Newcomers Information

The Legal Assistance Section, Office of the Legal Advisor, provides individualized legal support and personal transition information to HQ personnel and their dependents.

We have a wealth of information and resources available to assist you before, during and after your move to the United States. We have developed a series of topical guides focused on legal-related matters and personal transition issues routinely encountered by staff and their family members. While this nine volume series contains information primarily relevant for staff members arriving from Europe and Canada, we are confident that Americans will also benefit given the variety of topics and issues addressed in this series. Our guides contain practical advise on preparations prior to your departure from your current assignment, what to expect upon arrival in the United States/Hampton Roads area, issues and matters you will likely encounter during your assignment, as well as issues encountered when preparing for departure for your next assignment.

Our guides are not intended to provide a complete analysis of the subjects referenced therein (Arrivals and Staff Guide, Housing, Customs, Visa and Immigration, Healthcare, Vehicles and Driving, Education, Money Matters, Pets and Departure). They are rather a compilation of information assembled utilising United States Federal and Virginia State laws and regulations, lessons learned and best practices presented in a question and answer format. The information in our publications is believed accurate as of the date of the specific guide, but is subject to change as local regulations and policies become known. Efforts are made to keep the electronic versions posted on this website up to date.

These guides are password protected; please contact your national liaison representative or representatives in the Office of the Legal Advisor ([email protected]) for the current password.

Click here to access the guides.

We have walk-in legal assistance hours from 0900 to 1130 daily (no appointment or advance notification necessary) – other times are available by appointment.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any legal-related or personal transition questions.

We can be reached at +1 757 747 3900 or by email: [email protected].

The Military Personnel Section mission is to focus business practices that support military personnel and their Families by delivering effective and sustainable human resources services and support.

WELCOME ABOARD

The Military Personnel Section would like to extend to you an extremely warm welcome to Allied Command on behalf of the Staff of the Supreme Allied Command Transformation.

You are assigned to one of two strategic commands of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and for sure you will find the tour of duty to be very rewarding. You will have the opportunity to work with professionals from 32 NATO nations, Partnership for Peace nations, all branches of the Armed Forces, and NATO civilians/contractors that comprise the staff of the Supreme Allied Command Transformation. The Alliance nations and their Partners have assembled a rich mix of talented and experienced staff to take on complex and demanding tasks, both here at Norfolk and at our subordinate organizations in Europe.

MILITARY PERSONNEL CHECK IN

Upon arrival at the Headquarters, all military personnel must visit the Military Personnel Office to begin the check-in process. During this visit you will receive your “check-in sheet”, which is a step-by-step in-processing document. You will also be provided with important information and documentation so you can begin obtaining your U.S. issued Common Access Card (CAC) and Headquarters’ identification card.

U.S. CAC CARD PROCEDURES

FOR INTERNATIONAL PERSONNEL ONLY: The Military Personnel Office is responsible for obtaining all personal information to the staff member and his/her eligible dependents, and certify that information to U.S. authorities. By providing this information a representative of the Military Personnel Office will create and sign form DD-1172 for you, and your dependents to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Identification (ID) cards after you are given your HQ badge. Upon arrival, international military personnel should coordinate the translation of original birth and marriage certificates into the English language with HQ SACT Legal. The DoD ID cards will grant access to local military installations/bases and facilities including the Commissary, Navy Exchange, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities and military treatment facilities for healthcare.

ID Card Processing Office Locations for International Military Personnel:

• Norfolk Navy Exchange (NEX) ID Lab (is the only location newcomers can obtain initial in-processing appointments for ID Card issuance) located inside the NEX (retail store) (Building CD-13), 1560 Mall Drive, Suite 202, outside the Norfolk Naval Base;
• Naval Base Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) Oceana, the ID Card Lab is located inside the PSD at 1161 D Avenue, Building 326, Virginia Beach, and
• Norfolk Naval Base Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek, the ID Card Lab is located inside the PSD at 1155 Nider Boulevard, Building 3510 Virginia Beach.

These are the only approved ID Card locations that can be used.

You must make an appointment for issuance of the DoD ID card for each family member 45 to 60 days prior to arrival by visiting https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/#/locator and following the on-screen instructions to make an appointment with the NEX ID Lab location for initial issuance. You will need to make an appointment for each family member to receive the DoD ID card.

Dependent family members who are receiving an identification card must accompany you. Dependent children age 10 and up to the age of 21 years will receive a dependent ID card, and must also attend the appointment. Dependent children 21 years of age, and less than 23 years of age, are eligible for an ID card, provided they are enrolled in full-time post-secondary education, and provide proof in accordance with U.S. requirements. Children under the age of 10 years are not required to attend the appointment as they are not ordinarily issued an identification card, but must be listed by the Military Personnel Office on Form DD-1172-2 to be properly registered for benefits, including healthcare.

Documentation Requirements for ID Card Lab Appointment:

• Original birth certificates for all family members applying (with English translation signed by HQ SACT Legal, see NLR/PNLR office for requirements);
• Original marriage certificate if married (with English translation signed by HQ SACT Legal, see NLR/PNLR office for requirements);
• Valid passports and visas;
• Signed DoD Form 1172 and Initial Travel Order (ITO) from HQ SACT MILPERS Office.

After the appointment, the Service Member will receive a FIN number. The FIN number must be provided to MILPERS to be registered in the Trusted Agent Sponsorship System (TASS). Once registered in TASS, the Service Member must return to the I.D. Lab to receive the I.D. Card.

Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Staff Training Coordination Section is an enabler and a vehicle for the individual education and training delivered to all staff personnel serving with the Command.

The Staff Training Coordination Section mission is to plan, coordinate and deliver in-house as well as external educational and training events for staff personnel, in order to ensure that every member of the Command possesses the required knowledge, skills and attributes to work efficiently throughout their tour of duty.

Essential role of the Section is to provide prompt and effective educational and training events for the newcomers to make familiar with NATO Alliance and Allied Command Transformation. Specifically, facilitate a thorough understanding about Allied Commander Transformation’s structure, its outputs and methods of working.

Upon arrival to the Command, and as part of the newcomers’ in-processing sessions, you will be enrolled in the Newcomers’ Orientation Training, which will provide you a comprehensive view on Allied Command Transformation and help you in finding your role inside the command.

As you will need more information about NATO and some of its core programs and principles, the following courses, which are both informational and imperative subjects, are provided to you to accomplish on the NATO’s Joint Advanced Distributed Learning portal:

• ADL 037 – Introduction to NATO,
• ADL 209 – Security and Non-NATO Nationals at HQ SACT,
• ADL 169 – Gender awareness,
• ADL 336 – Building Integrity Awareness courses.

These courses are for informational purposes prior to your arrival, but will be required to be completed before your participation in the Newcomers’ Orientation Training. To get access to these courses, first please visit the JADL Portal in order to create a user log in account.

We are looking forward to you joining the Allied Command Transformation Team and are standing by to provide any assistance you need.

Staff Training Coordination Section can be reached by email: [email protected].

Please don’t hesitate to contact us even before your arrival in Norfolk.