Your First 30 Days: A Practical Checklist

The first month after arriving in Germany is a whirlwind of in-processing, house hunting, and adjustment. This checklist keeps you on track so nothing falls through the cracks.

Days 1-3: Arrival and Immediate Needs

Arrive and check into temporary lodging (Ramstein Inn or TLA apartment)
Meet your sponsor and get initial orientation
Get a German SIM card or activate international plan for immediate phone service
Exchange some USD for EUR (ATM on base or Service Credit Union)
Get basic groceries — Commissary or nearby German store
Familiarize yourself with base layout (gate locations, Commissary, BX, KMCC)
Start jet lag adjustment — get outside in daylight, resist napping

Days 3-7: In-Processing Begins

Report to MPF In-Processing (Building 2120, Ramstein)
Finance Office — Set up OHA, COLA, TLA claims
TRICARE enrollment — Enroll at TRICARE Service Center
DEERS update — Verify all family members are enrolled
Housing Office briefing — Building 1001, Ramstein
Apply for ration card at the Ration Card Office
Begin studying for USAREUR driver's license test
Register children for DoDEA school (bring all required documents)
Register for Child Development Center if you have young children (waitlist may be long)

Days 7-14: Getting Mobile and Connected

Take and pass the USAREUR written driving test
Register your vehicle (if shipped) or arrange a rental/loaner car
Open a EUR bank account (Service Credit Union, Community Bank, or German bank)
Set up home internet order (if you have found housing — takes 2-4 weeks to activate)
Begin house hunting — Housing Office referrals, online listings, drive around
Visit potential neighborhoods at different times of day
Attend Newcomer's Orientation at Airman & Family Readiness Center
Get CAC enabled for NIPR email and computer access at work

Days 14-21: Housing and Settling

Select housing — sign lease (after Housing Office review)
Conduct move-in inspection with landlord (photograph everything)
Set up utilities (electricity, gas) if not included in rent — your landlord or Housing Office can help
Order kitchen and light fixtures if needed (MIHA reimbursement)
Receive Unaccompanied Baggage (UAB) — usually arrives within 2-4 weeks of shipping
Set up German bank direct debits for rent and utilities
Register your address with the Military Post Office for mail forwarding
Get your APO/FPO mailbox set up and operational

Days 21-30: Integration and Exploration

Kids are settled in school — meet teachers, join activities
Explore your neighborhood — find the local Baeckerei, grocery store, and Apotheke
Introduce yourself to German neighbors
Learn the recycling system for your municipality
Sign up for a German language class (offered by A&FRC and local Volkshochschule)
Visit the Kaiserslautern city center — get familiar with downtown
Check out the Outdoor Recreation and USO trip schedules
Plan your first European weekend trip
Join the Key Spouse or community group for your unit
Set up a routine — gym, commute, shopping days, family time
Breathe — you made it. The hardest part is over.

Ongoing Tasks (First 60 Days)

Receive Household Goods (HHG) — typically 6-10 weeks after shipping
File any HHG damage claims within 75 days of delivery
Submit MIHA receipts to Finance for move-in expenses
Ensure TLA claims are submitted and processed correctly
Complete all unit in-processing requirements
Establish with your TRICARE Primary Care Manager (schedule first appointment)
Dental enrollment and first appointment for dependents

The first 30 days are intense, but each day you cross items off this list, life in Germany gets easier. Trust the process, lean on your sponsor and community, and remember that every family who came before you went through this same whirlwind and came out the other side loving it here.

Deine Checkliste für die ersten 30 Tage in Deutschland