MARADMINS : 023/14
R 151356Z JAN 14
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 023/14
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC L LFL(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/AUTOMATED HOUSING REFERRAL NETWORK (AHRN) LOST ITS DOD AFFILIATION//
POC/E.L. DAUER/CIV/UNIT:LF/-/TEL:571-256-2837//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE: TO INFORM MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL, OTHER DOD SERVICE MEMBERS AND CIVILIANS ASSOCIATED WITH MARINE CORPS HOUSING REGARDING THE CHANGE OF STATUS TO THE AUTOMATED HOUSING REFERRAL NETWORK (AHRN).
2. BACKGROUND: SINCE 2004, AHRN HAS BEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD)/DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) PREFERRED WEB BASED HOUSING REFERRAL SYSTEM WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS PROPERTY OWNERS/MANAGERS TO INPUT AVAILABLE PROPERTIES INTO A CONSOLIDATED DATABASE, ALLOWING SERVICE MEMBERS ACCESS TO SUITABLE COMMUNITY RENTAL HOUSING INFORMATION. BECAUSE AHRN DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE DOD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) AND INFORMATION ASSURANCE (IA) REQUIREMENTS, AHRN LOST ITS (DOD)/(DHS) AFFILIATION ON 1 JANUARY 2014. ALTHOUGH SERVICE MEMBERS MAY STILL BE ABLE TO LOG ON, PROPERTY MANAGERS AND LANDLORDS MAY CHOOSE NOT TO FUND AND MAINTAIN A CURRENT RENTAL LISTING. THUS, THE WEBSITE MAY NOT HAVE THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION; HENCE AN ALTERNATIVE REFERRAL PROGRAM WILL BE REQUIRED. THE MARINE CORPS AND OTHER SERVICES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A NEW REFERRAL SERVICE WHICH WILL MEET ALL DOD IT AND IA REQUIREMENTS. THERE WILL BE A SIX MONTH PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN AHRNS SSOF DOD AFFILIATION AND THE AVAILABILITY OF A PERMANENT SOLUTION.
3. INTERIM GUIDANCE: FROM JANUARY 2014 TO APPROXIMATELY JUNE 2014, ALL MARINE CORPS SERVICE MEMBERS SHOULD USE THEIR RESPECTIVE HOUSING OFFICE TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL HOUSING REQUIREMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, AN UPDATED RENTAL HOUSING INFORMATION DATABASE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FAMILY HOUSING REFERRAL OFFICE THROUGH ELECTRONIC MILITARY HOUSING (EMH). ALTHOUGH THIS INTERIM SOLUTION WILL NOT BE AS INTERACTIVE AS THE PREVIOUSLY USED AHRN SITE, LOCAL INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED FREQUENTLY AND MAINTAINED AS CURRENT AS POSSIBLE.
4. LONG TERM GUIDANCE: DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPROVED DOD WIDE WEB-BASED REFERRAL SOLUTION IS EXPECTED BY MID-YEAR 2014. THE PLAN WILL BE TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE EMH PROGRAM TO INCLUDE SIMILAR REFERRAL FEATURES OFFERED ON THE AHRN WEBSITE. ONCE THE EMH UPGRADE IS OPERATIONAL, HOUSING OFFICES WILL IMPLEMENT THE NEW REFERRAL SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY. SERVICE MEMBERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE DOD REFERRAL SOLUTION AND FINAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN VIA SUBSEQUENT MARADMIN MSG. ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL HOUSING OFFICES WILL BE FULLY AWARE OF PROGRESS AND CAN BE CONTACTED AT ANY TIME.
5. YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING DURING THIS TRANSITION PERIOD ARE SINCERELY APPRECIATED.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MAJOR GENERAL J.G. AYALA, COMMANDER, MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS COMMAND.//