-8136.
Critical Installation Information
Guam is across the International Dateline from the mainland United States. Guam’s time zone is GMT + 10 hours. Guam does not use daylight savings time. Guam is about three hours by airplane from Tokyo and Manila, four hours from Seoul, Hong Kong, and Taipei, five hours from Saigon, Singapore, and Bali, and six hours to Bangkok, Sydney, and Auckland. Going to the other side of the International Dateline, it is seven hours by air plane to Honolulu, Fiji, and Samoa, and eight hours to Tahiti.
Assignment tours are 24 months for unaccompanied/single and 36 months for accompanied; check with your MPF for the most current information.
Passports and Visas
Ensure member and/or dependents have the required passports and/or visa prior to final out-processing. Member and/or dependents are not allowed to final out-process without the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents. Members electing the accompanied tour will not be permitted to out-process without having the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.
These actions are necessary to prevent unforeseen hardships to the military members and their families. Therefore, as a last reiteration, it is essential, members do not out-process without having the appropriate passports/visas for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.
Making Phone Calls
To call Guam commercially from mainland United States, just dial 1, the area code for Guam (671), then the telephone number. Commercial – 1 (671) 366-xxxx (Guam has a U.S. area code). DSN 315-366-xxxx, Operator ext.-1110. To dial a commercial local call from on base, you must dial 99 + number. Example: 99 + 653-xxxx.
Emergencies
If en route and the flight is delayed, contact the Military Personnel Flight (MPF) Employment Office at DSN 315-366-3561, or your sponsor. For other emergencies, contact the American Red Cross for official verification of emergency. ARC will contact an Andersen AFB representative, who will notify your Command representatives of your present situation.
Special Needs Family Members
Stringent overseas medical screenings are required for all military, DoD Civilians, and command sponsored family members reporting to Guam. Individuals who evade or avoid medical screenings, who mislead medical screeners, or who fail to enroll in the EFMP when required will be dealt with by the Command on arrival at Andersen.
Non-Command Sponsored Family
Members who bring non-command sponsored family members to Guam do so at their own financial/medical risk!
IPPD Test
School Age children and military spouses need a clean IPPD test (Tuberculosis Screening Test), especially if working in the beverage industry, medical community, or around children.
Exotic Pets
If you possess a pre-Endangered Species Act animal that you want to bring to Guam, contact the nearest Federal Parks & Wildlife office. Without proper documentation, you may not be able to get your animal back into the States. Pet quarantine on Guam is currently 5 days. It is expensive to bring an animal to the island.
Certified Birth Certificate or Passport
Many patients are MEDEVACed from Guam to U.S. hospitals in Japan or Okinawa. While Japan will not keep an emergency case from entering the country, the accompanying family member (if not active duty) will be required to have a passport. Also, the patient will need to obtain a passport to leave Japan. Guam Immigration and Naturalization Service do not recognize military dependent ID cards as valid proof of U.S. citizenship; therefore, we recommend all dependent travelers carry a certified Birth Certificate or passport.
Items to Hand Carry
Marriage Certificate – certified copies
Licenses
Medical & Prescription Records
Checkbooks & Register – ample supply
Travel Orders
Divorce Decree – certified copies
Education Transcripts & Diplomas
Immunization Records
Past 60-days Monthly Bills – for correspondence
Flight Tickets
Address Book – current information
Employment History & Resumes
Birth Certificates & Adoption
Federal & State Tax Returns
Official Passports
HouseHold Goods Shipment Documents
Pet Health Records
Insurance Policy (personal & automobile)
Children’s Favorite toy, book, etc.
School Records