JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JTR) POLICY CHANGE REMOVING THE ADMINISTRATIVE WEIGHT LIMITATION FOR ACCOMPANIED MARINES/SAILORS ASSIGNED TO JAPAN
Date Signed: 4/8/2019 | MARADMINS Number: 221/19
MARADMINS : 221/19

R 051710Z APR 19
MARADMIN 221/19
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC L WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JTR) POLICY CHANGE REMOVING THE ADMINISTRATIVE WEIGHT LIMITATION FOR ACCOMPANIED MARINES/SAILORS ASSIGNED TO JAPAN//
REF/A/JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JTR) 1 APRIL 2019//
REF/B/MCO 4600.39 PERSONAL PROPERTY TRANSPORTATION 19 AUGUST 2016//
POC/F. D. HYDEN/CIV/LPD-2/TEL: (703)695-7765/EMAIL: FREDERICK.HYDEN@USMC.MIL//
POC/B. S. IMLER/CIV/LPD-2/TEL: (703)695-7765/EMAIL: BRIAN.IMLER@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to provide Marines with information regarding a recent change to reference (a) that eliminates the Household Goods (HHG) Administrative Weight Limit (AWL) for accompanied Marines and Sailors (assigned to Marine units) moving to Japan.
2.  Effective 2 April 2019, there is no longer an AWL for accompanied Marines and Sailors executing orders to, from, or between duty stations in Japan.  Marines issued Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders with an effective date on or after 2 April 2019 are now authorized to take 100 percent of their full JTR weight allowance.  Note that the effective date of orders IS NOT the date orders were issued. Reference (a) provides a detailed explanation of this distinction.
3.  The following restrictions apply to this change in policy:
3a.  There is no change at this time to the AWL for unaccompanied personnel.
3b.  This entitlement does NOT apply for those Members with an effective date of orders prior to 2 April 2019.
3c.  There is NO entitlement for Marines who executed orders under the previous AWL to now ship additional property or to release property from Non-Temporary Storage (NTS) for shipment to Japan.
3d.  This policy change does not retroactively apply to Service Members who have already executed a PCS move to Japan regardless of whether they received approval for delay of dependent travel or a tour conversion.
3e.  This policy does not establish an entitlement for transportation of HHGs to a storage facility in Japan after a Member’s HHGs have arrived.
4.  The option for CONUS NTS remains an entitlement authorized for Service Members in conjunction with a PCS move to Japan.  If exercised, the NTS option would be executed IAW existing process/procedures outlined in ref (b).  Service Members are advised, however, to work closely with their command-designated sponsor and their supporting Housing Office in Japan to determine availability of on-base housing in order to make an informed decision regarding what property to ship and what property to place in CONUS NTS.  Per paragraph 3d above, commercial storage in Japan is limited and further transportation or storage once HHGs have arrived in country is not funded.  Housing Offices are advised to fully inform Service Members on the availability of major appliances which may be provided to them for their entire assignment (i.e. washer, dryer, refrigerator, stove, etc.), and type and size of housing available in order to enable the Service Member to determine whether to ship or store HHGs.  The option for Service Members to request the use of temporary government furniture (bedroom, dining room, living room, etc) until arrival of HHGs remains available.
5.  Personal Property Offices will immediately contact all Marines impacted by this change.  Successful implementation requires a robust communication effort by all organizations affected by this policy update.  Additional information and references can be found at: https:(slash)(slash)MOVE.MIL.  It is incumbent on leadership at all levels to maximize the benefit of this policy change in order to improve the overall household good move experience. 
6.  Release authorized by LtGen Charles G. Chiarotti, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics.//