Your Best Welcome Guide to the KMC
Moving to a new place can be both exciting and daunting, especially when you’re part of the military community. The Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) in Germany offers a unique blend of cultural experiences, historical sites, and a supportive community that makes the transition much smoother. In this guide, we’ll explore the essentials of moving to the KMC, share tips for thriving in the area, and provide useful information to help you make the most of your time there.
you just landed in the kMC! now what?
After landing and in processing, now what? You’ll have your housing brief and can start looking for housing. Additionally, you’ll also be able to officially get your temporary driving license once you arrive.
You can take your certificate from completing your JKO test to the licensing office to get your temporary license to drive around Germany, and you’ll get your official license in your mailbox a few weeks later. The fee for your USAREUR license is $30.
In the same office, you can also get paperwork for your international license to take to one of the off base locations to drive in other countries. That paperwork is good for a certain amount of time, so make sure to plan ahead. It’s around €15 for the international license and will need euros. To note, not all NATO countries recognize the USAREUR license.
housing in the KMC
There are many pros and cons to living on or off base, so that is something your family will have to decide. Waitlist times for on base have increased drastically since I’ve been here, so many people choose to live off base partly for that reason, especially if you want to live in Ramstein. Vogelweh usually has shorter times and they also offer “stairwells” or apartments.
The smaller villages all around base have a lovely, quiet feel to them. A majority of them have a grocery store or a bakery, and very spacious for what you can find in your price range. For on base housing, one thing to consider is you’re only allowed two pets.
You’ll be able to stay in TLF until you can move into your accommodations when you’re in the country. You can look for TLF if you’re needing something specific, such as pet friendly or certain amount of rooms for your family. I recommend booking your TLF as soon as you know your arrival date and you can make this yourself.
I wouldn’t recommend looking too much prior to coming because houses here go like hot cakes! Although, you can browse to get an idea of what housing is like beforehand. There are a few places to find housing, such as Bookoo, Homes.mil, or Facebook groups that list the houses:
When off base house hunting, these are some major things to consider: Internet speed and company as some houses do not get great internet, easy access in winter with any steep hills nearby as they only salt and clean the main roads, parking, gas or oil heating, any yard maintenance, what is and is not included in utilities. Make sure to review your contract before signing.
furnishing Your home
There are numerous buy/sell Facebook groups of people reselling their furniture, clothing, and appliances that are 220v (German plugs) for fairly cheap as they PCS back to the States. Some groups that I’ve found a ton in that I recommend:
- Ramstein PCS Sales
- Ramstein Yard Sale
- K-Town/Ramstein/KMC Garage Sale
- Ramstein Miesenbach KMCC Yard Sale
These groups are especially great for new families who either haven’t lived together long or haven’t accumulated many household items. We found half of our furniture from the Facebook groups and Bookoo that we plan on reselling once we leave.
There is also an Ikea nearby if you ever need anything else for your house, in addition to some other home stores throughout the KMC. The Airman’s Attic on RAB is another option depending on the rank.
Transportation in the kMC & Beyond
There are quite a few ways to get around the KMC area and beyond, such as train, taxi, car, or even flying depending on where you plan to travel. Train stations around the area include Ramstein, Miesenbach, Landstuhl, Vogelweh, Kaiserslautern Hbf, Saarbrücken, and quite a few more depending on the village.
There are numerous taxis in the area, with many having base access. They usually hang out outside the BX while on base. I have heard though that it’s quite expensive getting a taxi to the airport, so keep that in mind.
When PCSing to Germany, many people don’t have possession of their car right away, so they choose to rent. I do recommend renting off base for a better price. Local buses are also an option for getting around the villages and city.
When you’re planning a trip, make sure to compare prices from quite a few airports in the surrounding area. Many fly out of Frankfurt International Airport, but other options to consider are Frankfurt Hahn, Cologne Bonn Airport, and Luxembourg Airport. Luxembourg is always a great backup option to keep in mind when Germany travel goes on strike and cancels flights (and trains) within the country.
Helpful Tips for the KMC & Germany
Here are some important tips and facts to know all about living in Germany and the KMC:
- Shipping to APO – most companies will ship to APO overseas, but there are things you’re not allowed to ship to your mailbox. Items such as coffee, supplements and vitamins, fresh meats and produce, alcohol, or anything for your home business.
- Driving in Germany – Driving is very serious around KMC. There are numerous speed cameras all throughout the area, and they’re constantly moving them around. When you see a flash while passing one, sadly you got a ticket! They take driving under the influence extremely serious and can lose your license if driving impaired. Drive responsibly while in Germany and Europe.
- Quiet time – 1:00-3:00pm Monday through Saturday, all Sundays, and holidays are the quiet times in the Rheinland-Pfalz area. Any loud house or garden appliances are off limits during this time. That also means every store in Germany is closed on Sundays, so make sure you get your groceries Saturday or Monday!
- Currency & Banking– Everywhere takes euros or card, such as Visa or Mastercard. We have a travel credit card that we use everywhere for easier payment, as well as accumulating points for spending. For banking, many use Service Credit Union or Community Bank on base, open a German bank account, or use Wise as an online service. It’s also a great idea to always keep some euros on hand in case businesses do not take card.
- Recycling – If you live off base, you’ll have to recycle into 5 different bins! It can be overwhelming, but many landlords give you a paper explaining what goes in which bin. Blue for paper and cardboard, brown for compostable kitchen waste, yellow for plastics, black for non-recycling items, and glass will go into specially marked glass containers usually in each village.
- Exploring – There are thousands of castles and castle ruins around Germany, with many close to the KMC. Also, there is just so much to see while visiting other nearby towns or villages. Check out my Germany blog posts to help plan your next adventure.
Businesses around KMC
I’m attaching a Google My Maps of all the stores around KMC and have them separated by types of businesses! Many grocery stores of all price ranges, home and garden, sporting and outdoors stores, and many delicious restaurants are in the map.
I added details for some of the restaurants and businesses when you click on each one in the link. Additionally, I added some parks, swimming pools, nearby Christmas markets, and other fun activities to do in the area. I hope this helps get to know the area a bit better!
helpful facebook groups
There are quite a few other Facebook groups that have been extremely helpful while living here. You can easily search “KMC” and numerous will pop up. 411 Travel Through Germany is a group where people post about all their travel details, majority living in Germany, but also elsewhere. You can also ask for travel tips or information as well.
Ask a German in the KMC where you can ask all things related to living in Germany and the helpful Germans in the group can answer the questions or give suggestions. Foodies in the KMC for all delicious restaurant and food suggestions. Ladies of the KMC (Child Free) is an amazing group for all ladies who do not have children, although some may, but plan child free events. I’ve met some incredible ladies from that group.
KMC Bloggers & Helpful websites
There are numerous bloggers in the KMC area that share their experiences, travel tips, and travel planning for KMC, Germany, and Europe. One of my closest friends, Allie, has started an amazing blog sharing her fascinating travels throughout Europe, as well as travel planning. Her blog, Allie in Wanderland, has many useful tips.
Kaiserslautern American includes information and news for the Ramstein, Kaiserslautern, Landstuhl & Baumholder military communities in Germany. Information includes travel, base news, and school articles.
There are two great Facebook pages for the area. Kaiserslautern Day Tripper is a great asset for day trips from the KMC area, as well as activities to do. Kaiserslautern and Beyond is another great resource for activities to do in the area, with many detailed hiking posts. In addition to this blog, I write a ton of detailed posts on my Facebook page, Reisen Around, for things to do in the KMC.
Moving to the Kaiserslautern Military Community presents a unique opportunity for personal and cultural growth. By planning ahead, embracing the local culture, and staying engaged with the community, you can make the most of your time in this vibrant and historical region. Whether you’re exploring historic sites, learning a new language, or forming lasting friendships, the KMC has something to offer everyone willing to embark on this adventure.
