Check-in Procedures

Moving overseas can be challenging, and maintaining control of important documents is essential. Be mindful and never ship these documents in unaccompanied baggage, household goods, or through the mail. See below list of suggested “hand-carry only” items:  IMPORTANCES - Plan ahead and create a checklist.

*Permanent Change of Station (PCS) and Family Travel Orders (at least 5 copies)

*Military Identification Cards

*Passports (No Fee and Tourist) for Service Members and Family Members

*Transportation/Household Goods/Unaccompanied Baggage/Vehicle Shipment Documentation-like diesel vehicle.

*UPDATED Driver’s License

*Copy of your Motorcycle Certificate, registration and insurance. 

*Current Leave and Earnings Statement

*Sealed - Diploma/Certificate.

*Government Travel Card

*Copies of DD 214s (Retired Military)

*Marriage Certificates

• Birth Certificates of all Service Members and Family Members
• Pet Records
• UPDATED - Insurance Policies, Policy Numbers, Types of Insurance and Business Addresses
• Previous Discharge Papers (DD Form 214)
• Divorce and Annulment Papers
• Social Security Cards for Service Members and Family Members
• Citizenship/Naturalization Papers
• Property Deeds, Automobile Titles and Registrations
• UPDATED - Wills
• School Education Records, and copies of Individualized Education Programs (IEPS)
• Savings/Checking Account Books, Stock Certifications, Statements of Savings Bonds
• Employment Records (Electronic Resumes, Letters of Recommendation, College Transcripts)
• State and Federal Taxes
• UPDATED - Power of Attorneys
• Death Certificates
•  W-4

*WhatsApp

*Messenger

Most Soldiers and their Families arriving in Germany on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders will fly into the Ramstein Army Reception Center (RARC) via Air Mobility Command's (AMC) Military chartered airlift ‘The Patriot Express’.  Flights depart from the Baltimore/Washington International Airport AMC Terminal and arrive at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.  All Soldiers need to be in possession of NATO orders, issued by the same organization that issued the PCS order, and present both the PCS and NATO orders before their flight at BWI or other port or debarkation. The RARC staff will be available to guide all newly arrived personnel and accompanying Family members through the reception process.

All Soldiers that are scheduled to fly into Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) instead of Ramstein Air Base, must contact their travel office immediately to change their flight to a Patriot Express flight arriving at Ramstein AB, unless an Exception to Policy (ETP) has been authorized.  It is a United States Army Europe policy that Soldiers do not fly into FRA during a permanent change of station move, since there is no support nor oversight at FRA to track their arrival and to assist arriving Soldiers and their families.  If you have an exception to policy (ETP) to fly into FRA, please ensure your Sponsor is notified of your itinerary and that pickup is arranged through them.  Personnel arriving through Frankfurt/Main (FRA) or by motor vehicle from another European based community must report to the appropriate Military Personnel Division (MPD) on the next business day to obtain in-processing instructions. Soldiers arriving to Kaiserslautern (KMC), report to Kleber Kaserne, building 3245, room 207 and Soldiers arriving to Baumholder, Report to Smith Barracks, building 8660, 2^nd floor.  

Upon arrival at Ramstein AB, Soldiers with orders to the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) will be picked up by their Sponsors or a unit representative. Soldiers and their Family Members with orders to other Communities, to include Baumholder (BMC) must take the Sponsorship bus to their destination.  KMC Soldiers who are accompanied or authorized to live off base are taken to their lodging by their Sponsor.  Unaccompanied Soldiers in the ranks of PVT through SSG are brought to the unit barracks, or to ‘transient’ quarters as applicable. This is considered the arrival day (A-Day).

For KMC Soldiers, on the day after arrival (A+1), newly arrived personnel in-process their unit and prepare to in-process the installation. On day two (A+2), newcomers report to the In-processing Training Center (ITC) within the Central Processing Facility (CPF) to receive their in-briefs and are issued their in-processing checklist.  Soldiers will receive instructions for attending mandatory in-processing training classes and for completing the installation checklist.

The CPF in-briefings consist of:

• Distribution of in-processing checklists and a general orientation
• ID Cards, Passports and SOFA requirements
• Tricare registration
• Finance (Smart Voucher tutorial and Q&A)

USAREUR-AF mandatory face-to-face In-processing training at the In-processing Training Center (ITC) includes the following briefings:

• ACS Overview (EFMP, Domestic Violence & Child Abuse)
• ACS Host Nation Orientation Brief
• ACS Personal Financial Readiness
• WIC Program
• Religious Services
• Equal Opportunity
• Children, Youth and School Services (CYSS)
• Customs
• Passport/Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
• Voting Assistance
• Operational Security (OPSEC)
• Level 1 AT/FP Training
• Emergency Management
• USAG-RP Command Team Brief
• Value Added Tax (VAT) & Utility Tax Avoidance Program (UTAP)
• Safety
• Family, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (FMWR)
• Medical/Medical Registration
• Service Credit Union
• Army Continuing Education System (ACES)
• Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Overview
• Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS)/ Warrior Adventure Quest (WAQ)/Army Sports
• Retention
• Command Sponsorship
• Recruiting
• TASP Sponsorship Survey
• Community Bank
• Red Cross
• German Fire Safety
• Department of Emergency Services (DES)/Provost Marshall and German Polizei
• Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP)
• Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP)
• Suicide Prevention 
• Stars and Stripes
• Veterinary (VET) Clinic
• Inspector General (IG)
• Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA)
• The Exchange (AAFES)

Temporary Lodging

Work with your Sponsor to make temporary lodging reservations early to ensure availability of accommodations upon arrival. For the Kaiserslautern area, call the Ramstein Inn’s Central Reservation at 011-49-6371-47-4920 from the US or DSN 314-480-4920. Lodging facilities are located at Ramstein, Landstuhl and Vogelweh. For the Baumholder area, call The Lagerhof Inn at 011-49-611-143-531-2900 or DSN 341-531-2900. Ask your Sponsor for help if you need assistance in finding off-post lodging, as the garrison covers a very large footprint, and your Sponsor is best equipped to provide assistance with selecting an appropriate facility.

Command Sponsorship: Permission is needed to have family members accompany you with full military benefits during your assignment overseas.

Concurrent travel orders allow your Family members to travel with you to Germany. To have concurrent travel, your Family must be granted Command Sponsorship before you move. A request for Command Sponsorship includes having all your Family members screened for the Exceptional Family Member Program through your current installation hospital or medical clinic. A Department of the Army Form 5888 must be completed and processed before Command Sponsorship is authorized. EFMP screenings are mandatory for all military Family members before a Permanent Change of Station move. The installation EFMP Manager is the point of contact for assistance with the DA Form 5888. Without command sponsorship, personnel will not be granted Overseas Housing Allowance with dependents, families will not be authorized to use the Post Exchange, Commissary, schools and medical care (except for emergency services). Requesting Command Sponsorship after your arrival in Germany may be difficult. The Service Member’s unit or S-1 is the point of contact for Command Sponsorship.

If you get married during your PCS move, you must inform the commander of your gaining unit to initiate Command Sponsorship. The Military will not pay for travel or housing for your Spouse if proper procedures are not followed. Please note this is essential due to the importance of Command Sponsorship.

Concurrent travel orders allow your Family Members to travel with you to Germany. To obtain concurrent travel, your Family must be granted Command Sponsorship before you move. A request for Command Sponsorship includes having your Family Members screened by the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) through your current installation hospital or medical clinic. A Department of the Army Form 5888 must be completed and processed before Command Sponsorship is approved. EFMP screenings are mandatory for all military Family Members before a Permanent Change of Station move. The installation EFMP Manager is the point of contact for assistance with the DA Form 5888.

Concurrent travel is valid for 30 days after the Soldier’s arrival in the overseas command, IAW AR 55-46, para. 2-12c. Soldiers must request deferred travel with their losing installation if Family Members cannot travel. If approved, Soldiers must contact the Reassignments section to receive a 4001 worksheet and initiate a request for the Family Member Travel Authorization. Making travel arrangements without the Travel Authorization is not advised. The authorization cannot be backdated, which may cause a financial hardship.

Deferred travel is valid between 31 and 140 days after the Soldier’s arrival to their command. Travel Authorizations for Family Members who do not travel within that timeframe will be terminated. Soldiers must then request Command Sponsorship through his/her current unit.

Without Command Sponsorship, personnel will not be granted Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) with dependents, and Family Members will not be eligible to use the Post Exchange, Commissary, schools, and military medical facilities (except emergency services). Requesting Command Sponsorship after your arrival in Germany may be difficult. The Service Member’s unit or S-1 is the point of contact for Command Sponsorship.