OCONUS Guide - Europe
Germany is home to the largest concentration of US military personnel in Europe. From the massive Kaiserslautern Military Community to the tank training grounds of Grafenwoehr, to the NATO command hubs of Stuttgart and Wiesbaden - a Germany assignment puts your family at the heart of European military operations and one of the world's best travel networks.
This guide covers every major installation with housing, schools, driving, SOFA, healthcare, and practical tips from families who have lived it.
Major Installations
Kaiserslautern Military Community
DSN 314-480-7219
The largest US air base outside CONUS and the hub of the KMC - a constellation of installations including Kapaun, Vogelweh, Sembach, and the KMCC shopping mall. Kaiserslautern ("K-Town") is the surrounding German city with a large American population. Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) is the largest US military hospital outside the continental US, located 10 minutes from Ramstein.
7th Army Training Command
DSN 314-475-7679
Home of 7th ATC and the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC). The largest US Army training area in Europe. Grafenwoehr and Vilseck are neighboring installations in rural Bavaria, with the Bavarian Alps and Czech border both within an hour's drive. A tight-knit community with a very active outdoor recreation scene.
V Corps Headquarters
DSN 314-548-7679
A cosmopolitan Rhine-Main area assignment near Frankfurt. V Corps HQ. Wiesbaden itself is an elegant German spa city with a lively old town and direct rail access to Frankfurt Airport. Families here benefit from proximity to one of Europe's best-connected airport hubs and an excellent quality of life in the surrounding wine country.
EUCOM and AFRICOM Headquarters
DSN 314-430-7679
Home to US European Command and US Africa Command. Stuttgart is a sophisticated, affluent German city known for Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The surrounding Baden-Wurttemberg region offers outstanding recreation including the Black Forest, Lake Constance, and the famous wine country of the Rhine Valley.
USAF Fighter Wing
DSN 314-452-7679
A USAF installation in the Eifel region, about 90 minutes from Ramstein. The surrounding area is rural and scenic - the Moselle wine valley is nearby, and Luxembourg is a short drive. The base community is smaller and tighter-knit than Ramstein, which many families find appealing.
"The Rock" - Army Installation
DSN 314-485-7679
A smaller Army installation nicknamed "The Rock" for its isolated plateau setting. OHA rates here tend to be lower than the KMC, and the community is tighter. It's a rural area without much surrounding German city infrastructure - the base services become more important here than at larger installations.
Housing Intelligence
OHA in the KMC (Ramstein area) is among the highest in Europe due to rental demand from the large military community. Wiesbaden and Stuttgart are also high-cost areas. Spangdahlem, Grafenwoehr, and Baumholder are more moderate. Check the current DTMO OHA calculator (travel.dod.mil) for your rank and dependency status at your specific installation.
The German word for apartment hunting is Wohnungssuche. Start with your installation's housing office - they maintain off-post housing lists and can connect you with landlords experienced with military tenants. ImmobilienScout24 and eBay Kleinanzeigen are the main German rental listing sites. Near popular installations, listings move fast - having your SOFA paperwork ready before you look helps.
German apartments frequently lack built-in kitchen appliances. You may need to buy or negotiate a kitchen (Einbauküche) from the outgoing tenant. Rooms are smaller by US standards. Central air conditioning is uncommon. Heating is usually oil or gas radiators. Many apartments have a Keller (basement storage). You'll need a German bank account (Sparkasse and Deutsche Bank are common) to pay rent by SEPA transfer.
Government quarters exist at most Germany installations but waitlists can be long - particularly at Ramstein and Wiesbaden. Apply for on-post housing as soon as you receive orders, but plan to live off-post initially. Families with EFMP dependents should contact the installation EFMP coordinator before finalizing housing plans, as accessible housing availability varies.
Education
Germany has one of the largest DoDEA school presences in the world. Every major installation has a school, and many families consider the DoDEA Germany schools a highlight of the assignment.
For children ages 3-6, German public kindergarten (Kita or Kindergarten) is an excellent option that costs very little (often under 100 EUR per month, heavily subsidized by the German state). Full language immersion at this age is remarkably effective - children typically achieve conversational German within 6 months. Many military families who used this option call it the best thing they did for their child during their Germany tour.
On the Road
Most US state licenses can be exchanged for a German Fuhrerschein (driving license) at the Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office) without taking a German driving test. Your installation's SOFA office and VRO (Vehicle Registration Office) will handle the exchange. Bring your US license, passport, orders, and a biometric photo. The exchange takes a few weeks. Your US license is returned when your German one is issued.
Sections of the Autobahn have no posted speed limit, but the recommended speed (Richtgeschwindigkeit) is 130 km/h (80 mph). Left lane is for passing only - it is illegal to pass on the right and strictly enforced. If you are not actively passing, stay right. Do not tailgate in the left lane. Speed cameras (Blitzer) are everywhere on surface roads and in towns.
Join ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) immediately upon arrival. It's the German equivalent of AAA, but covers all of Europe. Roadside assistance, maps, technical inspection support, and legal advice are included. Annual membership is around 60 EUR and is worth every cent on a Germany assignment.
German towns use paid parking discs (Parkscheibe) in many areas - a simple cardboard clock you set when you park, available at any gas station or AAFES. Blue-zone parking areas require the disc. Parking in historic city centers can be very limited. Red light cameras are common at intersections. Pedestrians have absolute right of way at marked crosswalks.
Pay, Protections, and Healthcare
The NATO Status of Forces Agreement protects US military personnel serving in Germany. Key provisions include:
OCONUS COLA in Germany varies by installation and fluctuates with the EUR/USD exchange rate. KMC (Ramstein area) typically carries a higher COLA than rural areas like Grafenwoehr or Baumholder. COLA is not taxable and is paid in addition to base pay. When the dollar weakens against the euro, COLA adjusts upward. Check the current DTMO COLA calculator at travel.dod.mil for your specific installation and rank.
TRICARE Overseas covers care at the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) at your installation and emergency care from German providers. For KMC families, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) is a major asset - it is the largest US military hospital outside CONUS and provides tertiary care, specialty services, and support for returning combat casualties. German healthcare (Krankenversicherung) is world-class if you ever need local emergency care.
Life in Germany
Germany's central location is one of the biggest quality-of-life advantages of this assignment. From the KMC, Paris is 2.5 hrs by TGV from Kaiserslautern, Amsterdam is 3 hrs by ICE train, Prague is 4 hrs, Vienna is 6 hrs. Budget airlines from Frankfurt Hahn, Frankfurt Main, and other regional airports open up all of Europe for weekend trips. Families routinely visit 15-20 countries during a 3-year Germany tour.
German mobile carriers: Telekom (best coverage, most expensive), Vodafone, O2, and Aldi Talk (Telekom network at low cost). International SIM cards (Google Fi, T-Mobile Magenta) work well across Europe. Home internet: Telekom DSL or Vodafone cable are the main options. Your on-post housing office or AAFES can help with internet setup in government quarters.
Germany takes recycling very seriously. Expect separate bins for: Gelbe Tonne/Gelber Sack (yellow - plastics and packaging), Papiertonne (blue - paper and cardboard), Biotonne (brown - organic waste), and Restmull (black - true trash). Glass goes to public Glascontainer by color (clear, green, brown). Pfand (deposit) bottles and cans go back to the store. Your Hausmeister (building manager) or installation housing office can explain your local system.
German law requires quiet during Mittagsruhe (midday quiet hours, typically 1-3pm on weekdays) and after 10pm at night. Sunday is a near-complete quiet day - no lawn mowers, no power tools, minimal noise. These rules are taken seriously by German neighbors and are enforceable. Plan accordingly - do not mow on Sunday morning or have a loud party on a weeknight.
Germany has an excellent grocery culture. Discount stores Lidl and Aldi offer exceptional quality at low prices. REWE and EDEKA are mid-range with wider selection. Many installations also have an AAFES Commissary for US products. Saturday is the busiest shopping day - most stores close Sunday. Bring your own reusable bags (Einkaufstueten) - plastic bags cost extra and are being phased out.
Pets are very welcome in Germany - most restaurants and shops allow well-behaved dogs. You will need an EU Pet Passport for your pet, which your installation veterinary clinic can create. Dogs require registration (Hundeanmeldung) with the local German municipality and a dog tax (Hundesteuer). Some breeds are restricted (Kampfhunde list varies by state). Your vet clinic is the resource for all incoming pet paperwork.
Common Questions
When you arrive in Germany on SOFA orders, you can drive on your US license initially, but most service members exchange it for a German Fuhrerschein through the installation's vehicle registration office. Most US state licenses qualify for a direct exchange without taking a German driving test - no driving test required for most Americans. However, you must understand German traffic laws (Autobahn rules, right-of-way, speed limits in town) regardless.
OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance) rates vary significantly across Germany. KMC area rates are among the highest in Europe due to the large military community driving up rental demand. Baumholder and Spangdahlem are lower. OHA is designed to cover your actual rent up to the cap for your rank and dependency status, plus a utility allowance. Most families find OHA sufficient for reasonable off-post housing, though the competition for housing near Ramstein can be intense.
German apartments often come without appliances - many do not include a kitchen. It is common to purchase or rent a fitted kitchen (Einbauküche) separately or from the departing tenant. Rooms tend to be smaller than US equivalents. Central air conditioning is rare (Germany's climate traditionally does not require it, though that is changing). Heating is typically oil or gas radiators. You will likely sign a formal lease (Mietvertrag) in German.
Yes - Germany has one of the largest DoDEA presences in the world. There are DoDEA schools at every major installation. Class sizes tend to be smaller than US public schools, teachers are certified and often experienced with the military lifestyle, and programs like AP and IB are available. Many military families consider DODEA Germany schools a genuine benefit of an overseas assignment.
Yes, easily. From Frankfurt or Kaiserslautern, you can reach Paris in 2.5-3.5 hours by TGV high-speed train via Strasbourg. The ICE network connects Germany to the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland. Weekend travel by train is one of the biggest quality-of-life advantages of a Germany assignment.
Your Germany Move Starts Here
Use our free PCS planner to build your timeline, or connect with a military real estate agent for your CONUS home before you depart.