I'll be heading to my first duty station soon (Baumholder), Does anybody have any tips for me?

2019-02-28T20:22:41-05:00

Baumholder, Germany
Smith Barracks
First duty station

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2019 8:43 PM

2019-02-28T20:43:42-05:00

Go off post, away from the areas and businesses that are "Americanized" and meet folk that are more typical Germany.

Try local food and beer.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2019 10:06 PM

2019-02-28T22:06:05-05:00

Don’t get TKS, get T-Mobile.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2019 11:05 PM

2019-02-28T23:05:54-05:00

Was my first duty assignment as well. Have fun. Get out of the barracks. And try not to get upset if certain bars/nightclubs are off limits to Americans. Some bad apples made a crappy name for us yanks in the past and Germany is still able to get away with discriminating against us. So, try your best not to stand out. Foreigners can smell and American 10 miles away. Other than that small detail, Germany is friggin awesome! The food is great, the drivers are full of rage, the countryside and medieval buildings/castles are amazing, and there are a ton of festivities. ENJOY! Consider yourself VERY fortunate.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2019 2:57 AM

2019-03-01T02:57:56-05:00

Mine started with a week of German head start, I hope they're still doing that. You'll learn a few phrases, but the cultural norms were most important to me. Use German as best you can when you are in the community. It goes a long way. With the apps available, it's easier now, too.
Check with MWR, and take the weekend trips to Paris, London, etc.
Get your license as early as possible, so you can travel within Germany easier. Rent for the weekend, or buy a German car and sell it before you leave. If they still have speed cameras, the time to know where they are, isn't as it flashes to capture your license plate and you. That Audi station wagon 0.5 mile back in your rear view mirror, that just got your attention by flashing it's lights, will be on your bumper in seconds, so move over.
Trains are another great travel option. One of my coworkers regularly took his entire family on trips all across Germany, and even to London. Worth the additional effort to learn.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2019 1:42 PM

2019-03-01T13:42:32-05:00

Good luck. I was there in 2004-2007. Get out and see Europe.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2019 2:09 PM

2019-03-01T14:09:21-05:00

Once you have completed Head Start (Information in German language and culture), get settled at job, barracks and post. During first month, learn about your post and surrounding community by getting out, preferably with others, do some local exploring and get involved in physical (sports, gym, volksmarching, etc.), cultural (German-American activities, wine tasting, beer fests and begin your Oktoberfest planning), and personal (discover what you want to do in the next 23 months). During the first quarter, take an MWR trip. By month 5, take the train to Idar Oberstein or Kaiserslautern or someplace for a day trip. From month 6 to 24, using MWR to book trips everywhere, use base visitor quarters to visit other posts and consider taking military hops home or to other countries. Finally, find balance, have fun and take pictures. If you are really good with money, you’ll do everything you want and not go broke. I was there from ‘79-81 but much has changed.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2019 10:39 PM

2019-03-01T22:39:48-05:00

My tips: Have fun. Lots of it. Travel on your off time (trains go everywhere and are fairly reasonable in price). Go towards more areas with less Americans as those tend to be the best places.

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Mar 3 at 2019 10:48 AM

2019-03-03T10:48:33-05:00

“The Rock” learn GERMAN, work hard and play hard (be safe). Get out and see Europe.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2019 1:29 PM

2019-03-03T13:29:14-05:00

Tip 1. Don't let your first duty station decide your military career whether good or bad. If you stay in long enough, you will have both good and bad duty stations.

Tip 2. Don't be a barracks rat. Meet a few Soldiers that have same common interest and get out and do things. Even though baumholder is out in the boonies, you are still close to Kaiserslautern aka K-Town, Trier, Saarbrucken, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium and few more other places.

Tip 3. Get license soon as possible. Germany transportation system is one of the best in the world, but you don't want to wait for train, bus or taxi when it's time to go somewhere....... whenever you do get a car, get ADAC for roadside assistance. There is nothing like sitting on autobahn in dead winter for hours without towing service, plus with the ADAC, you won't get charged 300+ euros to tow car back to baumholder......

Tip 4. Try to blend in with the locals as much as possible after duty hours. Like someone commented, not everyone here like Americans............. Be aware of your surroundings................

Tip 5. Just stay out or away from trouble and enjoy your time in country and treat people how you want to be treated whether they are local nationals or Americans alike......

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2019 4:41 PM

2019-03-05T16:41:47-05:00

Learn a little bit of German. You don’t have to be fluent, but the locals will appreciate that you’re trying to get accustommed to their language and culture rather than bringing your own there and expecting them to adjust to it. I took high school German for three years, I sound like a toddler when I speak German, and the locals find it funny, but they still appreciate me and visually appreciate the one German speaking yank a bit more than the other three saying “Donkey Shin” because it’s the only thing they really cared to learn. You’ll come into contact with non-English speaking locals eventually, and knowing some of the language can be a lifesaver.
Get to know the train schedule for the first few months you’re here before you get a POV here, and when you do get a POV, really shop around for insurance. USAA is good in the states, but they charge an arm and a leg in OCONUS.
Also, realize that it gets really cold here and stays cold for most of the year.
Frankfurt Hahn Airport is a monstrosity disguised as an airport, with parking probably being the worst, but they have a train that goes directly under the station.
Embrace the Jetlag.

Response by 1stSgt Jeff Blovat made Mar 6 at 2019 10:03 AM

2019-03-06T10:03:50-05:00

Enjoy it! Germany is a great country to explore. See the rivers and castles. My first deployment in my GLCM squadron was in the woods of Baumholder. August 1989.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Mar 6 at 2019 10:53 AM

2019-03-06T10:53:57-05:00

Stay away from the LOCAL dives unless your into every soldier black or white hitting on you. There are many places to go that are far better. Head to BernKastel Kues and go see the castle there then walk a little further to the small restaurant Burg Landshut Tell Gerlinda Mike sent you and for her and her hubby to treat you right. Castles are everywhere in that area, your only 8 hours away from Neuschwanstien castle and I would highly recommend seeing it as well as Hochenschwangau directly under it. Paris is about 4 hours from "The Rock". Cohen lies to the West on the Model River, it's a must see as well, especially the castle since it's one of the few restored castles in that area it's just a healthy walk up the mountain to get to it. I spent from 88 to 2009 there and would be more than happy to be your long distance your guide if you wanted one. Just drop me a note. Stay off post as much as possible and learn the language, most Germans do speak English but want you to at least try to speak German first.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Mar 17 at 2019 5:38 PM

2019-03-17T17:38:54-04:00

Visit the country side!!!!

Response by SGT Ricky Young made Mar 19 at 2019 2:27 PM

2019-03-19T14:27:23-04:00

Pack plenty of long underwear!

Response by SPC Terence Q Burns made Mar 10 at 2020 10:27 AM

2020-03-10T10:27:46-04:00

Baumholder was my first duty station too. Upon arriving, German head start was simple and easy. The license process easy. First car was a BMW 2002Tii. Everything is within reach surrounding The Rock But when I got tired of driving, the train took me everywhere that the car could. My recommendations for your travels while in Germany are Spangdalem- River tour on the Mosel; Mainz- Biggest shopping district anywhere; Koblenz- 15 tour's from Spring to Fall: Cologne-The skies the limit; Ansbach- Beautiful city and every country that's on the border with Germany. Lot's have changed and it's a whole lot different that when I was there. Enjoy it!

Response by SGT Ricky Young made Mar 10 at 2020 10:43 AM

2020-03-10T10:43:34-04:00

Run as fast as you can! Just kidding its beautiful there my cousin was stationed in Baumholder. Take advantage of the weekend tours. There's alot to do.

Response by SPC Christopher Hiles made Nov 10 at 2020 8:11 PM

2020-11-10T20:11:43-05:00

Take advantage of the cheap tours. See as many countries as you can. See historical sites, castles. Look up Volksmarches and learn the language!

Response by SPC Christopher Hiles made Nov 10 at 2020 8:14 PM

2020-11-10T20:14:26-05:00

Do not become a drunk barracks rat whatever you do!

Response by SGT Jerry Walker made Jun 4 at 2022 2:42 PM

2022-06-04T14:42:12-04:00

I am reading these tips given, and I totally agree with them. Do your best to enjoy your time there, even in the midst of all the US Army puts you through. Eat their food off-post. My favorite was wiener schnitzel. Brats are great, too.