Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Corporal Iris M. Feliciano, 9th Communications Battalion, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, became the first re-enlistee to benefit from a new
retention incentive.

Camp Pendleton E-4s and E-5s thinking about staying in the service now
have first crack at brand-new housing.

The program, born here in an effort to improve retention, offers priority
housing in the new Pacific View Housing near Wire Mountain to E-4s
and E-5s who re-enlist for the first or second time. General James L.
Jones, Commandant of the Marine Corps, officially endorsed the
concept Wednesday by christening the first new re-enlistee, Feliciano, to
qualify for the program, which applies to service members who
re-enlisted March 1, 2000 or later.

The Commandant said he'd like to implement some form of the program
Corpswide.

"We need to understand that readiness relies on the comfort of our
Marines, and to make sure that their families are taken care of," he said
after the ceremony, held outside a new Pacific View home.

The idea, conceived by SgtMaj. Rick Jones, former base sergeant major,
stems from the following question.

"How do I convince a corporal to re-enlist as opposed to going out and
getting a job in the civilian community," asked MajGen. Edward Hanlon
Jr., base commanding general.

"Another reason for some to re-enlist is to provide their families a
top-notch home to live in. That is where the new housing re-enlistment
incentive comes in," he said.

To become eligible for base housing, a service member must bring a
letter stating how long the member has been with their unit. The
member must not be eligible for Permanent Change of Station orders in
the ensuing six months and must complete forms available at the Family
Housing Office. For Marines or sailors expecting children, a signed
letter from their doctor is also required.

Re-enlisting personnel do not have to be on the housing list, but they
must apply in person with re-enlistment papers at the Family Housing
Office within 30 days of re-enlistment, according to Joe Fitts,
family-housing director.

This incentive program is basewide, as long as the families meet the
general qualifications, they have priority at Pacific View while units are
available.

"The program will not be terminated because Pacific View fills up," Fitts
said. "There are other housing areas we have and can use. We plan to
keep this program going as long as possible."

An E-4 or E-5 who re-enlists and requires a four-bedroom home will
have priority in another housing area, because Pacific View has only
two- and three-bedroom homes, Fitts said.

"The houses we built are a little bit different than houses built in the past.
This is because these are really being built to commercial standards,"
MajGen. Hanlon said.
"In other words, when you walk in and get a set of keys to a house at
Pacific View, it is almost exactly as if you were getting a home out in
the civilian community. The quality is the same. In fact, I would argue
that the quality is a little bit better. I would be proud to live in any one of
them."

Jones' idea for the re-enlistment incentive began about nine or 10
months ago when the former base sergeant major, bumped into a young
Marine at the exchange. The sergeant major found out the young man
was ready to get out of the Marine Corps.

The sergeant major asked him why he was not re-enlisting. He told the
sergeant major he and his wife went to dinner at his master sergeant's
house.

He told the sergeant major the master sergeant lived in an 'old home.'
The young Marine added that he didn't want to re-enlist 'if all I have to
look forward to is old homes.'

Major Gen. Hanlon said Jones then came to him and said, 'wouldn't it be
nice if we could offer some of the new homes at Pacific View as a
re-enlistment incentive for first-term Marines.'

"I thought it was a wonderful idea," MajGen. Hanlon exclaimed.
"At Camp Pendleton, we are very lucky because we have not only been
getting a number of new homes, but we have gotten a lot of money from
Congress to rebuild many of our older homes. I have a wonderful
opportunity at Pendleton, because we are either building new homes or
we are remodeling homes from scratch up to new standards."

Major Gen. Hanlon reminded service members that base housing
requires no out-of-pocket costs. But that's not the only advantage, he
said.

"People living in base housing are closer to work, the commissary and all
the other facilities, and families feel safer" he said.

Major Gen. Hanlon expressed his outlook for the success of the
program.

"I think it will help with this year's retention," he said.