Hafa Adai! If this is your first PCS to Guam — or your first overseas assignment period — you're about to encounter a set of acronyms and terms that will show up in every conversation with your realtor, your housing office, and your landlord. Not knowing what they mean costs you time, money, and often peace of mind during an already stressful move.
This glossary covers the 12 terms that matter most for military families renting on Guam. Bookmark this page, share it with your spouse, and reference it as you move through the process.
1. OHA Acronym
Overseas Housing Allowance. The military housing benefit paid to service members assigned to OCONUS locations, including Guam. Critical difference from stateside BAH: OHA is a reimbursement, not a fixed payment. You receive up to your OHA ceiling based on actual rent paid — you do NOT keep the difference if rent is below the ceiling.
OHA has three components: rental allowance, monthly utility allowance, and MIHA (the one-time move-in allowance). Rates are set by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and can be updated mid-year.
2. MIHA Acronym
Move-In Housing Allowance. A one-time payment at move-in that covers non-refundable move-in costs: security deposits, hookup fees, appliances the landlord doesn't provide, and similar setup expenses. Requires receipts. Submit through your command housing office alongside your DD Form 2367.
MIHA also refers to the ongoing monthly utility allowance ($1,182/month without dependents, $1,576/month with dependents for Guam in 2026). Same acronym, two different payments — context matters when someone uses it.
3. MHO Acronym
Military Housing Office. The DoD office on Guam responsible for inspecting off-base rental properties before they can be used by service members drawing OHA. Every off-base property must be "MHO-approved" (also called "MHO-validated") before you sign a lease.
Signing a lease before MHO approval is one of the most expensive mistakes military families make. If the property fails inspection, you may be personally liable for rent OHA won't cover. For the full inspection process, see my MHO Inspection Explained guide.
4. DD Form 2367 Form
Individual OHA Report. The DoD form you submit through your command housing office to activate monthly OHA payments after your lease is signed and the property is MHO-approved. Without this form filed correctly, OHA doesn't flow to your paycheck.
Your command housing office walks you through this, but knowing the form number lets you ask specific questions and understand your paperwork rather than being handed a stack blindly.
5. Military Clause Lease Term
A specific lease provision protecting military tenants. Allows you to terminate your lease early — typically with 30 days' written notice — if you receive PCS orders, are ordered into on-base housing, or are released from active duty. Without this clause, breaking a lease can cost 1 to 3 months' rent in penalties.
Every lease I negotiate for a military client includes military clause language. If you're reviewing a lease that doesn't have one, don't sign — insist on adding it.
6. FlexMLS / GAR Acronym
The Guam multiple listing service. FlexMLS is the software platform; GAR (Guam Association of REALTORS®) is the professional organization that operates it. Together they represent the single MLS covering all of Guam. Every legitimate property listing on Guam flows through this system.
When your realtor pulls "current inventory," they're pulling FlexMLS. When you see a property advertised on Zillow or Realtor.com, it originated in FlexMLS. There's no separate rental MLS on Guam — sales and rentals are in the same system.
7. Fee Simple Legal Term
A form of property ownership where you own the land outright. Guam has both fee simple and leasehold properties. The distinction matters enormously for VA loan buyers — the VA requires fee simple ownership. Leasehold properties (where the land is leased for a set term) cannot be purchased with a VA loan.
Most rentals don't require you to think about this, but if you're renting first and thinking about buying later, verify fee simple status early.
8. TCCOR Acronym
Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness. The military system for tracking storm threats and driving base access decisions during typhoon season (June 1 through November 30 on Guam). Levels run from TCCOR 4 (72+ hours out) down to TCCOR 1E (emergency conditions, storm impact).
Your unit will brief you on TCCOR levels when you arrive, but knowing what the acronym means helps you understand the local news, base emergency notifications, and your neighbors' preparedness conversations. See my Typhoon Prep Guide for the practical checklist.
9. Cistern Property Feature
A large water storage tank, usually installed as a supplement to municipal water. Common in Guam homes because water pressure drops and utility water can be temporarily disrupted during and after storms. A property with a functional cistern (typically 500 to 2,500 gallons) gives you a substantial buffer during storm recovery.
Ask about cisterns during property tours. If a property has one, verify capacity, condition, and whether the pump uses electricity or gravity feed. Gravity-feed cisterns keep working during power outages; electric-pump cisterns don't unless the property has a generator.
10. Concrete Construction Building Type
Buildings constructed primarily from concrete block or poured concrete rather than wood frame. This is the Guam standard because of typhoon risk, humidity, and pest pressure. Concrete construction offers superior storm resilience, better resistance to termites and other pests, and typically lower insurance rates than wood-frame homes.
Nearly all Guam military rentals are concrete. If you're offered a wood-frame property, that's a yellow flag worth investigating carefully.
11. PCS Orders Acronym
Permanent Change of Station orders. Your official military orders to relocate to a new duty station. On Guam, PCS timing drives every deadline in the rental process: temporary lodging reservations, MHO inspection scheduling, lease start dates, HHG shipment coordination, and DoDEA school enrollment for military-connected children.
Your report date determines everything. The earlier you share it with your realtor, the more control you have over your housing search and less "we have to grab this or lose it" pressure at the end.
12. HHG Acronym
Household Goods. Your personal belongings shipped by the DoD from your losing installation to your new duty station. On Guam, HHG timing matters because your shipment arrives by sea container and can take 6 to 12 weeks depending on your originating location.
This affects your lease timing: many families need their rental locked in before HHG arrives so movers have somewhere to deliver. Coordinate with your Transportation Office (TMO) early and share your projected HHG arrival window with your realtor.
Bonus: Two More Worth Knowing
DoDEA
Department of Defense Education Activity. The DoD school system serving military-connected children on Guam. DoDEA operates schools on Andersen AFB and Naval Base Guam. Bus transportation from off-base villages is also available for military-connected students, so choosing an off-base rental doesn't mean giving up DoDEA schooling.
DTMO
Defense Travel Management Office. The DoD office that publishes and updates OHA rates. Always verify your current OHA at travel.dod.mil before signing any lease — rates can update mid-year based on Guam housing market surveys.
Knowing these terms doesn't just make you sound informed — it protects you. When your realtor, landlord, or command housing office uses jargon, you can ask specific questions rather than nodding through paperwork you don't fully understand. Every hour you invest in understanding the vocabulary saves days of confusion later.
Related Resources
For deeper coverage of the topics above:
- Your Complete PCS to Guam Guide — the full walkthrough from orders to keys
- MHO Inspection Explained — the property walkthrough process step by step
- Military-Friendly Rentals on Guam — how to identify the right rental
- Typhoon Season Prep for Military Renters — TCCOR, cisterns, and preparation checklist
- VA Loans on Guam — fee simple requirements and everything else buyers need
- Free PCS Housing Handbook — 23-page downloadable guide with 2026 OHA rates and full DD Form 2367 walkthrough
Ready to Put These Terms to Work?
Whether you're 90 days from your PCS or just starting to research, I can walk you through every one of these terms as it comes up in your specific situation. Free consultation, no pressure.
📞 671-689-7726 · ✉️ terry@militaryhomesonguam.com
Hafa Adai — knowing the language is half the battle. I've got the other half.
Honorably discharged veteran and Guam's dedicated military PCS Realtor. Serving families at Andersen AFB, Naval Base Guam, and Camp Blaz with expertise, honesty, and genuine care.