YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Single servicemembers in grades E-6 and below moving to Yokota this summer will no longer be able to live off-base, officials announced.

Under Pacific Air Forces guidance, Yokota will be adopting a policy known as "constrained housing," which mandates that all single servicemembers assigned to Yokota in grades E-1 through E-6 will be required to live in the dorms, 374th Airlift Wing spokeswoman 1st Lt. Tania M. Bryan said Wednesday.

"Really the biggest change is for E-5s and E-6s," she said, explaining that before the policy change servicemembers in those grades had the option to live off-base.

Information regarding the policy change has already been sent out to unit first sergeants on Yokota.

The policy goes into effect July 1 and will affect only new troops arriving at Yokota, she said.

"Those already off-base will be allowed to stay off-base," Bryan said. Newly arrived married E-5s and E-6s will still have the option of living off-base.

Anyone already living off-base who is interested in moving onto Yokota can do so, she said, with the Air Force picking up the tab.

"It’s not only a cost-saving measure; it’s also to increase dorm occupancy rates," Bryan said.

Yokota has about an 82 percent dorm occupancy rate; the PACAF goal is 95 percent occupancy.

Bryan said troops moving onto Yokota will be issued individual NCO dorm units. The units are between 500 and 600 square feet with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, private bathroom and parking space.

"Overall, this is a good thing," Bryan said. "We’re still taking care of our airmen and saving the Air Force money."

For more information about the policy, contact the Housing Management Flight at DSN 225-8045.