Story by SN Tatyana Freeman on 04/18/2019

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (April 11, 2019) While the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is undergoing refueling complex overhaul (RCOH), Sailors assigned to George Washington cannot live on the ship. However, the command affords Sailors many alternative housing options throughout the Hampton Roads area.

"During RCOH, single junior Sailors have the option to reside in a Huntington Hall barracks room, get assigned to Navy Gateway Inns & Suites (NGIS) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard Portsmouth, be assigned to a government-leased apartment out in town with their immediate chain of command's recommendation, or have the option to apply for public private venture (PPV) via their chain of command," said Chief Culinary Specialist Jose Valencia, George Washington's housing division leading chief petty officer.

Each option has unique benefits, as well as specific requirements to be met.

"Huntington Hall is the initial check-in point upon arrival to George Washington," said Valencia. "If there are no rooms available at Huntington Hall, they will be assigned to NGIS."

NGIS is in Portsmouth, Virginia, and requires the Sailor to have his or her own vehicle or for them to take command-provided transportation in order to get to and from the ship in Newport News, Virginia.

"I like living in NGIS," said Electronics Technician 3rd Class Kade Gibbs from Hazel Green, Alabama, assigned to the combat systems department. "Housekeeping services clean it, and it's a nice place. The staff at NGIS is really friendly."

Another option available to single Sailors is being assigned to a government-leased apartment in town.

"Sailors must be recommended by their leading chief petty officer, must have good character and discipline, and must own a personal vehicle," said Valencia. "Apartments are located in different areas of Hampton, Yorktown, and Newport News. Once we receive a recommendation from their chief, they will be placed on the apartment waiting list."

Once a Sailor is approved for an apartment, the housing liasion office receives a key to the unit.

"Once we receive the apartment key, [Sailors] will be contacted to come into the housing liaison office at Huntington Hall to sign a page 13 and receive their apartment keys, and they have three days to check out from Huntington Hall or NGIS and completely move into the apartment," said Valencia.

The fourth option available to single sailors is public private venture (PPV), which is an apartment-style living situation with one roommate, a common area with a kitchen, and a private bedroom and bathroom for each Sailor.

"Sailors desiring to obtain a PPV must come into the Huntington Hall housing liaison office located in room 231 to pick up a PPV packet," said Valencia. "They must completely fill it out, have a financial counseling documented, and submit the packet along with a special request chit to the executive officer for approval. Once the chit is approved, the Sailor must hand-carry it to Miller Hall at Naval [Station] Norfolk and turn it into Mrs. Holley Ayers, our Hampton Roads Homeport Placing Manager. At that point, the Sailor will be placed on the waiting list. The waiting list varies from one to three months depending on the location requested."

The locations for PPV include Newport News and Norfolk.

"I would recommend PPV," said Yeoman 3rd Class Haylie Price from Kent, Washington, a Sailor assigned to the administration department, and a resident of PPV in Newport News. "I think it gives younger Sailors a good opportunity to experience living in an apartment-like setting if they have never done that before. I enjoy the fact that I have my own kitchen. It gives me the opportunity to cook my own meals so I can eat healthier."

George Washington single Sailors have plenty of options to choose from when deciding where to reside before crew move aboard. Only Sailors in PPV will be able to stay in their current residence come crew move aboard time.

To change their current place of residence, single Sailors need only to communicate to their chain of command.

"Leading chief petty officer's recommendation is required for apartments, and command approval is required for PPV units," said Valencia. "Communication is a must!"

For more information and packets, Sailors can contact the housing office in Huntington Hall and speak to their chain of command.

Join the conversation with GW online at www.facebook.com/USSGW and www.twitter.com/GW_CVN73. For more news from USS George Washington, visit www. Navy.mil/local/cvn73/.