Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 7/22/2009

Question
I am a new check-in at Mannheim Germany.  The hosuing office says that I have o move myself, wife, and daughter into on-post family housing simply because I'm married and there are so many housing untis available.  Every command that I have been to in my 13 years of service, I've always at least had the OPTION to choose where I could call my place of residence, but here I am being shown only one door and am being "forced" to choose that as my only option!  I have spent the last 5 days searching for any documentation or admin that specifies that I do not have to follow that particular standard when it comes to housing.  in addition, this base has been slated for closure and the main reason why they have lots of accomedations is because of said closure and so many soldiers being deployed on short notice.
Do you know of any exception to the rule that I may use in order to help my cause?

V/R,
Marshall

Answer
Marshall,
I've always thought the housing services branch had some weird rules.  Unfortunately what they're telling you is correct.  I've been checking for you these past few days and can't find any way around it.  When I spoke to the lady at Mannheim housing, she said on-post housing has been mandatory since Jan 2007, according to IMCOM-E Directive.  Mannheim has so much housing available (for the reasons you mentioned) that they won't pay you to live off-base.

Sorry, but I'm afraid you're stuck.
Colonel H