Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base

The Component's mission is to provide aircraft and trained aircrews to deliver a surveillance and/or control platform wherever and whenever directed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Airborne Early Warning Force Commander on behalf of the three major North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Commanders: the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR), Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic (SACLANT) and Commander-in-Chief, Channel (CINCHAN), including integrated multinational crews from 17 nations. Geilenkirchen is the E-3A Component's main operating base and NATO's only multi-national operational flying unit.

WELCOME to the Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base Community! Geilenkirchen is a NATO Air Base, not a U.S. installation or U.S. Air Force Base. We are a U.S. component housed inside the NATO AB to support the NATO mission. Many of the amenities at large U.S. Air Force bases are not found here, but can be found at U.S. installations within a few hours drive. We have the unique opportunity to live completely immersed in the German culture with rich world history all around us and only hours from many sought after destinations in Europe!

Geilenkirchen is not a high terrorist threat area, however, you are required to receive Antiterrorism Level I training prior to departing from a CONUS assignment.

HQ USAREUR has directed that US citizens cannot ship, transport, or hand-carry privately-owned firearms to Germany. This avoids the possibility of German criminal prosecution for unauthorized possession of weapons or punishment under the UCMJ.

Spouse Sponsorship

Spouses play a key role in the transition to living in Germany. If you feel you would benefit from having your own Spouse Sponsor please let us know. To sign up for the Spouse Sponsor program, email : 470abs.dpf@us.af.mil . The Spouse Sponsor program is here to help educate spouses about the unique challenges of living in a new country before, during and after their PCS move. Your spouse sponsor can help answer these questions and more.

What should you pack in unaccompanied baggage?

What should I leave in storage?

Where can I meet other families?

Where can I visit while in temporary housing?

What should I look for in a house?

What stores have the items I need?

Child Care

Within the Geilenkirchen NATO AB community, childcare is extremely limited. The Geilenkirchen Child Development Center (CDC) accepts children from 12 months old to 5th grade. Child care programs offered at Geilenkirchen CDC include Pre-Toddler, Toddler, Pre-School and School Age, Full-Day and Before/ After School Care. The JFC Child Development Center located approximately 10-15 minutes away in Brunssum, The Netherlands, offers care for infants from six weeks up to toddlers aged five years old. 

There is no quarantine for pets, however, pets are not allowed in some guesthouses or hotels. Please inform your sponsor if you will be bringing pets. Pets must have rabies shots and certificates of health 30 days prior to but not more than one year prior to issuance of the health certificate. Importation of certain dogs is strictly prohibited.

Passports and Visas

Ensure member and/or dependents have the required passports and/or visa prior to final out-processing. Member and/or dependents are not allowed to final out-process without the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents. Members electing the accompanied tour will not be permitted to out-process without having the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.

These actions are necessary to prevent unforeseen hardships for the military members and their families. Therefore, as the last reiteration, it is essential, members do not out-process without having the appropriate passports/visas for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.

• Geilenkirchen is not a high terrorist threat area, however, you are required to receive Anti-terrorism Level I training prior to departing from a CONUS assignment.
• Childcare is very limited at Geilenkirchen.
• There is no quarantine for pets. Pets must have rabies shots and certificates of health 30 days prior to but not more than one year prior to issuance of the health certificate. Importation of certain dogs is strictly prohibited.

Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions

The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included.