I re enlisted for Germany. What is it like living in Germany?

2017-02-07T02:48:49-05:00

I was National Guard until March 2016. Re enlisted into active duty for Germany. What is it like being an MP on active duty in Germany.

Response by TSgt David L. made Feb 7 at 2017 3:07 AM

2017-02-07T03:07:20-05:00

Its awesome. Good food, Great BEER, and very friendly people. If you learn even a little bit of conversational German the locals will treat you a little better than if you just bull your way around acting like the typical American. Blend in, and like the AFN commercials will tell you, you are an ambassador of your country so try not to make us all look bad! LOL

I can't tell you what Army life is like, but like anywhere, it's what you make it. If you sit around the barracks you will hate it so go explore. Make some friends and get out and enjoy the country. It's great and you will make friends and memories for life.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 4:17 AM

2017-02-07T04:17:44-05:00

Not sure how MPs work but each month we are promised a 4 day weekend to go around and see Europe basically. Get your passport asap if you don't have it. Being a MP it's going to suck because you'll miss a lot of weekends and 4days however I think they have something in place so you don't get screwed over to much. P.S. if you pull over a SPC Ringling don't give me a ticket :)

Response by SPC Johnney Abbott made Feb 7 at 2017 8:38 AM

2017-02-07T08:38:34-05:00

Get ready for some great beer!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 7:23 PM

2017-02-07T19:23:47-05:00

It was a great duty station during the cold war. We trained hard, but the cultural. Shock was awesome. The standard of living is high and as was mentioned, Germans will go out of the way to help you learn the language. When I was in, the Germans were grateful for our role in WWII and our role in NATO. They are a strictly ordered society and you will be amazed at the the cleanliness and their love of life there. Good luck and travel much when you have the time. Their Western Culture is also our Western Culture and it with a name like Hartman, you may see some of your roots.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 7:07 AM

2017-02-08T07:07:46-05:00

It will give you a new outlook on life. Take advantage of every four day to travel and experience the German culture. Almost every destination in Europe is within reach.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 9:43 AM

2017-02-08T09:43:15-05:00

First of all depends on where in Germany you go. I was in baumholder and I had the time of my life. Take advantage of everything in germany. Best of luck

Response by SPC Randall Eichelberger made Feb 8 at 2017 4:18 PM

2017-02-08T16:18:09-05:00

I was stationed there from 08-11. I was assigned to the garrison and was attached to the CID office for Drug Suppression then worked in MPI then ETS'd. Germany is great. Eat as many doner kebaps that you can they're hard to find here.

Lots and lots of opportunities to travel. Use the strass as much as possible it's a lot better (in my opinion) to experience Germany as much as possible and that includes their great public transportation. You can hop a train to anywhere in Germany for super cheap.

You will generally have a 4day unless you're working the road. If you are on the road try to get a 3 or 4 day pass every other month or so. Take your leave when you can and go visit other countries.

Family quarters aren't too bad. 4 floor apartments but, at least for me, my 3 bedroom was as big as a house. Leave your washer and dryer.

Working the road is easy really. Mostly domestics at night and coming back to the PMO to do accident reports that happened off post (you still have to report it to the MP's even if it's off post). Do you have pinpoint orders or are you just coming to Germany to be assigned when you get there?

Really Germany is what you make of it. It can be a crappy duty station if you sit at home all the time but if you go experience the country and the continent it is AMAZING. Take advantage of your time there. And again, eat tons of doner kebaps.

Response by Sgt Christopher Collins made Feb 8 at 2017 7:30 PM

2017-02-08T19:30:24-05:00

I was stationed in Southern Germany, 1984-1987... loved it there. Not sure how it is these days due to the Muslim invasion...

Response by SSG Michael LeGrand made Feb 11 at 2017 11:58 PM

2017-02-11T23:58:55-05:00

I was stationed in Wiesbaden from 01-03 and came back to Germany and was in Darmstadt (till we closed it) and baumholder from 06-10 (with a deployment in it). Germany is one of the best places to be if you're an MP. Sooooooooooooooo many things to do and experience, not to mention you will get a healthy dose of L&O as well as field training while you're there. Just like all the other people commmenting on this feed, don't be that soldier who stays in the barracks on your weekends off, get out there and explore and take in all that germany has to offer.

Response by TSgt Alan Richard "Rick" Thomas made Feb 13 at 2017 2:09 PM

2017-02-13T14:09:22-05:00

I was at Hahn AB from May 82-May 85. My family and I had an apartment 18 klicks from the base in a nice village called Blankenrath. The exchange rate was pretty good back then too.

Hard to say what it's like now with the heavy influx of "refugees".

Best of luck to you.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2017 8:23 PM

2017-03-10T20:23:52-05:00

I'm currently an MP stationed in Ansbach, Germany. My situation is a little different than some, due to the fact that my platoon is detached from the company and we are in the middle of nowhere. Essentially, I am a glorified security guard for a small Kaserne full of aviation guys. It's hands down the easiest gig I've ever had *work wise*, but also one of the more draining *mentality* wise. Four days for us are only guaranteed if you're a Squad Leader or above - there is no such thing as comping a soldier a holiday missed. Despite whatever BN's policy says soldier's being promised one four day a month for travel. Whatever you've learned about law enforcement back in the states, a fair amount of it doesn't apply. You can only enforce the law through 1408's, and we just found out the other day that writing them does next to nothing as Commander's just end up "Taking No Action" for the offense. On the upside, this is the most time that I have ever had in my active duty career to focus on college.

Being an E-4 (P) you'll most likely be confined to military housing on whatever installation you end up on. Mine is a dump. I went from owning a house to being surrounded on all sides in an apartment. Like someone else said, though, Germany itself is nice - it's just being an MP that ruins it. Everyone seems to get plenty of time to enjoy the sites - my joes work a lot of three on; one off's, etc, sometimes even bouncing back and forth between shifts. Myself, I just went from working Swing Shift, directly into two days of PD starting at 0630, and then right back into mid shift. All in one week. No days in between. Then again, you could end up like a friend of mine in Baumholder. Whereas I'm absolutely hating the MP life, he's loving it. Plenty of time to travel without all the craziness. But that's just my experience from the past year.

Outside of work, you'll enjoy Germany. The Germans are absolutely genius when it comes to their food, beer, wine, and cities. Invest in a small car - your nerves will thank you for it. There seems to always be a festival of some sort going on and the Christmas festivals are something you'll always remember.

Response by SPC Mark Hocker made Apr 26 at 2017 10:53 AM

2017-04-26T10:53:10-04:00

Depends on where your at in Germany I was at K town rob 230th MP Co we were busy there but that was 85 thru 86 may have calmed down

Response by SGT Curtis Weida made Apr 28 at 2023 6:36 PM

2023-04-28T18:36:55-04:00

Das Bier ist sehr Lecker! Und das Essen ist auch Lecker.