Telephone Directory 254TH Base Support Battalion, Schinnen, the netherlands Nato Support Activity, Brussels, Belgium Sports & Recreation Family & Single Soldier Support Facilities

The 80th ASG, headquartred at Daumerie Caserne, near the Chièvres Air Base in Belgium, challenges active duty soldiers, DoD civilians, host nation employees and U.S. family members with working, living and interacting in a truly international environment. It provides base operations support in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the northwest German states of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. Assigned organizations include the 254th Base Support Battalion (BSB) located in Schinnen, the Netherlands and the NATO Support Activity (Area Support Team equivalent) in Brussels, Belgium.
Among others, the 80th ASG serves: the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels; SupremeHeadquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Casteau, Belgium; the Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) in Brunssum, the Netherlands, and the NATO Air Base at Geilenkirchen, Germany.
As such the 80th plays an important role in the defense of Europe. NATO came into being in 1949 with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty by the U.S. and European countries. The basis of the treaty was to combine the military and political forces of Europe to promote stability.
The number of countries belonging to the organization has grown from the original 12 to 19. Members are Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The 80th ASG was established in 1985, with origins dating back to 1967 when SHAPE headquarters, originally based in Paris, relocated to Mons, Belgium, following the French withdrawal from the NATO military structure.
Chievres, where the 80th is headquartered, has a long military history. An airfield was established there during World War I, with the Germans flying biplanes from a single grass runway. Rebuilt by the Germans in 1940, the airfield was used to attack targets in England and to assault the landing allied troops in Normandy on D-Day, 1944. It was eventually captured and the allies used it to, among other things, attack German positions during the Battle of the Bulge. It has been used by NATO since 1968.top

254TH BASE SUPPORT BATTALION, SCHINNEN, THE NETHERLANDS
NATO is a major influence in the area supported by the 254th BSB, a subordinate unit of the 80th ASG. Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) is located in Brunssum, Netherlands, a 20-minute drive from the 254th headquarters in Schinnen, Netherlands. Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base is about 20 minutes from AFCENT at Geilenkirchen, Germany. The blend of British, Canadian, German, Belgian, Dutch and Danish cultures represented at AFCENT headquarters in Brunssum creates a stimulating atmosphere. The 254th BSB is the most geographically dispersed activity in USAREUR, supporting U.S. personnel in the Netherlands, eastern Belgium and northern Germany. Its headquarters city of Schinnen is an ancient Roman village approximately 75 kilometers west of Cologne, Germany.top

NATO SUPPORT ACTIVITY, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
The NATO Support Activity(NSA), a five-minute drive from NATO headquarters, has the mission of providing assistance to the U.S. operations at NATO and to other American agencies in the Belgian capital, a city of over one million people. NSA is part of the 80th Area Support Group, headquartered near Chièvres Air Base, about 50 miles away. Support services are similar to those at larger military installations, although there is no actual military post in Brussels. PX, commissary and additional support facilities are available at Chièvres, which is near SHAPE headquarters.
About 395 military personnel from all branches of service, about 480 U.S. government civilians and about 1,300 family members are stationed in Brussels. In addition to Americans stationed with NATO, the NSA supports the Brussels American School, the Defense Attachè Office at the U.S. Embassy, the Defense Contract Management Command, the Det 6 Air Postal Squadron, the DoDDS Superintendent's Office and the Office of Defense Cooperation.

Brussels, 220 miles from Paris and 150 miles from Amsterdam, has an international atmosphere. The diversity of activities is unlimited. NSA headquarters, only a short distance from the historic Grand Place, serves as a convenient U.S. community center.
SPECIAL EVENTS The Orphans Program sponsored by the 80th ASG public affairs office in support of a Belgian orphanage is very popular. The scope of the program has grown over the past 29 years and has a special significance. It started as just a Christmas party at the orphanage, but is now a year-round activity involving the entire American community. Santa Claus still distributes presents at Christmas, but in addition, the community also hosts a variety of other activities for the children, including an Easter egg hunt, day trip excursions and guided tours of military facilities. American families of the 80th ASG and 254th BSB volunteer to host orphans in their homes for Christmas, Thanksgiving and many other special occasions.
Belgium and the Netherlands have a unique involvement in World War II commemorative activities. Nearly every town or village has an American memorial where joint ceremonies are held. A tour of Belgium or the Netherlands gives U.S. government personnel of all grades a special opportunity to feel the gratitude of the local population toward American service members, past and present, as they get a taste of the local traditions.

Belgian, Dutch and German citizens are very receptive to the American presence in their countries. Air Force and Army Band tours, open house activities, senior citizens dinners and numerous social activities are organized on a regular basis to maintain good community relations.Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are famous for their folklore events; carnivals, beer and wine festivals, historical processions and pageants. From February on, each weekend offers an opportunity for a nice outing. These colorful events are a way of upholding traditions rooted in the Middle Ages.top

SPORT & RECREATION
� Sport and Fitness facilities at Chièvres, Schinnen, AFCENT and Brussels offer Nautilus, cardiovascular and free-weight equipment instruction, aerobic fitness rooms, weight rooms, saunas, and full size racquetball courts. Intramural programs include softball, flag football, basketball, soccer and volleyball.
Outdoor Recreation in Brussels and Schinnen organizes a multitude of day-long and weekend-trips to a vast array of destinations, mostly in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg and Germany.
� Bowling. Schinnen proudly offers the only United States bowling center in the Benelux region, with some of the most modern and advanced equipment in today's bowling industry, plus a pro shop, automatic scoring, television, slot machines, video arcade and two snack bars.
� Clubs. The SHAPE Officers Club is open to all nations. The restaurant serves a set menu for lunch and dinner. The International Community Club at SHAPE, likewise open to all nations, has a bar, game room, cafeteria and a restaurant, the "Dome." The 80th ASG also has The Prime Time Lounge located on Daumerie Caserne and NSA has The Three Star Lounge on the NSA Complex.
The AFCENT Officers Club serves continental style breakfasts and has happy hours Wednesdays and Fridays. The International Headquarters Support Command (IHSC) club facilities at SHAPE includes officers, NCO and junior enlisted clubs. The Community Activity Center in Schinnen provides recreation services, a full kitchen and a lounge area with AFN, Dutch, German and Belgian TV programming.top

FAMILY & SINGLE SOLDIER SUPPORT
� ACS. The 80th ASG Army Community Service (ACS) has a network of programs designed to relieve many of the special concerns of the mobile lifestyle of today's military family. These programs include the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), assisting family members who have special medical or educational needs; financial counseling and assistance and consumer affairs, focusing on improving individual and family financial status through education and counseling; Family Advocacy, focusing on initiatives promoting healthy family communications; Army Emergency Relief, assisting families when they face emergency financial situations; the Relocation Program, providing transition and cultural adaptation information; central in/out processing; Child Development Centers, Family Member Employment Assistance; Installation Volunteer Coordinator, and the Army Team Building program, which prepares Army families to function at their highest level in any situation with minimal outside support. ACS centers are located throughout the 80th ASG.
� Health Services. Facilities are located at SHAPE, Geilenkirchen, Brussels and AFCENT. For the most part they accept patients for routine care, with services such as family practice, OB/GYN, allergy/immunizations, optometry, ophthalmology, physical therapy, preventive medicine and psychiatry services, as well as radiology, laboratory and pharmacy services. Some of these functions may be performed by host-nation facilities. Routine dental care usually is also available. Patients requiring inpatient care or care beyond the capability of the local facilities are referred to the U.S. Army Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, or to a host nation hospital. Referral to a local hospital should not be a matter of concern: Belgium has very high medical standards and the doctor/patient ratio is one of the highest in the world. Limited veterinary services are also available
� Schools. The SHAPE American elementary and high schools are unique, operating within an international community on an international calendar. They are operated by Department of Defense Dependants School (DoDDS). And there are other DoDDS schools throughout the 80th ASG.
The 254th BSB is served by the K-12 AFCENT International School (AIS), which was established as a private school in 1967 by the four founding nations: Canada, the United Kingdom, the USA and the Federal Republic of Germany. In addition to students from the four sponsoring countries the school also has Danish, Norwegian , Turkish, Greek and Portuguese students. The school has attractive classrooms, laboratories, a cafeteria, a library and a sports complex.
The Brussels American School (K-12), with about 300 students, is just outside the city center. The elementary and middle school grades are housed in one building and the high school classes in another. There is also an elementary school at Geilenkirchen.
These schools have traditionally taken advantage of their international location by sponsoring frequent student excursions and field trips. American students living in Belgium may attend a Belgian school with no tuition fees. Instruction is either in Dutch or French depending on the community. The younger the child, the easier it is to assimilate the language.
� Chapels. Chapel services in Brussels are held at NATO Support Activity. There are a number of English-speaking churches (Baptist, Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian) in the Brussels area. The International School of Brussels has a Protestant chapel that many Americans attend. There is also a chapel at AFCENT, and the SHAPE/ Chièvres Religious Community, under the guidance of the 80th Area Support Group Staff Chaplain.
� Single Soldier Quality of Life. The 80th ASG prides itself on treating single and married soldiers on an equal basis. Kitchenettes in the barracks provide single soldiers the opportunity to prepare their own meals, on their own schedules. Other single soldier initiatives include private and/or semi-private bathroom facilities. top

FACILITIES
Because of the international complexion of the communities under the command of the 80th ASG, the majority of programs and facilities are operated by an international chain of command. U.S. personnel and financial resources are provided to make certain that programs and services meet the quality of life standards set by higher headquarters.
Daumerie Caserne at Chièvres operates exclusively as a U.S. community facility including a community club, library, fitness center and logistical support offices for the entire ASG.
The International Headquarters and Support Command at SHAPE is responsible for the Arts and Craft Center, Auto Hobby Shop, Pizza Bowl and 12-lane bowling alley.
The Community Recreation Division in Brussels operates a frame shop offering matting and framing classes, a library and an auto craft shop providing work space and expertise for minor car repairs.
� Shopping. International shopping facilities at SHAPE consist of a department store with grocery and hardware sections, book and sporting goods stores, a flower shop, a barber and beauty shop, a laundry pick-up point, laundromat, a rationed items store for cigarettes and alcohol, a snack bar, video rental, optical sales store, travel services, a Belgian bank and a service station. International facilities are also available in the Brunssum community.
The U.S. shopping facilities at Chièvres, which are similar, include a 58,000 square foot AAFES store and a commissary. Facilities at Schinnen include a modern, well-stocked commissary and AAFES store. There is no large military post in Brussels with a facilities like a commissary or PX. NATO Support Activity in Brussels, however, does house an AAFES shoppette offering most day-to-day necessities. Most people use the commissaries and PXs in Chièvres and Schinnen..
� APOs. There are several Army Post Offices (APOs) serving U.S. military families and civilians. APOs are located at SHAPE, Brussels and Schinnen.
� Library. The one at AFCENT is a full service US Army facility with books, magazines, newspapers, tapes and disks. Educational programs are supported through the reference collection, microfilm editions of journal back issues and CD ROM's. There are also small collections of books in French, German and Dutch. The library also has a small branch in Maastricht on the Tapijn Kaserne.
� Banking. Schinnen has both a Community Bank and a branch office of Andrews Federal Credit Union. Chièvres and Brussels both have a branch office of Andrews Federal Credit Union.. Detachment D, 8th Finance Battalion at SHAPE provides check cashing and dollar conversion.
� Music and Theater. The SHAPE Entertainment Center and the Alliance Players at AFCENT provide year-round opportunities for members of the 80th ASG community of all ages to display or develop their talents behind the scenes or on stage. The SHAPE and AFCENT Cinemas show a variety of American films, including first run movies. A large stage is available for concerts, performing arts, and meetings. The 385-seat AFCENT cinema shows films obtained from the Army and Air Force Motion Picture Service. Several times a year the theater is the setting for live dramatic productions by the Alliance Players.
� Billeting. Housing is one of the most important components of the quality of life efforts. U.S. Family Housing is available for junior and senior enlisted persons in SHAPE/Chièvres and AFCENT/Schinnen communities. There is no U.S. Family Housing available for officers. All 80th ASG communities have local housing referral offices to assist in locating and leasing suitable housing on the economy.
The 80th ASG also operates unaccompanied personnel housing for single, enlisted soldiers at SHAPE, Chièvres, Brussels and Schinnen.
� Hotel. The 80th ASG operates a transient facility, the Hotel Maisières, located in front of SHAPE, 15 kilometers from the 80th ASG headquarters. This facility supports personnel assigned or TDY to SHAPE/Chièvres. The Brussels and Schinnen communities use locally contracted hotels.