Barbara says:
July 14, 2011 at 1:55 pm

Hello,
So you are pcsing to Wiesbaden? Congratulations! It is a very pleasant place to be stationed at.
To make your start a bit easier the members from our facebook community AMERICANS IN WIESBADEN have been gathering a lot of useful information for over a year now. Information on housing on and off post is to be found as well as tips for past time activities in the area for families with or without kids, pcs tips for Wiesbaden, contact requests, restaurant guides, phone and internet information etc. Currently a book club is forming and we will visit a Wiesbaden?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s famous winefest together in a few weeks. Check us out and join us if you are interested. Make sure you take a look at the discussion section of the page since that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s where most of the information is in. See you there! And welcome to Wiesbaden!


comments (0)   Post comment

susanna says:
June 26, 2011 at 12:04 pm

Elisa said on my blog: http://www.militarydutystations-blog.com/2011/06/13/wiesbaden-germany-housing-low-down/#comments

I will have to say there is one thing wrong with the article, I know of officers and of at least one enlisted soldier with family that live off post. You will have to go through a lot of paper work and it took him months and months to get it finalized so his family could live off post before they came. As for the officers I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know what they have to go thru to live off post but there are. I will have to say one thing, being here for 3 years that if I was given an option to live off post even with all of the drama I would of still picked on post housing. Just because off post you would be surrounded by Germans (not saying there is something wrong with Germans just a language barrier,) and less of a chance to meet people that are American. I know of a lot of people that hide out in the house because they don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t want to be out there to meet new people. So I could imagine it would only be worse living off post.

Aukkum Housing is not where all of the Officers and higher ranking enlisted live. 80% of my husband?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s command live in the Hainerberg Housing with us. There are townhouse style housing (older) in Aukkum which officers can have but not where all of the command live.

There is also new housing being built right next to the Airfield that are Townhouse style housing. They haven?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t announced when they are opening them up but my guess is within the next year or two Most likely within a year.

Crestview housing is different being that the 2 bedroom Apartments have a corner (larger) balcony where as the 3+ bedroom Apartments have balconies but not as big. Now where Hainerberg and Aukkum have actual parking spaces, Crestview you have to park on the side of the street aka Parallel Parking. But you will have tons of yard to chill out in and let your kids run around on.

Here is is a little bit more about Hainerberg. It has the Entertainment Center (EC), the brand new American Arms (Hotel) that opened up just a few months ago (2011). They are currently knocking down some Housing buildings to make room for the New Commissary, PX and Parking. The EC has a bowling alley, Bar, Cafe type eatery, and party rooms. It is also brand new that was finished last year (2010).

To walk to the WAAF its about 3 miles or less, walking is do able I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve also seen Soldiers ride their bikes to work. Parking spaces in housing about about the same size in the states but when you go out on the economy, their parking spaces are a lot smaller so a large truck and large SUV might be tough to find parking or even driving on some streets. Another thing to keep in mind. I hope this helps some.


comments (0)   Post comment

Britney Brown says:
June 10, 2011 at 8:17 am

Post on Militarydutystations-blog.com
courtesy of Britney Brown owner/founder of military spouses of Wiesbaden: Please visit and join
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Military-Spouses-of-Wiesbaden/172097206182387

I know lately there has been a lot of information on Germany on here?¢‚Ǩ¬¶working on getting more and other information posted. Britney Brown owner and founder of the Facebook-group ?¢‚Ǩ?ìMilitary Spouses of Wiesbaden?¢‚Ǩ¬ù has put together a wonderful post about housing in Wiesbaden. If you are headed to Wiesbaden join their group so that you already know someone BEFORE you get there. First read Britneys report at the bottom I have added information coming from Stars and Stripes. There are 3 housing locations on base ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù Hainerberg, Crestview, and Aukkum. Hainerberg is the housing area that is closest to all of the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìstuff?¢‚Ǩ¬ù. The commissary is literally in it and the PX is just a few blocks down the way which includes a shopette, a movie theater, a laundromat, a book store, a USO location and many more. The high school and middle school are also located here as well as one of the elementary schools. As for housing comparisons, it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s very difficult because they are literally doing renovations as we speak. A group of soldiers is getting ready to PCS so there are many many more leaving and having those apartments updated. On the whole, the Hainerberg apartments have been renovated but are a bit on the smaller side. Hainerberg is also the closest to downtown.
Crestview has a bad rap for having the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìcrappy?¢‚Ǩ¬ù apartments but our sponsor and his family have a renovated apartment there that is HUGE and GORGEOUS. So truthfully, it entirely depends on the apartment and whether or not that building has been renovated yet or not. Crestview is just down the way from Hainerberg so isn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t far at all from the other items. Aukkum is primarily the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìquiet neighborhood?¢‚Ǩ¬ù of the group and is also where all the officer housing is located along with many of the higher enlisted members. The actual apartments aren?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t much different than the other locations ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú just quieter. There is also an elementary school there. This areas is the furthest away from the PX and Commisary but is located near a lot of German businesses and is still easily accessable.
You (unfortunately) probably won?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t get a choice about where you get to live. You will be in the hotel (which is brand new) when you arrive until they have an apartment to show you and then you will be given that apartment?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s keys to go have a look at it. Unless you have a good reason for not wanting it (you have a bad knee and it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s on the 3rd floor, etc) then it will be yours though apparently there is some wiggle room with that. Though, keep in mind that when you are in the hotel, you are making money (a per diem rate of $120ish per day for 2 people) every day you are there. It may be cramped and stressful but it will be a nice addition to your paycheck! Also, when you are in the hotel, request a suite with a kitchenette. They do have them but they won?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t necessarily automatically put you in one. When you make your hotel reservations, request this feature. Army members (even a lot of senior officers) are not allowed to live off post so don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t plan on that being an option. The Air Force and Navy have different rules so you may be allowed if your sponsor is in one of those branches. Regardless of where you live for housing, you will have to drive to get to the WAAF (Wiesbaden Army Air Field) which is where most of the sponsors work and most of the rest of the post commodities are ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù there is a shuttle bus that goes there every week day as well but it is not within walking distance. Something to bare in mind when deciding on vehicle choices.

7/6/2010 article
Junior enlisted soldiers arriving in Europe with their families this summer will be given priority for on-base military family housing, following a policy adopted earlier this year for U.S. Army garrisons in Europe.

The policy requires garrisons to house 100 percent of all accompanied personnel from private to staff sergeant on post, along with up to 10 percent of accompanied senior enlisted troops and officers, according to Installation Management Command-Europe officials.

Currently, there are approximately 11,875 junior-enlisted families in Europe with 8,699 of those families living in on-post housing and the rest living off-base, or ?¢‚Ǩ?ìon the economy.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù

-Key personnel is also mandated to live on base.

Day said senior enlisted troops and officers can live in on-post housing only if there are vacancies after all the junior-enlisted families have been moved in. He added, however, that exceptions can be granted on a case-by-case basis, such as families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program. That program caters to family members who have special medical or educational needs.


comments (0)   Post comment

Jennifer says:
January 24, 2011 at 6:41 pm

Blog post on Militarydutystations-blog.com

Jennifer is stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. She has graciously agreed to writing down her experiences for all those, headed there. Knowing as much as you can prior to actually arriving takes some of the stress out of moving. It helps you to anticipate what might be coming to you. Most things won?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t be bad (maybe embarrassing ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve had certainly my share), just different. While some things are the same, the experience is unique to each person. Jessica has given some great advice on how she takes ?¢‚ǨÀúher?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ school to each duty station. Want to know how she does it? Also, how bad can it be when 5 out of 8 ladies stated that one of their favorite duty stations was Germany?

I have separated Jennifer?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s post. We are starting out with the important questions of

?¢‚Ǩ?ìHow do we find Housing??¢‚Ǩ¬ù ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú please keep an eye out for the guest blog of another military spouse: Amanda ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú when she gives precise tips and opinions on where to find housing (on/close to/off base).

?¢‚Ǩ?ìHow can we find a good house/fast to live in ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú how is housing in Germany on post??¢‚Ǩ¬ù

Without further ado, I am clearing the stage for Jennifer.

?¢‚Ǩ?ìI know it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ might seem ?¢‚Ǩ?ìwishy-washy?¢‚Ǩ¬ù and indefinite. (I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t think so!) The thing is, there?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s not really very much that is definite about moving here. Things tend to vary from post to post and even building to building. I know that as Military Spouses it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s not what we want to hear, but there are a lot of things that you just wont know until you arrive, no matter how much you plan. In a way that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s part of the fun of living out here, but it can be frustrating too.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù

How do we find housing?

Each post has a housing department, when you arrive you go see them and they will let you know what is available based on your rank/number of children. You usually cannot apply for housing until AFTER you (your service member) arrive. When you arrive you will stay in temporary lodging, this is a hotel either on post or off post depending on availability. If it is on post, you present your orders and temporary lodging is free (I think). If it is off post you will need to pay for it yourself and will be later reimbursed. The stay in temporary lodging is a maximum of 30 days. (Please note that this is called TLE and there are several rules to this that need to be considered. Be careful and do not assume that it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s free- the maximum time of TLE can vary from installation to installation; FAQ?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s)

How can we find a good house/fast to live in ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú how is housing in Germany on post?

On post housing is commonly stairwell apartment housing. Honestly, the layout and condition of the housing varies hugely, not just from post to post but also by the area on post. Most of the housing is in the process of being renovated and updated. For example, my apartment has new hardwood flooring, but old cabinets, bathroom fixtures and appliances. It also only has 220V German outlets, as opposed to American 110V ones. My friends who live literally across the street have brand new everything, floors, appliances, cabinets, bathroom fixtures and American outlets, some apartments have a mixture of American and German outlets. (To explain: there is government housing sometimes on post, but there is also government housing off post)

The speed of finding housing depends on the post you are at and availability. Some posts do not allow you to live off post, when we arrived in Heidelberg we were not permitted to live off post but the rules here have changed recently and now it is encouraged. The Housing department will give you a number of places to look at on post (if any are available) and you will be able to choose and move in fairly quickly. I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m not sure, but I think if you are living off post you will be given listings by the on-post housing department and will again have the opportunity to choose somewhere to live.


comments (0)   Post comment

Christy says:
August 25, 2010 at 11:42 am

There are 3 housing neighborhoods available, Crestview, Hainerberg, and Aukamm. Aukamm is typically Officer and SNCO housing. Crestview needs to be remodeled. Hainerberg is being remodeled slowly. If you are in Hainerberg or Crestview you will be in stairwell housing. Half of Aukamm is also stairwell housing. But for your own sake no matter where you live take pictures of your floors. They are ALL hardwood and if they are not properly sealed you could incurr some VERY hefty charges for damages when you leave. There is NO assigned parking. I was in Hainerberg, in a remodeled apt, and I loved it. The commisary, PX area, and NEW Bowling Center are located in Hainerberg.


comments (0)   Post comment