New Changes & 10 Years on the web!

Hi! Welcome to the "ALL NEW" Germany Information Website. With time, come changes. We are celebrating our 10th year on the web, and boy have we come a long way! Originally, I started posting information on our family site. I started adding information and photos that I thought my family would enjoy seeing about our new home in Germany. I ended up adding more and more information, and ended up thinking, "You know, someone moving here may benefit from this information." So, in November of 2000, I moved everything from our family site, over to it's own new site. This new site is what you know as "The Germany Information Website". Thank you to all of my loyal visitors and I welcome all of you newcomers. You will notice some changes here and I hope you find this site easier to navigate. As you may know, I am no longer in Germany and need your help with updating my site. Please help me by sending me new information and photos, or correcting outdated information. My new site is much easier to update, so come on and send me new information when you can. Below are a few things that I am looking for, but will be grateful for anything you can send me.

• new photos of the outside of random houses off base
• photos of General housing on Ramstien
• some outside photos of the new townhomes
• photo of the new KMCC
• photos of some of the new play areas on Ramstein in housing
• photos of the new pool on Ramstein
• new information - what are they doing with the old bx on Ramstein?
• any info on the new KMCC, your thoughts, likes, dislikes

Please email me with and comments or suggestions that you may have for my site. I want to be able to keep this up and running with current information. I can't do this without your help. I am asking that you please not email me with questions about moving to Germany. For the first couple of years, I would get several emails a week and would personally answer them all. I just don't have time for that and that is why I have the message board and Facebook page. Please join those groups at the left of the site and you can ask all of your questions there. You will get great information from people who are living there; often from more than one person. I like this because you will get more than one person's point of view on things.

You will find all of the information you need at the menu above or in the archives to the right. Well, I hope you like the new site, and again, I appreciate all of the help and information you can send me or any suggestions you may have! And thanks again for keeping us on the web for 10 years!

Tschuß,
Christy Parish

A few things that you might find interesting.....

• Find us on FACEBOOK! I finally made a group on Facebook called 'I Love Germany' Click here to find us!
• I need your help! Please show your support and help to keep this site going! We can't keep the site online without you! Click here to find out how you can help!
• Ebates - Coupons, Rebates, and Cash Back and it is FREE! Use this site if you are going to shop online! You get money back from the purchases you make. I have been a member for a few years now and love when I get my checks in the mail! Help our Germany site by using usafparish96@yahoo.com as the person that referred you or click here! Sign up right now and after you make your first purchase, we both get $5.00 in our account! This can be your donation to help keep our site going!
• Join KLSA - Kaiserslautern/Landstuhl Spouses' Association - Click here for more info! Open to all ID card holders!!
• German Toilets - A great read that might interest you! Click here
• Help the Webmaster - Please contact me anytime via email. We want to know - are we giving correct information? Is there something we should change or add? Send us your thoughts and we will post it on "What others have to say". Would you like to submit photos of your house or Holidays through Europe (photos of places we don't already have on the site)? We would like all the feedback you are willing to give and we need your help! The webmaster no longer lives in Germany.

Ramstein Swimming Pool

Here are a couple of photos from the pool that is located by the Northside Gym and Post Office. It opened in 2008 and is a great facility, complete with locker rooms. If anyone has more information or photos, please send them to me so that I may post them here.

Q&A's

Q: My family consists of me, husband and toddler. How friendly are German landlords and neighbors to children? I like to think I keep a firm hand on the behavior of my son, but there is always the inevitable screaming fit every now and again, and we plan to try for another child soon.
A: I have heard that the Germans are really nice and that they end up treating the children like their own grandchildren. I have also heard that you either love your landlord, or you hate them. don't worry about crying children, everyone has them or has had them at one point in time.

Q: Also, are apartments set up the same as in America? ie, everyone shares a common laundry room? I really hate that. I have looked at your link to the KA on-line to look at rental prices, and have not found many mentions of laundry facilities. Do you know if the apartments usually have laundry hook ups? And also dishwashers, or hookups?
A: There aren't really that many apartments like you are thinking, most places house two or three families. All that I have seen have W/D hookups and the base supplies you with a W/D. The only thing you might share is the entrance way or stairwell, or basement with your neighbor. The very outside of the door usually has a buzzer on it that will ring to your house so that you can let your company in. Some places, you have a totally different entrance way than your neighbor. A lot of the places are really one big house that has been broken down in to two or three apartments. Your door might be in the the front and your neighbors door might be in the back.

Q: And many of the advertisements say "3 rooms" or "4 rooms", while others say "2 bdrms" or "3 bdrms". Does this imply that a "3 room" apartment is 3 bedrooms, or are they counting total number of rooms in the apartment?
A: I am pretty sure that if it says "3 rooms" than that is what it means. I am not 100% sure.

Q: Is there a difference between a b.i.k. and a plain old kitchen? And what is a "furnished kitchen"?
A: A "b.i.k." means built in kitchen. For some reason, a lot of the houses don't have a nice kitchen. you might luck out and get a nice one because the landlord originally built it for his wife or something.........but if not, you might have to purchase shelves to use as a pantry and cupboards. If they have counters, they usually aren't even attached to the wall. Now don't be scared by this, I have seen both extremes and even in the middle. I just went somewhere this weekend and the house was awesome! It was a single family home, which you don't find too often. The house was very roomy, the kitchen, no lie, was the size of a small to med bathroom. It was so little. She loved the house and thought they could just live with the kitchen, but I think she really hates it. I also went to a friends this weekend and they had a beautiful kitchen, he had built it for his wife (landlord). Kitchens are a really big seller here, they say that people like to design their own kitchen. I know of a military member who bought a kitchen for his house. I don't think that there are too many dishwashers.....sorry. So, I am guessing you will want a "b.i.k." and not just a regular kitchen.

Q: Also, do you have any advice on which town to live in? I notice that Miesenbach listings seem to be cheaper than most of the other advertisements. Is this because it is far from Ramstein, or because it is a bad neighborhood?
A: I don't believe there are any bad neighborhoods.......the crime rate is very low over here. Miesenbach is about 3 min from Ramstein. So I guess it just depends on what house you choose as to how much. I would say that Ramstein-Meisenbach would be a great place to live. There are several towns that are very close to Ramstein. I really wouldn't worry about that all too much. Just get here and see what is available and go have a look.

Q: What is the difference between a terrace and a balcony? Does terrace imply ground floor apartments?
A: I don't know???? Sorry

Q: How is the Internet access over there? Can you get unlimited access for a reasonable price? Also, can you get fast access such as cable or DSL? I have gotten quite accustomed to having full-time fast access that I have gotten spoiled. I will hate it if I have to go back to dial-up, but I guess I can live with it if I have to.
A: Expensive! I don't know of anyone who has unlimited as far as regular Internet. We pay about $40 for 90 hours a month. We have it through t-online and they used to have unlimited but I guess it got to be too much for them to offer. They do have cable modem on base, we just haven't done it yet. I don't know about off base, but I think you can.

Q: Do they have Pennzoil motor oil at the BX gas station. I am very partial to it and am wondering if I need to ship some over there or not. That is all I will use in my vehicles.
A: YES they do have Pennzoil Motor Oil!

Q: Do they have Michelin tires at the BX gas station for American trucks. If not, I may need to pick some up and put them in my shipment.
A: No, they only sell Cooper Tires and you would get them at the Auto Parts Store.

Q: How can I obtain a copy of a birth certificate for my child who was born in an American Hospital in Germany?
A: I was told by the passport/birth certificate office that all the birth certificates are filed through the USA. Here is an address and phone # for you.
Department of the State
Passport Services Correspondence Branch
1111 19th Street
Washington, DC
20522-1705
(202) 955-0307/0308

Q: Can we bring our fridge and washer and dryer?
A: No, FMO will issue you these appliances.

Q: How much of our furniture can we bring?
A: You will have to check and see what your housing allowance is. You should be able to ask your supervisor who you need to talk to find out about this information.

Q: I have a question about the weather? How cold does it get and how warm?
A: It gets cold! It can get into the teens. And the warm weather, I think it might get to 80! Maybe! It starts getting cold in about Aug. and doesn't start getting warm until May. In the summer months when it is warm, sometimes a cold day sneaks in here and there. In the spring and fall, sometimes you will have a really cold day and then sometimes, you put your shorts on.

Q: How long is it cold and warm in Germany? People say it's always cold.
A: It is cold about 3/4 of the time and can be chilly in the summertime too. It is best to bring at least light jackets and/or sweatshirts with you even if you are traveling in the summer.

Q: Do they have air conditioning in Germany? If they don't, how come?
A: No, not in the houses and very few busineses have A/C. They don't need it because it is only warm for a little bit in the summer. You will need to invest in fans! Check out the thrift stores or PCS sales.

Q: I would like to know if my daughter is 10 years of age, will she have her own room? I also have a 10 month old
A: They give you one bedroom per child, but base housing only goes up to 4 or 5 bedrooms.

Q: I would like to know is the food at a good cost in Germany?
A: The commissary food is the normal price that you should be used to. I didn't notice any big change in the pricing.

Q: How do you get around in Germany?
A: We drive, or there is a shuttle that goes around the bases. There is also a train that you can travel long distance by. Flying from Germany to other countries close by is very inexpensive with http://www.ryanair.com/

Q: How is the school down there for my daughter?
A: The schools are good and are ranked up in the highest for the nation. You can read more about them under schools on the website.

Q: I would like to go back to college, how are those in Germany?
A: Check with the education office on your base. They offer many colleges to help you acheive your education goals. There is more information under the schools section of this site.

Q: Did you have trouble finding room for all your furniture?
A: On base, we found space for everything although the living room was kind of cozy! (2 bdrm) Once we were in a three bedroom, everything was spread out real nice. Both of these were the old stairwell apartments. The new town homes are cute and cozy and should be ok unless you have big, oversized furniture such as a sectional couch or huge dining room table. The houses of base can be very spacious and you could find yourself having trouble filling them.

Q: We are thinking about getting a dining table and chairs and was wondering is dining area good size or will it take away from living area?
A: There is a place for the dining room table in base housing. Some people use it as intended or they put their computer there. It is totally up to you. Some people put their table in the kitchen. There is room for it if one side is pushed up against the wall depending on what model you have. You might want to hold of and purchase new wood furniture once you are here. Belgium has beautiful wooden furniture and the prices are not bad at all!

Q: How are the prices on things and is it cheap to travel to different places?
A:Yes you can travel everywhere for cheap! You can fly to London for about $70.00. Check for flights at http://www.ryanair.com/ You can also purchase rail passes that are cheap and you can use them for a week throught the train system http://www.eurorailways.com/

Q: I have 2 sons and my worry is that there isn't going to be enough things for them to do.
A:There will be plenty for your boys to do. The facilities on base are very good for the children and there is always something going on - activities, roller skating, bowling, teen and youth centers, scouts, sports, music, skate park, parks, playgroups......

Q: How many floors does base housing have?
A: The new town homes are two stories. The old stariwell apartments for lower ranking officers and enlisted, have 3 to 4 floors with 6 to 8 apartments in each stairwell. There are three stairwells to a building. For higher ranking officers, there are two story buildings with one stairwell that house four families. For the even higher ranking officers, there are two story duplexes that of course house 2 families. Each apartment is two story for the duplexes. And Generals will get their own two story home.

Q: I am looking for old military buddies, I hope you have some info on the men in my battalion/unit or might direct me to obtain information.
A: Sorry, I don't have any information like that. Try posting on the KA website. http://www.ka-online.de/

Q: Have you seen any sites that have info on Sembach similar to yours?
A: Sembach is the same as here and is about a 15 to 20 min drive from Ramstein. Actually, some people live at Sembach and work at Ramstein and visa versa.

Q: Do you know anything about the bases in Hanau?
A: I don't know anything about Hanau, but from what I have seen all, of the bases in Germany are pretty much the same.

Q: What appliances should we bring?
A: It is up to you what appliances you bring. (to a certain point. You should be told what you cannot bring, ex. W/D, Fridge) Just remember, whatever you bring, you have to use it on a transformer unless it is multisystem and will work with 220 voltage. You can pick up 220 appliances at yard sales........people are always leaving and getting rid of stuff.

Q: How easy is it to get a used car there?
A: There are always tons of cars for sale! And you can pick one up real cheap if you don't want to spend a lot of money. We paid $650.00 for a 1984 BMW and it lasted for a good while. Some people even give cars away. We were given one an passed it on to someone else before he ditched it in the junk yard.

Q: I asked a friend who is in a GS position living over here a few questions and I thought that her answers would be helpful to you so I posted them here.
A: Yes, we had to get a driver's license. Yes, we have access to base, bx, etc..we have civilian id's and are considered id holders. It can be different if you are a contractor but I work in a GS position. The government pays us a housing allowance...etc, etc. The difficult part is medical care. We have to pay up front and then we are only reimbursed 70% of the cost. Plus it is hard for civilians to get an appointment. They treat us like second rate citizens which is awful becuase my job supports the military....stupid......we are all in the same position....working overseas...we face the same hurdles...yet we are treated like crap by the medical community...... (your benefits will be outlined in the contract you sign. I have known some civilians that the family did not have access to the base or any of the facilities. The only reason he had access was to go to work. They had to register the vehicles off base and pay all German taxes. They did not have an American post office box and really had a hard time with everything. Please make sure you are clear on what your benifits will be and have it in writing.

Q: What are the web addresses for the travel agencies on base?
A: The web address for ITT Travel is http://www.rtttravel.com/ And the address for Sato Travel is http://www.satotravel.com/ or http://www.virtuallythere.com/

Q: We just found out we have orders. I am wondering what is the worst housing area? It seems the Sembach housing has the shortest wait time according to the info we have.
A: There are four bases to which you could live on. Ramstein, Vogelweh, Sembach, and Landstuhl. They are doing a lot of remodeling on all of the bases building new townhomes. Landstuhl is an Army post and they try to put hospital personnel there. Out of the others, Sembach is kind of far out from everything but I have heard it is nice. It is about 20 min away from Ramstein. Some people prefer living out there and it is secluded, although I am pretty sure they have closed the schools out there. They will bus the children to Vogelweh for school. Vogelweh is about 10 to 15 min from Ramstein and the new housing is really nice. I like the Ramstein area the best. I think everyone has their own preferences, and you may just have to look once you arrive.

Q: I was also wondering do we really need to get rid of our microwave or will it work in base housing?
A: Your microwave will not work properly over here. The electricity runs on 50 cycles instead of 60 as it does in the states. So, FMO will issue you a microwave.

Q: I was wondering about the car seat law are they really that strict that you have to ride in a booster until 11yrs old or 79lbs? I have a 7yr old, 2yr old and 1yr old so my back seat will be crowded if so.
A: I think you will be ok with the 7yro not in a car seat. That is my opinion, don't hold me liable! I see lots of people that don't follow the rule. Sometimes we go without for our 6yo son when we have another person riding in the car. I don't think it will be that big a deal. You might want to just have one for the 7yo for school outings........they might require a seat. You can also just buy a small foam booster seat that will be within regulations. They don't take up much room at all and you can throw them in the trunk when you don't need them.

Q: Do you need lawnmowers?
A: No, not on base if you are living in the aparments. I am not sure about the new town houses, maybe someone can let us know. Off base, sometimes the landlord does the yard and they do not mind if you plant flowers. We however lived in two differnt homes off base and we had to mow the grass with our own lawnmower.

Q: Do any of the housing units have a little bit of yard to plant flowers?
A: On base: In the apartments you are welcome to plant flowers in the front of the buildings and or have flower boxes but that is about it. Some people put nice flower pots on the front steps also. In the townhomes, you will have your own yard and can plant flowers. Off base, you can usually plant flowers, just ask your landlord. I think they are all for your keeping their place looking nice.

Q: Another question, do they normally house you quickly or do most people have to live on the economy for a while?
A: There has been a wait of about one year for on base housing.

Q: What is the fear factor like over there since Sept. 11? My husband and I were mostly excited to go to Germany for the opportunity to travel and see all of Europe and expose our kids to another culture. Now I am concerned about how safe we would be to travel around to the different countries over there. What is your take on this?
A: We were in Germany when 9/11 happened. We actually felt safer in Germany than in the US. We did still travel both of our tours there and never had an issue. Security is tighter in Germany than in the states, but that is to be expected. The do ID checks always and do random vehicle inspections. Just be patient; this is done for all of our safety.

Q: Could you please tell me if a King Size bed would fit in the master bedroom of Military housing??
A: Yes, a king size bed will definately fit in housing. We were told the rooms were small and so when we bought our new bed, we acutually returned it for a Queen size............and we were MAD! So, yes, a King size bed will fit.

Q: Should I bring my own couch or just borrow one when I get there?
A: I reccomend bringing your furniture. Your going to be here for a while, don't you want to feel at home as much as you can?

Q: Is it hard to find a veterinary clinic on base?
A: There is a vet on Ramstein AB, Baumholder, and Pulaski. Appointments are required and there are no Emergency services available. There are several vets off base too.

Q: Do you have any information on auto dealers in the area? We would be interested in purchasing a European auto that is U.S. spec so I could bring it back to the states.
A: There are dealers here that you can buy from and save a lot of money! I know of people (and we bought two VW ourselves) who have bought BMW, Volkswagon, and Volvo. If you are moving here and plan to do that when you are here, you should have no problem. There are several car dealerships all around and some really close by in Einsedlerhof, which is right between Ramstein and Vogelweh. Just ask someone when you arrive where to go.

Q: What type of housing do they have for Colonels?
A: Colonel housing is usually a 4 plex. And dedpending on how many children you have is how they determine how many bedrooms you will get.

Q: What is included in the utilities for on base housing (ELECTRIC, CABLE, ETC.)?
A: The same as in the states, the only thing you have to pay for is cable, phone, and any other extras you may want, like internet service. The military provides the electric, water, heat, trash pickup.

Q: Did you sell your cars before you moved?
A: We kept our good car and brought it with us. The military will only allow you to ship one car but you can pay to ship a second vehicle for about $2000.

Q:Do people have pets in base housing?
A: Yes they do, but please remember to be courtious if you bring your pet. I have lived in two different stairwells and in both, there were annoying dogs that barked ALL THE TIME! If you live in a townhome, you will have a much better time and your own yard to let the dog out in.

Q: Do they have state farm in Germany?
A: No, not that I know of. USAA does cover you while in Germany, although premiums are higher than in the states. There are also a few insurance companies of base that you can get coverage with as well.

Q:Who do you go through for your banking/checking?
A: We used our bank in Florida, USAA, and then we also had a local account on base in Germany. Some of your utilities have to be paid through a local account so we used Community Bank.

Q: Are there extra fees for using your account in the states?
A: The only charges for a withdrawl are the charges your bank would normally charge you. Our bank in the states charges us $.60 for a withdrawl from an atm other than theirs.......so that is anywhere you take money from, even overseas. But, we usually don't withdraw money from there. Our ATM card is a check card also, so if you use it in the store, you just use it as a credit card and it comes right from your checking account and there are no extra fees.

Q: Can you get foriegn money out of the ATM's?
A: Yes, you can get EURO or dollars out of the ATM's on base. Off base, you can get the money for that country (which is now EURO in most places) out of the ATM's and all that I have seen, even in Paris, have an English option.

Q: Do places except checks from your bank in the states?

A: As far as writting checks, the only place you can write a check is on base, and they will accept a check from any bank. Off base you just deal in cash or credit.

Q: Can you buy cars in Germany and what kind can you get?
A: You can get any kind of car here that you want to buy. You can buy cars at the dealers off base, or you can buy from AAFES on base. They have suv's, minivan's, and just about anything else you want......and if you purchase a vehicle while in Germany you will get it tax free the whole time you are here. So if you are on a three year tour, when you leave you will pay taxes on a three year old vehicle instead of a brand new one. It just depends on the state, but when we moved to NM, we didn't even have to pay taxes at all. There are also severl "lemmon lots" where you can buy used!

Q: Should we stock up on things before we come?
A: As far as stocking up on things, it just all depends on what you want. The bx's are crazy, sometimes you will find exactly what you are looking for, or they have nothing even close to it. So if you do see something that you are going to want or need in the future at the bx, then you should buy it then because next time you go back, chances are it will be gone.....say for instance a bathing suit for your little ones....So really there is no way to tell you what to stock up on....just bring what you need.

Q: Is there a place to buy movies or video games?
A: YES, The power zone is the AAFES version of a Best Buy. They have tv, vcr, sound systems, dvd, movies, cd's, computers, sports/camping equiptment, pc programs.......and other stuff. There is also a place called Mom's on Ramstein that sells new or you can rent at.

Q: How did you get from the airport to the base?
A: Our sponsor came and picked us up from the airport in Frankfurt (about 1 hour from Ramstein). There is also a shuttle that will take you to base. If you get an international drivers liscense while you are in the states, you can rent a car at the airport. To get an international drivers liscence, you just go to your wherever they issue them and pay the money and they give you one. There is no test. (this may be different in your area) Most people fly right into Ramstein now, so you won't have as big of an issue and could catch a taxi the hotel if needed.

Q: My husband and I are moving to Germany in April and I would like to find a job. Are there any webs sites out there for base jobs for spouses?
A: Civilian Personnel Office (CPO) - Army http://cpolrhp.belvoir.army.mil/eur/
Air Force Personnel Contact Center - Find Jobs for Civilians for all over the world. Look for jobs and submit your online resume' http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/

Q: How are the TV stations over there. I mean can you catch alot of football, hockey, etc on TV over there?
A: Yes, you can get all kinds of sports if you have cable, which includes the AFN sports channel, and Eurosport channel. You can get some kind of sports all the time, but it may not be the game you wanted to see.

Q: I am just wondering how long it will take me to get base housing so my family can join me. How long does it take to get housing off post.
A: There is no way that I can tell you how long it will take to get base housing, it really changes everyday and lately there has been a year waiting list. The winter is a good time because the number of PCS's are low. Usually people bring their families over with them but in some places Army personnel have to come and get settled before they bring their fmaily. As far as getting a house off base, you should be able to find a house right away. Check www.ka-ads.de and look under classifieds and then accomodations and you can see the houses off base that are available.

Q: What about small kitchen appliance, should I bring them with me (i.e. blender, toaster, steamer)? They're all 110v and would require transformers, but I don't know if this is normal or safe practice in Germany.
A: Bringing your little appliances is fine, but it is a pain to have to use transformers all the time. Also, things with motors might tend to run differently because of the 50 cycles of electricity. So, they work, you just might find that they don't operate like you would want them too. I think it might be different for every appliance, so it is hard to say. Some people say that things work fine, and then others say they don't. There are always people selling things if you need to buy something here. But it is really up to you..........they are little things and you can try them, if they don't work right for you, then buy 220.

Q: I want to know what is VAT.
A: Value Added Tax! The price on the label includes the tax, which over here is 16%. So if the store advertises (or ask them) "Tax Free Sales", this means that for purchases over a certain amount (usually $50 or more) you can avoid paying the Value Added Tax. You get them on base at the VAT office and they are $4.00 each. You are allowed to have 10 at a time. They are really a good thing and will save you 16%. There should be a VAT office on just about every base, so you should be able to get them easily. There is more information in the archives of this site about VAT.
 Q: My wife and I watch TV shows on local and cable stations here in the states. Are there TV stations with shows in English in Germany? What are they?
A: Ok, as far TV goes........if you get cable with AFN (American Forces Network), you get American shows. You get 3 afn channels, one is sports and the other two play regular shows that you like to watch. The only thing is that most of them are a season or two behind. Some, like the today show, you get the same day.........Jay Leno is a day behind. So, you might only get one show for a couple of months and then they change to something different. So, you never really know what is going to be on. There are also a couple of British channels and they play some good shows. One of them always plays the simpsons; yuk! They play some other american shows too. And then, some of the other shows they play are really good too. They also show a lot of nudity, so.......anyways.....that is all on base and it is $20 a month for basic. They also offer a movie channel.......not sure how much $. If you live off base, you have to get a satalite to get all of those channels........kind of a pain and expensive to get started. If someone want to email me the details once you are here......I will gladly post them here! Ü

Q: Do you recommend I ship my motorcylce? How bike friendly is the area?
A: You asked if you should bring your motorcycle. Well, there are lots of people that have them here. The roads are bumpy though. You have to take a test to get a special liscence. They only give the class about once a quater, so you might have to wait a while before you can take the class. You really only have about 4 months of good riding weather........or bring rain gear. Also, make sure your stateside liscence is endorsed for motorcycles before you come overseas, or it can real expensive.

Q: We would like to know the current exchange rate?
A: click here for an exchange rate calculator to see the current rate

Q: Do the apartments on base go from front to back or just front to middle ?
A: I think I understand your question. The apartments are 1 deep. This means that if you look out your bedroom windows, you will see the parking area. If you look out your living room windows, you will see the back yard. (this is my layout, others might be different, but they are all 1 apartment deep!)

Q: I scrapbook, should I stock up on supplies or can I get them there?
A: The bx's here have supplies for scrapbooking and stamping, but not a whole lot. And usually, they just have the same stuff all the time. There are also some supplies and paper at the craft store in the basement of the North Side Gym at Ramstein. There are also some creative memories consultants here. Other than that, you will have to order online what you need. So, yes, you might want to stock up on things just in case.

Q: What type of Church Services are offered in the area around or near Ramstein?
A: There are quite a few of options available. Protestant, Apostolic, Islamic, Methodist, Episcopalian,Gospel/Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Angelican, Chruch of God/Christ, Latter Day Saints. There are also choirs, youth ministry, children's programs, and counseling available.

Q: What different activities available for children and youth in the Ramstein/K-town area?
A: Sports, Scouts, Art, Drama, Speech, Debate, Band, Chorus, Music, Computers, Electronics, IT, Environment Club, Gourmet Club, Gardening, Humanities, Journalism, Media, Student Councel/Government. There are also bowling alleys with leagues, skating rink, youth and teen centers, dances, prom, game rooms, trips and tours, camps, martial arts, gymnastics, arts & crafts, dance instruction, soccer, basketball, football, baseball, swimming/diving, biking, hokey, sports clinics, tennis, badmiton, raquetball, cheerleading, drill team, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting........and I am sure I missed some!

Q: Is WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) offered in Germany?
A: Yes, in some places but for sure at Ramstein, WIC has already been implimented. Starting Sept. 2002, WIC sites will be open at all bases with a MTF and a commissary. If you don't get WIC informaiton in your intro briefing to your base, contact your Family Support Center.

Q: Are there rations in Germany?
A: Yes, you must have a ration card to buy gas, cigarettes, coffee, and alcohol on base. If you purchase these items on the economy, you do not need a ration card.

Q: Can you use coupons in Germany?
A: YES! And they are good for 6 months after the printed expiration date. So stock up on them and bring them with you.

Q: Do you know where I can get a bunch of information (not internet) about Germany?
A: For more information on Germany, I would suggest checking the library or your family support center on base.


Q: I want to find a friend that lives in Germany, but I can't locate her.
A: I am not sure how to go about finding anyone that lives here. We don't have phone books for local nationals. There might be agencies that can help you. You might can research that once you are here.

Q: I was just wondering about how much does it cost if you wanted to buy bedroom furniture in Germany, and is it less then in America?
A: I don't think that you would want to buy Europeon furniture. It is much different than what we are used to and the sizes are different.........so if you did buy a bed from over here, only Europeon sheets and stuff would fit. As far as the Europeon furniture, some is really nice and you can get for good prices.........but, it will all be up to you. Alot of people buy shrunks (wall unit/entertainment centers)..........tables, chairs, but have never really seen of anyone buying the couches, or beds.

Q: Is it easy to find a house off base that accepts pets?
A: Well, it is kinda 50/50. Germans love dogs, but they just don't necessarily want them living in their homes they rent out. It is a good idea to take your dog with you and let the landlord meet them even if they say "no pets". They may see how sweet your animal is and allow you to rent. A lot of Americans end up ditching their pets while they are over here and the Germans do not want to be a part of that.

Q: Will we be able to afford off base housing?
A: Check this site out http://www.cinchouse.com/ There you can calculate what your pay will be here in Germany (or anywhere really) including COLA, BHA and so on. Then you can visit the http://www.ka-ads.de/  to see what types of houses are available and how much they want for rent.

Q: Are there any dogs that are not allowed in Germany?
A: Restricted Dog Breeds - American Pit Bull Terriors, Pit Bulls, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and any forms of the breeds are not allowed in Germany.


Q: Can you give us the names of some kennels close by to keep our dog while we are in TLF?
A: Rainbow-Farm 06371-914619 or www.rainbow-farm.com, Doghouse Paque 06371-952584, Tannenhof 06371-14129, The Farm Kennel 06372-8070 or http://www.tierpension-farm-kennel.de/

Q: Does the new housing policy (March 1, 2002) of 1 room per child apply to all sectors of the military, in my case Army?
A: This policy is applies to the KMC no matter what branch of military you are. This means Ramstein, Vogelweh, Landstuhl, Sembach. I am not sure if it applies to other areas in Germany or for what branches. You will need to contact the base you are going to for further information.Visit the Crossroads website and see if your base is listed there. I belive that there is a link to the site on my links page. Once you find your base, there will be information on housing and ways to contact the housing office. You might be able to email them and get all of your questions answered.

Q: Can you tell us about housing at other bases in Germany?
A: The only thing that I can offer is that most of the military housing in Germany are pretty much the same, with a few variations. The housing that I have seen has wooden floors and tile. General and Colonel housing has carpet. All of the housing that I have seen is 2 to 4 stories tall.

Q: Can we bring yard toys for on base?
A: You should be able to bring yard toys, but will have to check on your base as to what the rules are. Some places you might have to store them in the basement. Here on Ramstein, I have seen several little tykes stuff (climbers, swingsets and such.......) that are left out. (they are too big to take down and put away) If you have your own townhouse, you will have a yard to put them in.

Q:We want to find a house.......can you suggest how we go about looking before we get over there?
A: Realtors charge a huge finders fee of like one months rent, so usually they are the last option. The only thing I can suggest is for you to look at this website under "accomodations" http://www.ka-ads.de/  or wait until you get here and get a list from housing of what is available or find the realtors once you are here.

Q: What are the average size of the rooms in base housing?
A: The small bedroom in our 3 bedroom is about 9x12 then the second bedroom is about 10x14. Then the master bdrm is about 10x18 (we fit our queen bed, lg dresser w mirror, one night stand, and a chest of drawers in it with plenty of walking space on one side of the room, the other side of the room there is tons of space. The living room is about 20x25.......pretty good size, but this also includes your dining area. We will measure soon and post them on the site. The bathrooms are big!! Much bigger than a standard bathroom in the US.

Q: I am new to Ramstein and looking for off base recreation. Have tried to find the MarketPlatz twice with no luck (not been given very good directions). Also looking for Ramstein Village...K-Town...just somewhere to get out and walk around. Also any info on how to get involved in the weekend walks would be greatly appreciated.
A: The Marketplatz you are referring too is usually called the walkplatz. There is one in every town........so some are bigger than others. The big one around here is in K-town wich you were looking to find also. Very easy!!!................let me try and help you. Do you know B-40? The road that takes you to Vogelweh?? Take that road like you are going to vogelweh from Einsedlerhof..........go past Vogelweh and the next town is downtown k-town (cause technically Einsedlerhof and Vogelweh are in K-town) You will get to a major light by the VW dealer.........turn right and follow your nose (the priority road) until you get downtown further. Once you get down there........you should see a lot of people walking around (it should be to the right of you) so.........find a place to park and follow everybody else.............it is great! It is just a huge sidewalk that goes in all different directions and it is lined with stores! They also have their festivals and Christmas markets right there.....

Ramstein village is right outside of Ramstein's west gate (burger king).........so go out the gate to the traffic circle and take the 3:00 (right) this will take you to another traffic circle........you can take the 12:00 or the 9:00..........the 12 will take you right into the village. If you go this way.........you go right in and make your first right after the esso and follow that road down and you will find a great indoor/outdoor pool! If you took the 9:00 that would take you to another traffic circle..........3:00 would be Ramstein Village again.......(which would bring you to the road that the route below would take you to) If you take the 9:00 that would take you to Landstuhl.

If you don't make that right (to the pool) but keep going on the priority road..........the road will come to a T make a right and that will take you downtown (if you go left that will take you to Landstuhl direction) A hint...........if you see the church, you are right in the middle of downtown (in any village).

The weekend walks or the Volksmarch are listed everywhere..........sometimes they are listed in the ka (but probably once a year). Look for the Kabel magazine (they have them all over base) ........lots of good stuff will be in there......you will want to get your hands on one of those. Also in the community center at Ramstein in the hallway by the bathrooms is a bulliten board with info about the walks (last time we saw).

Q: If you live on base do you still pay for your water and power?
A: No, you only pay for extras.........phone, cable, internet....etc.

Q: Can you bring your own telephone over?
A: Yes, but american cordless phones are illegal in Germany. I know there are a lot of people who have them and I am not telling you not to bring it. I don't know what the penalty is if you get caught with one. They run on the same frequency as the Emergency System and they interfere. They do sell German cordless phones here in the Power Zone. (they are expensive, we bought one and it didn't work and the directions were in German so we took it back.)

Q:Are the phone jacks the same in germany as they are in the u.s.?
A: No, but they sell adapters in the power zone. No problem!

Q: How much do you have to pay for car insurance on a 4x4 over in germany?
A: We use USAA and the price for insurance is not that bad, Check with them before you come. We pay $100 a month for full coverage on a SUV, min. coverage on a junker, and renters insurance. There are also places here to get insured.

Q: I have heard that Landstuhl is the best area for school for the kids.
A: In my opinion, I believe that Ramstein has the best schools. Landstuhl schools are good too. I have heard that people don't like K-town or Vogelweh. I am sure they are all good, it just depends on your prefrences.

Q: I would like to know how I can contact the schools there in Germany or the records department, so I can obtain a copy of my High School Diploma.
A: The only suggestion I have is to go to the links page and look under "schools". You should be able to contact them through their website.

Q: My husband wants to buy new furniture when we get there, if we bring our old stuff, how easy is it to get rid of it, either through a dump or garage sale?
A: You can get rid of your stuff once you are here. If you live on base, you can have a basement sale. There is also a recycling center on the bases where you can get rid of anything. Off base there are scheduled "junking" days where you can put your bulk trash on the side of the road. It is fun to dig through other people junk

Q: Where do you go to buy new furniture for a good price?
A: There is an AAFES furniture store at Vogelweh. I am not sure if you would like the German couches..........they are kind of different than what Americans are used to. The Germans do sell nice wood furniture..........tables, chairs, hutches, entertainment centers....and so on. The beds just won't work because they are a different measurement than American beds, and then you won't find sheets to fit.

Q: Is there a school near Ramstein AB where they teach people to Read, Write, and Speak the German language?
A: Yes, there are tons of different opportunities for you to learn the language. The community centers, colleges, and local germans offer ways for you to learn. People are always putting adds in the paper to teach you also.

Q: How is the school year in Germany? Is it year round,traditional or completely different from the states?
A: The school year is pretty much on the same cycle as in the states........off for the summer, starts back up at the end of Aug., off for Christmas, Spring Break and then over in June.

Q: How would you describe the Medical/Dental Care in Germany? And the facilities? Is it easy enough to get your children in if they are sick or need to be seen?
A: Dental care........well, you can only have a cleaning once a year. Ramstein only does over 4 years old. Sembach has the care for under the age of 4. Medical is just fine. There are clinics at the bases and then there is also the Army hospital at Landstuhl. You can choose which clinic you would like your primary care to be at. The hospital is good........there is an ER there and they have all the specialty units, NICU, ICU .......etc. The facilities are nice. You can get your kids in to see the doc with no problem. Sometimes it takes a week or two to get an appointment for routine stuff. But if they are sick, they will try and get you in same day and if they don't have any app. the nurse will asses the child over the phone and if they need to be seen, they squeeze them in, or say if they can wait till the morning. But, you can always go to the ER. The one thing they don't do and I don't agree with it...is they don't do yearly checkups for the kids. Right after we got here, my daughter turned 2.......so I called to make her appointment and they said they don't do yearly checkups unless you have specific problems you want to talk to the doctor about. I don't agree with that at all!

Q: What does Tschuß mean?
A: Tschuß is pronounced "Cheewsss" Kinda like "Juice" and that is slang for Bye, chow, see-ya, later, adios, and it is used quite frequently!

Q: What is the altitude at Ramstein?
A: about 700 Ft.

Q: Can we bring our cell phones to use there?
A: I have never heard of anyone bringing a cell phone with them. Everyone just buys one here.......they are not that much. If you bring yours, and if they do it, you will have to get the chip changed in it. So, bring them and you can just check at the TKS place when you sign up for phone and cable.

Q: What are some great places to visit close to the K-town area?
A: You can visit the city of Metz in France. It is close and very nice. Go West on A-6 from K-town. Once you get into Metz, just follow the signs for the Centre...........and look for the Cathedral. Park by the Cathedral and then walk around. There is also a flea market in Homburg which is only about 35 min from RAB. It is is open on the first sat. of the month. There are a few months during the winter that it is closed. There is a great Bazaar in Sept. every year in Hangar 1&2 at RAB. They have tons of neat stuff. Must be a ID card holder. There is a WWII museum in Diekirch, Luxombourg. It is only about 1½ hours from RAB. Visit Trier, 1 hour away, the oldest city in Germany. Go on the Rhein River Cruise......look on the map and drive to the town of Bingham/Bruedesheim. You can get on the ferry there. Very nice!!! This is about 1 hour north of RAB. Also, Visit Rothenburg!!!

Q: My question is in regards to TV sets. Does AFN broadcast over a NTSC signal, or is it on a PAL. I have a small multi-system TV but like my American big screen!
A: My hubby says that AFN broadcast over the NTSC signal. Off base, If you have a multisystem tv you get German channels and like one AFN channel. If you want more, you have to by the satellite and you will get more American channels. Without a multi-system tv off base, we are not sure how that works, probably not too well. On base, you don't need a multisystem. We are pretty sure about this..........I hope it is all right.

Q: I am an African-American female and will be moving to Ramstein, from NY in about 3-4 months with my husband who is in the military. My concerns are ....does the "on-base" (or off-base) shops cater to all ethnic group (i.e., hair products/general needs)?
A: I have a friend who is African-American and I actually saw her today. I asked her about hair products for you. She said that there is not much at all to offer in the BX here. She said that it is best to have your family ship you what you need or she also gave me a website that will ship right to your APO/FPO mailbox. (you will get one of these mailboxes when you get here. The web address is www.sheldeez.com She also said that there is a salon in K-town, but is very expensive to purchase products from. I have also seen people advertise in our weekly newspaper for various services.

Q: Are there any resources/groups that you can suggest that may be helpful to an African-American New Yorker "adjusting" to her newly, very unexpected military life?

A: As far as you adjusting, the Family support center offers many opportunities for you, just call them when you get here.

Q: Are there jobs (to your knowledge) for non-German speaking civilians, with degrees, that don't necessarily want to work in a "BX" as a cashier?
A: You should be able to get a good GS position if you have a degree. Have you resume handy and you can even apply on line before you come. It might take a while, so don't get frustrated. (I am making no guarantees here......just keep your fingers crossed and be open to anything) I have not been able to get a job in my career field, so I have only been able to volunteer.

Q: Is is expensive to live off base? And will we get a washer and dryer from the military?
A: You should be able to find a nice place to live within your housing allowance. Along with your housing allowance, you also receive a utilities allowance and cost of living. Yes, the military will issue you a W/D along with a microwave, and shrunks (standing closets - German houses do not have closets).

Q: The photos on your site of housing are of Air Force housing near Kaiserslatuern(SPELLING?) ? We are Army and I was wondering if you know whether or not all government housing is similar in Germany?
A: Yes, they are of MILITARY (not just Air Force, but for any branch) housing in K-town. From what I understand and have seen, most of the government housing is the same throughout Germany.
 Q: Are there restrictions as far as how many bedrooms you are entitled to off base? And does the military have any regulations over your off base housing?

A: There are no restrictions for off base as far as how many bedrooms you can have........you rent from the Germans and that is it. The only thing that that military has to do with you living off base is that the housing office has to approve your contract.
 Q: How many pets can you ship and how many can you have live with you?

A: The amount of pets you can have on base is 2. How many animals you can have off base would be totally up to your landlord. The military will allow you to ship 2 pets. Just recently, there has been a new benefit that will allow you to ship more than two pets through Space available. Just ask your travel people about the rules. If you send the pets Space-A, they must return Space-A also.

Q: We have a T.V. in each room in our stateside home we live in now. Do the house's in Germany have the outlets if we choose to bring all the T.V.'s?
A: The newly renovated on base housing DOES have cable hookups in each bedroom, and two in the living room. The others only have one cable hookup. I am not sure about off base.

Q: We had heard that there are several military housing villages off base. Is that true? Or does military housing consist only of the stairwells on base?
A: It depends on where you will be living. I know that in the KMC area, base housing is only on base. At Bitburg, they do have base housing that is off base.

Q: What does a 3 or 4BR usually rent for?
A: I suggest that you go to http://www.ka-ads.de/  and look under "Accomodations" to get an idea of what is available and the prices.

Q: Do you know if there are schools where i could finish my nursing degree?
A: Not that I have ever heard of.

Q: Do they have any concerts on the base?
A: Occasionally, there are concerts on the different bases. Sometimes big names, sometimes not.

Q: Does the youth center on base offer basketball, baseball, soccer, cheerleading and other things for the kids to join?
A: Yes, the youth facilities offer all kinds of groups and activities for the children.

Q: Is there a community pool on post?
A: There is now an indoor pool on Ramstein. There are also quite a bit of the villages off base have very nice pool and spa facilities!! Most of them are indoor/outdoor! The Azur is really nice and right off base in Ramstien Village. Landstuhl has an indoor pool and I think there is one in Rodenbach.
 Q: Are there movie theaters on base?

A: Yes, most bases have at least 1 theater........Ramstein has 3.
 Q: Can you paint the inside of your house? Is it pretty much like normal housing rules? You paint, but when you leave it goes back to off white?

A: Yes, you just have to paint a coat of primer over what you have painted. Off base, you would have to ask your landloard.
 Q: I understand you get limited tv channels....do you get any of the hit shows or any of the network channels...NBC, CBS, ABC???

A: We get AFN which plays different shows from all of the networks. It is just the luck of the draw as to what show you will get today! The shows are usually a season or two behind from the states also.

Q: I have a large family and am curious to know if driving a large SUV (i.e., Chevy Suburban) is at all convenient in and about the German cities.
A: This is just my opinion............we had a Nissan Pathfinder (much smaller than a Suburban) and there were several times where we said.......wow, this truck is almost to big to have here, I can't imagine having anything bigger. And yet, we still see Suburban's, Excursions, HUGE full size trucks. So, there are some people that do have them here, but I wouldn't. Some of the roads are very narrow and there will be cars parked at the side of the road to make it even harder to get by. The parking spots out in the economy are typically really small. I don't want what I have said to make your decision to get rid of it, and then when you get here you find that you should have kept it........I don't want you mad at me, I just want you to take in what I have told you along with other research you have done and then make your decision. This is all just mine and my husbands opinion.

Q: Have you ever heard of Awana Clubs (a church activity) at any of the churches there?
A: Yes, the different chapels on base or the Baptist churches off base might offer Awana. I have seen them before, but not sure what church they were associated with.

Q: Could you give me a couple examples of what the high cost of living there means? What are Huggie diapers on base? A gallon of milk?
A: The prices on base are comparable to what you would pay in the states. The high cost of living is when you shop off base and the difference in the Euro and the Dollar. Some things off base you might find cheaper than on base, or some things might be more expensive. As of 17 Dec 02, the exchange rate was 95 Euro cents to the Dollar. So that means that the Euro is stronger! That means we get more COLA!

Q: How much is electricity off base?
A: For a family of five and it is about 150 a month but that is a guess since the meters are only read once a year.

Pet Information

Bringing a Pet to Germany after 1 Oct 2004:

1—Vaccination requirements: dogs and cats must have had the rabies vaccination within the last twelve months, but over thirty days at the date of entry.
2—Animals must now have an ISO compatible microchip prior to entering Germany. The other option is to have an AVID or Home Again microchip and have a personal scanner to scan and prove the animal is chipped at customs. The Stateside military vets should know and have ISO Chips. Check with military vet first. Otherwise, there is a company called Pet Health from Canada who distributes the ISO Chip. Banfield clinics which are VetSmart clinics that are found within PetSmart may also carry the ISO Chip. Check with them if the military vet does not have ISO Chips.
3—The last requirement is a bilingual health certificate obtained from the USDA. The health certificate will have the rabies vaccination information, the microchip information, a description of the animal and contact information for the owner. This must be filled out, signed and stamped by a USDA Certified Vet or a Military Vet. The Health Certificate can be found at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/ge_ee_cn_passport.pdf

Other information:

• Animals must be registered at one of the military vet clinics within 2 to 3 weeks of arrival in Germany. Minimum requirement to register is the bilingual health certificate.
• To travel with the animal within the European Union they must have a new blue EU passport issued from the country they are residing in as well as the ISO Microchip. This can be obtained from the military vet clinics in Germany or at vet clinics on the economy.
• Rabies is only recognized for one year in Germany. This must be up to date to be kenneled in any boarding facility.
• Bordetella (kennel cough) is only recognized for six months in Germany and must be up to date to be kenneled. Most kennels require the vaccination be 7 to 10 days old prior to entry.

Kennels in the KMC area!
* Ranibow-Farm phone# 06371-914619
* Doghouse Paque Phone# 06371-952584
* The Farm Kennel Phone# 06372-8070

What others have to say on the subject of pets...
Submitted by Jocelyn M. 2/7/06
One of the biggest misunderstandings that we have faced has been about bringing pets. We have one dog that is microchiped with AVID. Here is what I have found out, and it may help with the information that is currently under the "pet" section of your website.
 Apparently there is some type of lawsuit going on with the scanner companies and Petsmart/Banfield do not provide the scanners, nor is the company in Canada providing them. I was told by the vet clinic on our base that they had not heard of anyone needing to bring a scanner with them to get into Germany even though the chip is not ISO compatible, as many of the countries of embarkation have them. But my husband is hearing we need a scanner. They said most military vet clinics use the HomeAgain chip. Then I wondered if we should get him re-chipped with that type. I spoke to a vet that is USDA certified and she said we should bring our own scanner just in case they do not have one at customs in Germany, I guess you just never know.

After all this back-and-forth, I called AVID and HomeAgain microchip companies and it turns out they both provide a loaner service for scanners. AVID charges $20 per month and they should be called 2 weeks before someone PCS's and they will send it within 3 days. Then once we get overseas we can ship back the scanner. This is much less expensive than paying $200 to buy one, which can be done direct from the manufacturer also. At this point, I would let folks know It seems best to just bring one along as there does not seem to be a straight answer within the military community, based on my experience. Then of course, they have to be chipped in Germany once settling in.

VAT Information

VAT or Value Added Tax Information

Q: How will the impending changes to the Euro affect the VAT Program?
A: "The change to the Euro will have very little effect on our program. VAT forms will not change until March 2002, at the earliest. In order to accommodate the change, we are printing our current VAT forms with a limit of DM5000 and Euro 2500. Forms printed in this way will be good through the January 1, 2002 changeover. After the changeover date, the forms will be printed with a Euro 2500 limit only."

Q: What if a customer has Vat forms in their possession at this time without the Euro adjustment printed on them?
A: "If anyone has VAT forms that do not have the Euro equivalent printed on them, they can bring them into us and have them reprinted at no charge any time before the expiration date listed."

Q: For those new to the KMC: What is the VAT Office, and how can it help them?
A: "First, let me explain what VAT stands for, which is Value Added Tax. Similar to sales tax in the United States, the Value Added Tax in Germany is assessed at a flat rate of 19% and is automatically included in the sticker price. The VAT Office offers VAT forms, which enable eligible personnel to avoid the tax on purchases, services and utilities obtained on the economy."

Q: Tell us more about the VAT form: What is it used for?
A: "Regular VAT forms may be used for purchases under DM5000, and are valid in Germany ONLY. They may be used for just about everything from shoes to car rentals. Regular VAT forms may not be used outside of Germany, nor are they authorized for use in Berlin."

Q: How much does a regular VAT form cost, and how many forms can be purchased at one time?
A: "The VAT forms cost $4 each, for up to five forms. If you wish to obtain more than five forms, each additional VAT form will cost $2. Customers may have up to ten (10) forms out under their sponsor's SSN at any one time. Also, it's important to remember that you can only use one form per visit, per vendor - so plan accordingly."

Q: What if you wish to make a purchase in excess of DM5000?
A: "Before paying for your merchandise, bring in the original invoice stating a) the tax-free amount of the purchase, b) the amount of tax and c) the transaction total. You then pay the VAT Office the tax-free amount of purchase, plus a $6 processing fee ($15 for the purchase of a vehicle). We will process the official tax paperwork and issue a check to the vendor on your behalf. It's easy!"

Q: Are any purchases off-limits?
A: "VAT forms may not be used to purchase precious metals, stocks and bonds or loose gemstones. They also may not be used for the purchase or alteration of real property or any legal fees associated with a real estate purchase, after-the-fact purchases, purchases made to support business activities or to make a purchase for an unauthorized person."

Q: Who is authorized to use VAT forms?
A: "Military ID card holders and self-sponsored civilians stationed in the European Command (EUCOM) are fully authorized to use the VAT form, as are ID card holders assigned on temporary duty (TDY) to EUCOM."

Q: Is there a way to use the VAT form for the utilities we pay when living off base/post?
A: "There is, and it's known as the Utility Tax Relief Program. This program is designed to alleviate the 16% tax on gas and electric bills, as well as the 7% tax assessed on water usage. There are some stipulations to this program: The VAT Office must have a contract with the utility company you're currently utilizing for your gas, electric or water and the utility bills must be in the sponsor's name to be tax exempt. There is a one-time $77 administrative fee associated with this program."

POV Inspection Information

This information was provided by the NCOIC for POV Inspections 8/07

Location of Inspection Stations: there are currently two inspection stations in the KMC, the main one is located at Kapaun behind vehicle registration. The second one is located on Ramstein behind the legal office.

The hours of operation are as follows: Kapaun: 0700 to 1530 M-F and the first Wednesday of every month 0700 to 2200 - closed on family days + holidays - This is the main station


Ramstein: 0700 to 1530 M-F and the first Wednesday of every month 0700 to 2200 - closed on family days, holidays, AND goal days - please check this information before going - this station may be closed permanetly. Please let me know if you find out.

Please have the following ready for your inspection:

• Form 190 (from the registration office or you will receive it in the mail if it is an annual renewal)
• CURRENT registration
• warning triangle
• first aid kit

PLEASE NOTE - If your car will not fit on the inspectors lift, or over the pit, your car CANNOT be inspected. This is the owners responsibility! Some people have problems with this because they have lowered their vehicle.


** New reg that might interest you - You cannot have any window tint on your front windows, even if the dealer put it there. If the tint is built into the glass, it is fine. If the tint can be taken off, it must be taken off to pass inspection!

 USAFE Regulations for POV Inspections used to be located here

http://rmv.hqusareur.army.mil/190-1/190-1.htm#AppC
I did just check and currently this link is not working. If anyone knows of the new correct link, please let me know.

KMCC

We never got to see the KMCC (the new mall on Ramstein located by the PAX Terminal) open, which we figured would happen with all of the problems they had with it. My friend Tammy shared a few thoughts about it with me and I will post it here for you to see. Please feel free to add your thoughts, tips, or tricks to survive this shopping experience. Thanks! Christy


Submitted by Tammy 3/2010
Both of the BX's are closed (Ramstien and Vogelweh). It's hard with everyone shopping in one place and the parking is hard too. The spots are really small. BUT, the KMCC is huge which is good and bad. At one end there are school supplies, cards, wine, cleaning supplies, etc.....and at the COMPLETE opposite end are towels, electronics, furniture, etc. In the middle ... See Moreare clothes, baby stuff, a victoria's secret section. Each section has an entrance and cash registers. BUT- I literally have to PLAN my shopping trip from one end of the store to the other! You don't wanna be checking out on the electronics side and realize you need toilet paper. Then you have to walk all the way back. I would say it would be like walking the length of 5 commissaries side by side. There is a bigger selection of things and the same rules apply - BUY it when you see it or it will be gone. Lots of different places to eat, but again, you end up getting tired of the same thing. We had Chili's today bc we were tired of the mall food. HA! Imagine!!!

Submitted by Veronica 11/2010
LOVE IT ALOT!! It's like they knew I was coming and made it just for me, because if they didn't have it, I would miss the malls back in the states!! But I don't so much, because it is a 2 story mall, with nice little shops, movie theatre and the huge BX/PX!!