Germany

Ramstein Rhein-Main Spangdahlem and the Bitburg Annex Geilenkirchen Fast Facts Time and Mileage Charts Telephone Directory

RAMSTEIN
Ramstein is the headquarters of the United States Air Forces Europe, exercising day-to-day command and control over all USAFE units from Great Britain to Turkey. It is located in the federal state of Rheinland-Pfalz in the southwest corner of Germany, the country's main wine growing region and also the location of its largest unbroken stretch of forest, thePfalzerwald.

The air base is part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), home of more than 34,000 Americans and the largest American community outside of the U.S. Ramstein, Kapaun and Sembach are the predominately Air Force communities within KMC. Other elements, mainly Army, are Vogelweh, Kleber, Panzer, Daenner, Miesau, Pirmasens, Rhein Ordnance Barracks and the Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center.

Ramstein is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) installation, with Canadian, German, British, French, Belgian and Dutch military personnel in addition to the Americans.

The base's history began in 1951 with the its construction under the provisions of a reciprocal agreement with the French, who then occupied the area. It became USAFE headquarters in 1973, when the command moved there from Wiesbaden. Originally a fighter base, Ramstein's mission changed in 1994 to that of an airlift base.

Kaiserslautern is an international city with more than 108,000 inhabitants. The Stiftskirche, a church in the center of town is the oldest structure, dating from the 13th century. There are many cultural activities including a year-round offering of operas, musicals and plays. Two museums house a rich collection of Palatinate history, folklore and art.

To step back into history, you can also visit the centers of such nearby old
Roman towns as Koblenz, Trier, Mainz and Worms. The mid-Rhenish valley with its many castle ruins is one of the most beautiful German landscapes, and conspicuous features of the mountainous Eifel landscape are the almost perfectly circular volcanic lakes.

SERVICES & FACILITIES
Sports & Recreation. Sports enthusiasts have a choice between four Fitness Centers in KMC. Two of them are on Ramstein, each with a basketball court, weight lifting rooms, saunas, locker and shower facilities for men and women and racquetball courts. A full range of intramural and base-level sports programs are offered. The Outdoor Recreation Center can supply camping, picnic and backpacking equipment, downhill and cross country skis, auto carrying devices and various winter items throughout the year. Annual events
include a sanctioned Volksmarsch and a family bike rally. Water sports, skiing, bicycling, canoe trips, horseback riding, rock climbing and castle hikes are a few of the other programs available. Bowling. Centers are located at Ramstein, Vogelweh and Sembach. Each center has a snack bar and two have pro shops.

Red Cross services on base include verification of death or sudden illness, birth announcements and health and welfare reports.

The Teen Center. The Ramstein-Vogelweh-Sembach Youth Activities Program is the largest in Europe, offering sports, dances, tours, birthday parties, games, tournaments and crafts.

Schools. There are 10 schools in the Kaiserslautern Military Community, making it the largest American school system outside the Continental United States. The schools are Ramstein Elementary School (K-3), Ramstein Intermediate School (4-6), Ramstein Junior High School (7-9), Ramstein High School (10-12), Vogelweh Elementary School (K-5), Kaiserslautern Elementary School (K-5), Kaiserslautern Middle School (6-8), Kaiserslautern High School (9-12), Sembach Elementary and Middle (K-8) and Landstuhl Elementary & Middle (K-8).

All schools are located near government housing areas. The school your children attend will depend on where you live, not where you work. Students who live on base walk to school; all others ride the bus. School bus transportation is provided by government contracted buses. It is recommended that before you rent quarters on the economy you check with the housing office to determine if the residence is along an established school bus route.

Health Services. Ramstein, like most military installations in the Kaiserslautern Military Community, maintains a clinic on the installation itself. Although many specialties are available at Ramstein, all in-patient care is at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (15 min away). Clinics at Ramstein and Sembach provide dental care for non-flying military members and their families. Dental care for family members is limited because of space limits and the needs of the active duty population.

Veterinary Clinic. There is an Animal Clinic at Vogelweh, but it is a good idea to find a German Veterinarian in case of after hours emergencies.

Local Television. Where you live and the type of television you have will affect whether you can receive the American Forces Network (AFN) and/or the German stations without elaborate conversions. You will need a multi-standard television to receive German channels.

Shopping. The Ramstein Exchange and Commissary are among the largest in Europe. The exchange has a good selection of house wares, electronics, toys/games, gardening and sporting goods, and operates numerous facilities, including a gas station and movie theaters. Concessions include McDonald's and Burger King.

Music and Movie Stores. There are four MOMS outlets located in the KMC area, offering the latest music releases, from country to classical, the newest movie releases for rent and a complete line of electronic equipment.

Theater. Ramstein has two movie theater and two music and theater locations.

The Vogelweh Community Activities Center is the stage for community theater plays performed by the Vogelweh Players.

Clubs. Ramstein has an Officer's Club and an NCO Club.

Rod and Gun Clubs. Set in a wooded area in Vogelweh, the Rod and Gun Club offers sportsmen and sportswomen a chance to participate in international shoots, local tournaments and organized monthly activities, and also has a sporting goods store, restaurant and lounge.

RTT Destinations Unlimited is a full-service leisure travel agency.

Skating Rink. The Skate Express offers open skating for all ages. In addition, it has a snack bar, video games and equipment sales and rental.

Transient Lodging. The Ramstein Inn has three facilities on the base, and others at Vogelweh, Landstuhl and Sembach.

RHEIN-MAIN
Team Rhein Main is the model for theater wide airlift contingency support
built on teamwork, quality of life and innovation. Rhein-Main is normally a small US Air Force base providing routine passenger and cargo staging support for the European and other theaters, but when duty calls it becomes a hive of activities.

From its inception Rhein-Main has been one of the critical locations in the evolution of air power. In 1909, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin used the site as a landing place for his celebrated airships. It became Frankfurt's primary airport in 1936, replacing a smaller one close to the city center. It was the primary western terminal of the postwar Berlin Airlift and played a vital role in multi-national operations connected with Desert Shield / Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor (Yugoslavia / Bosnia), and most recently, Operations Enduring
Freedom and Noble Eagle.

Rhein Main is located five miles south of Frankfurt and is named after the confluence of the Rhein and Main Rivers. It is situated opposite the flight line from Frankfurt International Airport, the busiest commercial airport on the European continent, and shares the civilian airport's runways. Nearly 50 percent of the land formerly occupied by Rhein-Main Air Base has been returned to Germany as a result of the European drawdown and has been transformed into a civilian air cargo center by the Frankfurt airport authority. Although slated for closure in December, 2005, Rhein Main Air Base is currently one of the busiest and most active Air Mobility facilities in the world and shows no sign of slowing down in the near future.

Frankfurt provides amenities normally associated with any world-class international city. It is Goethe's birthplace, the seat of the first German National Assembly and a center of trade from the very early days. It is the primary hub of autobahn and railway traffic in central Germany and one of Europe's main financial centers, home to the German Central Bank and the European Economic Union's Central Bank. Nightlife is abundant and there are a multitude of cultural and artistic activities. The Frankfurt's "Zeil" is on par with Rodeo Drive and 5th Avenue in the U.S. for shopping opportunities. For those desiring a less chic shopping environment, there are several American military shopping malls and even a few Wal-Mart super stores in the area. The climate is mostly temperate in the summer, cool and rainy in the spring and fall, cold and foggy in winter.

SERVICES & FACILITIES
Sports and Recreation. The opportunities for recreation, culture and entertainment are plentiful in Frankfurt and the surrounding communities. Buses into Frankfurt can be caught just outside the gate. Less than an hour away in any direction you can see wine country, castles and all sorts of festivals.

The Fitness Center has free aerobics classes, cardio and weight rooms, basketball and racquetball courts. Outdoor Rec has a variety of recreational equipment for rent, and the Rocket Bowling Center has 12 lanes, seasonal leagues and a large game room

Schools. The Base Education Office offers programs from the University of Oklahoma, Maryland in Europe and Community College of Chicago. There is an elementary/middle school on base offering kindergarten through eighth grade. High school students attend General H.H. Arnold High School, approximately 20 miles away in Wiesbaden. The Frankfurt International School and the International School-Wiesbaden are two private coeducational international schools with a strong academic curriculum in English.

Health Care. Rhein-Main Air Base has a medical and dental clinic. Patients hospitalized for non-emergencies are usually sent either to the Heidelberg or Landstuhl Army hospitals, both less than two hours away. There is a 24-hour German clinic at the Frankfurt Airport, only minutes from base, which can be used for medical emergencies. Active duty members at Rhein-Main receive comprehensive dentistry care. Some specialty care is referred to Ramstein Air Base. Family members of active duty military personnel receive essential dental care and annual exams.

Veterinary Services. A vet from the Northern European Vet Detachment. comes to Rhein-Main twice a month. Appointments are required. Pets are allowed in base housing, but not in TLF or the base hotel, so it may be necessary to put them in a kennel at first.

Religious Activities. The Base Chapel has both a Protestant Chaplain and a Catholic Chaplain. Chapel programs include pastoral ministry, religious education, Men of the Chapel, Women of the Chapel, Youth Ministry and Singles Ministry. Because of its proximity to three Army communities, as well as the city of Frankfurt, other religious opportunities do exist.

Shopping. The Base Exchange has a good selection of housewares, electronics, toys/games, gardening, and sporting goods. The supply of clothing, cosmetics and baby products is somewhat limited. There is a barber shop, beauty shop and dry cleaners and most other essential services are available. The BX also has an Anthony's Pizza and Frank's Franks. Hanau, Wiesbaden/Mainz, and Darmstadt are located nearby and have larger PXs with more selection.

The Commissary is a large modern facility that offers a wide selection of products. Specialty areas include a delicatessen and a German bakery. Gourmet and ethnic foods are limited. Other nearby commissaries are located in Wiesbaden, Hanau and Darmstadt, all Army bases that are located less than a half hour away.

Travel. Tickets and Tours and the USO offer trips all over Europe for a variety of recreational and cultural opportunities.

Clubs. The Zeppelinhaus is a combined Officer's Club and Enlisted Club, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is family dining and after hours relaxing. The German American Club provides Germans and Americans with the opportunity to meet each other and share in each other's culture..

SPANGDAHLEM AND BITBURG ANNEX

Spangdahlem Air Base is located about 20 miles northeast of the city of Trier in the southwest section of Germany along the borders with Belgium, Luxembourg and France. The Bitburg Annex, which adds to base space and facilities, is located about 10 miles from Spangdahlem in the city of Bitburg. The local area is primarily agricultural, and its most famous products, to the delight of imbibers, are beer and Mosel wine.

Spangdahlem is a small village, but the larger cities of Wittlich, Trier and Bitburg are close by. It is also the location of the Nürburgring, a Mecca for motor sport enthusiasts. The climate is generally cool with light rain and fog common. The temperature range in winter stays close to freezing, while summer temperatures hover between the 60s and the upper 70s.

The area is the home of one of Germany most famous beers. The Bitburger Brauerei, the region's largest employer, has nearly 200 years of tradition behind it, is one of the country's three largest breweries and its biggest producer of draft beer. Tours of the brewery, replete with a multimedia show, are always popular, as is shopping at the Bitburger Boutique for mugs, glasses, beermats and other beer paraphernalia.

SERVICES AND FACILITIES
Sports and Recreation. The whole region is a "sportsman's paradise" with
activities in Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, and France, all of them less than two hours from your doorstep! Outdoor Recreation at Spangdahlem offers rock climbing and rappelling, sea kayaking, downhill and cross country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain and trail bicycling, river rafting, river canoeing, weekend camping and hiking. It also offers equipment rental for a large variety of camping and sporting activities.

The Skelton Memorial Fitness Center is very large and serves the Eifel community from two locations, one at Bitburg and one at Spangdahlem. It has a gym, nautilus equipment, free weights, racquetball courts, lifecycles, Stairmasters, rowing machines, saunas, a jacuzzi, aerobics, intramural sports programs and recreation leagues. The base also has outdoor tennis courts and a track available at the Bitburg Annex.

The Eifel Mountain Golf Course at Spangdahlem is a nine-hole course that also offers clubs and carts, a pro-shop, a small snack bar, chipping and putting greens, summer junior golf program, monthly tournaments, temporary winter greens, ladies golf league, golf lessons, and a handicapping program.

The Eifel Lanes Bowling Center offers 18 lanes, leagues, pro shop, video arcade, snack bar, key-making service and slots room.

Schools. The Base Education Center's programs include: Professional Military Education, Community College of the Air Force, professional examinations (GRE, GMAT, etc.), financial aid information and commissioning programs. Degree programs are offered from the University of Oklahoma, the University of Maryland, City Colleges of Chicago and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

DODDS operates schools at Spangdahlem and the Bitburg Annex with classes ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade. The elementary schools are for grades K-4, the middle schools are for grades 5-8, and the High School, located only at the Bitburg Annex, is for grades 9-12. The area in which you live determines whether your child will attend Bitburg or Spangdahlem Elementary or Middle School. Americans can use the local German schools, but, especially for older children, German language skills are needed. Kindergartens are the German facilities most frequently used by Americans.

Health Services. The clinic at Spangdahlem is staffed by family practice physicians, physician's assistants, pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioner, OB/GYN nurse practitioner, flight surgeons, dentists (including one orthodontist) and optometrists. The 30-bed hospital at the Bitburg Annex can meet most medical needs and is complete with an emergency room. There is also a Dental Clinic, OB/GYN Clinic and other specialty clinics. There is a strong partnership with the Spangdahlem community hospitals allowing referrals as necessary.

Veterinary Services. There is one veterinarian for the base, as well as a number of veterinarians in the local area. The base veterinarian is only available during duty hours. For after hour emergencies you will need to contact a local veterinarian for assistance. The veterinarian clinic and Pet Spa have a list of local veterinarians.

Religious Activities. There are two chapels to serve the community, one on the main base and one at the Bitburg Annex, offering a variety of worship services for Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish denominations. There are also worship services off base in which the community is welcome to participate.

Red Cross services on base include verification of death or sudden illness, birth announcements and health and welfare reports due to lack of communication over a long period of time.

The Teen Centers at both the Bitburg Annex and Spangdahlem include sports, dances, tours, birthday parties, games, tournaments and crafts.

Shopping. The Spangdahlem Main Exchange and the Bitburg Annex Main Exchange offer a selection of clothing, shoes, stationary, giftware, housewares, music and electronic items. The Spangdahlem Warehouse Store offers Toyland, Four Seasons, a Shoppette and a Class Six store and video rental. The Bitburg Annex Family Store offers a Shoppette, Class Six store, Bookmark, hardware, baby furnishings, books, magazines and more. Other facilities at Spangdahlem include a Bookmark newsstand, military clothing sales store, Burger King, Popeye's chicken, AAFES Car Care Center, Gas Station, Barber and Beauty Shop, alterations shop, new car sales, Service Mart (dry cleaners), flower shop and movie theater. Bitburg Annex has a furniture store, sports store, Burger King, Robin Hood Express, Baskin Robbins, Anthony's Pizza, movie theater, care center, gas station, barber and beauty shop, optical service, nail studio, new car sales and service mart (dry cleaning)

Commissaries are located at both Spangdahlem and Bitburg, offering a variety of grocery and produce items as well as a bakery, deli and houseplants.

Clubs. The Spang Club provides catering for special events and functions of any size. The Officer's Lounge offers a selection of drinks and a snack menu. The club offers check cashing and currency exchange, theme parties, slot machines, meeting rooms, family nights, breakfast, lunch buffet service for all ranks and an all-ranks Sunday brunch. The Saber Club at Spangdahlem offers food and entertainment, slot machines, a gift shop, meeting rooms, karaoke sing-along, hair salon and bingo.

The Community Activities Center at Spangdahlem offers classes in Conversational German, country-western dance, cake decorating, dog obedience and more. There is also a video game room, ping-pong tables, a TV room and a theater group.

The Skills Development Centers at both bases have sales stores, a custom frame shop, X-Press Custom Engraving (plaques, T-shirts, mugs), a Wood Hobby Shop and a Professional Portrait Studio.

The Auto Skills Centers at Bitburg and Spangdahlem offer 18 stalls, 11 lifts, a welding stall, car wash stalls, towing service, detailing service, special order parts service, a tire machine, mig and arc welders and many other items to keep your car in top condition.

Lodging. The Eifel Arms Inn at Spangdahlem is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Temporary Lodging Facility at Bitburg is open seven days a week from 0700 to 2200.

GEILENKIRCHEN
NATO AB Geilenkirchen is a NATO base, not a USAF installation. It is located in Teveren, Germany approximately four kilometers west of the town of Geilenkirchen in the Benelux region of Europe. The surrounding land is gently rolling with woods and is very green. Winters tend to be long, rainy and gray. Spring produces lush vegetation and summers can range from mild to hot.

Geilenkirchen is a small town with a population of about 26,000. A moated castle stands in the village. Shopping in town can be very expensive. Twice a week there is an outdoor market that sells food and flowers.

Surrounded by farmland and a natural woodland preserve, the base was originally built by the British Royal Air Force after World War II. Known as RAF Geilenkirchen, the British used the facilities as a fighter installation for various RAF fighter squadrons from May l953 until January 1968.

SERVICES & FACILITIES
Sports and Recreation. Sports and Fitness offers a gymnasium, basketball court, volleyball, racquetball, squash court, tennis court, football field, baseball and softball field, track and sauna.

Morale, Welfare and Activity is a NATO organization similar to MWR on USAF installations, offering International Wind Surfing, Soccer, Ski, Golf, Rod and Gun and Scuba Diving. There is also a swimming pool and a bowling center, with leagues, teen bowling and birthday parties.

Health Services. The clinic provides limited outpatient care. No emergency room is available. Personnel living on the economy use the German or Dutch EMS system. Patients requiring evaluation or treatment beyond the capability of the clinic are referred to other U.S. military facilities in Europe.

Schools. The Geilenkirchen American School provides educational opportunities for children from kindergarten through sixth grade. AFNORTH International Junior High and High School, about 15 kilometers away in The Netherlands, offers education for family members of all personnel stationed at AFNORTH, Geilenkirchen and Schinnen. The school caters to American, Canadian, British, Dutch and German students. Bus service is provided to students attending either school.

Religious Activities. Services offered at the Chapel: Catholic Mass, Protestant Service, Jewish Service and Religious, Marital and Pre-marital Counseling. There are also Bible studies, choirs, women's group men's group, youth group and crafts. It is not unusual for American families to become affiliated with churches within their villages.

Red Cross services are limited and mainly handled from Spangdahlem. The local office does, however, coordinate quite a few volunteer activities and offers many health and wellness classes, to include First Aid, CPR, Baby Sitting and Healthy Pregnancy/Healthy Baby. There are also many volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross on the base.

Youth Activities. There is an International Youth Association on base and the AFNORTH Teen Center offers Nintendo, pool, basketball, foosball, dances and facilities for watching satellite TV.

Shopping. The Canadian-operated NATEX Shopping Facilities are similar to a small BX. The base also has a dry cleaner, a gas station and an auto service center with a selection of car parts and tires. These are mainly European stock, but quite a few Americans end up driving European spec cars anyway. And there is an AAFES Garage at Brunssum that does carry American spec parts, tires and other car care items. The nearest AAFES facility, at Schinnen Army Post in the Netherlands (approx 25 minutes), has a much more extensive selection of goods, and a number of concessionaires

Commissaries. The NATEX Grocery Store offers a wide variety of German, Canadian, U.S. and other European food products. The nearest US commissary is at Schinnen Army Post in the Netherlands (approx 25 minutes).

Clubs. The Sentry Club is an all ranks club with a bar, slot machine room and dining facilities offering a wide selection of fast food items like pizza, soup, chicken and, of course, German cuisine. You can order your food to go. The Frisbee Club for NCOs has a bar, restaurant and rooms for special functions. Membership is required. The Officer's Club offers lunch and bar service throughout the week and a family brunch every Sunday. The Casual Bar is a self service facility for all members and can be used at any time during the weekends by checking out the key.

Library. The International Library has a collection of some 8500 books in eight languages, plus newspapers, magazines, phonograph records, cassette tapes, video tapes compact discs and a self-service copy machine.

Banking. There is one automatic teller machine on base, at Dresdner Bank. This machine can access Cirrus, Plus, American Express, Master Card and Visa. If you open a base German bank account, you can get dollars, euros and other currencies. You can make deposits at Dresdner in U.S. dollars and cash checks at Finance Services for dollars or euros.

Other facilities include a movie theater. The BX has a small arts and crafts section and there is an Arts and Crafts Center at Geilenkirchen.

Billeting. Most personnel live off base. Billeting is available for officers and enlisted on a space available basis. It is for single military only. There are shared bathrooms and no television or telephones. For these reasons these quarters are not recommended for long periods. Single personnel also have the option of staying off base in hotels or guesthouses.

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TIME/MILEAGE CHART:
The Chart below shows trip length in miles/time(hours:minutes) between major bases in Germany.
Distances / times are for travel from city center to city center.
Distances / times reflect the shortest / quickest route from one place to another assuming the following average speeds: