USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Kaiserslautern Military Community  Base Essentials

All Soldiers and most families arriving in Germany on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves will arrive at the Ramstein Army Reception Center (RARC) via Air Mobility Command's military chartered airlift The Patriot Express. Flights depart from Baltimore/Washington International Airport Air Mobility Command Terminal and arrive at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The RARC staff will be available to guide all newly arrived personnel and accompanying Family members through the Reception process.

If you are a Soldier and are scheduled to fly into Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) instead of Ramstein Air Base, contact your travel office immediately to change your flight to a Patriot Express flight.  Not only is it a United States Army Europe policy that Soldiers do not fly into FRA during a permanent change of station move, but there is no support nor oversight at FRA to track your arrival. If you are an exception to this policy and must fly into FRA, please ensure your sponsor is notified of your itinerary and pickup is arranged. Frankfurt arrivals, or those arriving via an alternative mode of travel, must report to the appropriate Military Personnel Division (MPD) on the next business day to obtain in-processing instructions.

Upon arrival, Soldiers will be picked up by their sponsors or unit representative. Soldiers authorized to live off base and Soldiers with Family members are then taken to TLA lodging.  Unaccompanied Soldiers are brought to the barracks, or to transient rooms. This is considered day one.

On day two, newly arrived personnel in-process their unit and prepare to in-process their respective installation. On day three (or appointed) day, newcomers report to the In-processing Training Center within the Central Processing Facility to receive the in-briefs and in-processing schedule.  Soldiers are then instructed to attend scheduled virtual in-processing training and complete their installation in-processing.

In-processing Training Center briefings consist of:

      •   In-processing checklist and general Installation orientation

      •   Tricare registration

      •   Finance (PCS voucher tutorial and Q/A)

      •   Housing video with Q/A session

The virtual in-processing includes the following:<

• 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
• Customs
• Passport/SOFA
• Voting Assistance
• OPSEC
• Level 1 AT/FP Training
• Emergency Management
• USAG-RP Command Team Brief
• VAT & UTAP
• Safety
• Family, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (FMWR)
• Medical/Medical Registration
• Service Credit Union
• Army Continuing Education System (ACES)
• TAP Overview
• BOSS/WAQ/Army Sports
• Retention
• Command Sponsorship
• Recruiting Command
• Sponsorship Survey
• Community Bank
• Red Cross
• German Fire Safety
• DES/Provost Marshall and German Polizei
• Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP)
• Army Substance Abuse (ASAP)
• Suicide Prevention
• Ready and Resilient Campaign (R2C)
• Comprehensive soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2)
• Ombudsman Program
• Stars and Stripes
• Veterinary (VET) Clinic
• Inspector General (IG)
• Army Wellness Center

Never ship important documents in your Household goods.

Never leave anywhere without the following:

• Permanent change of station and family travel orders, three copies
• Military identification cards for each family member. 14 and up MUST have military ID.
• Medical dental and shot records for yourself and your family members.
• Family members' no fee passports
• Transportation documents
• Household goods/hold baggage documents
• Leave and Earnings Statement

Additionally, do not ship these documents in unaccompanied baggage, household goods, or through the mail: 

• Marriage certificates/prenuptial agreements
• Birth certificates of all family members
• Insurance policies, policy numbers, types of insurance and business address
• Previous discharge papers (DD Form 214)
• Divorce and annulment papers pertaining to prior marriages
• Death certificates
• Social Security cards for all family members
• Immunization records of all family members
• Citizenship/naturalization papers
• Property deeds, automobile titles and registration
• Wills
• School report cards/education record for all children, also individualized education programs
• Church/synagogue records (e.g. baptism, confirmation)
• Names and addresses of credit card companies you have business with
• Savings/checking account books with appropriate mailing addresses
• Statements for saving bonds, certificates of deposit, and stock certificates
• Personal property inventory with included serial numbers
• Receipts for high-value personal property
• A list of companies’ due payments from you during the process of your move to insure payment does not become delinquent.
• Employment records (e.g., electronic resume, letters of recommendation)
• A minimum of three current copies of Power of Attorney
• Port call and supporting documents
• State and federal tax records
• Proof of a negative Covid-19 test if applicable. vaccination card (or digital information), and proof of recovery if applicable.

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 Inns Central Reservation at 011-49-6371-45-4920 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 011-49-0611-143-531-2900 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

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 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 eligible 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 before you PCS, you must inform your commander and contact your local supporting Military Personnel Division Office (MPDO). The military will not pay for travel and housing for your spouse if proper procedures are not followed. Please note this is essential due to the importance of command sponsorship.

In addition to hand carrying important documents you must ensure you pack the appropriate duty uniforms and accessories.