Pre-Arrival

Download and print the UK Arrivals Aide Memoir, a locally produced document to guide you through the whole arrivals process from receiving your Admin Order to settling into your new life in Germany.

Also refer to the Hive Europe webpage Welcome to British Forces Europe.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Service personnel and their dependents are covered for health care in Germany. In other EU countries the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which replaced the E111, must be used. This can now be applied for online here.

Pets     Certain animals can travel between Germany and the UK without the need for quarantine, providing they have a pet passport. If you plan to bring a pet to Germany you must ensure that you are aware of, and comply with, the regulations in use. Consult your local vet early about the Pet Travel scheme (PETS). Your pet will also need a 'Certificate of Fitness' to Travel to satisfy the ferry company. Note: in Germany all dogs need to be registered.

• A dog registration appointment application is to be completed within 2 days of arrival to comply with German legislation.

Travel (Air)       The Germany Air Trooping Service (GATS) runs between Birmingham and Hannover/Paderborn international airports. Click for timings.

10-15 minutes drive south of Goch is Düsseldorf-Weeze airport (formerly RAF Laarbruch) from which several airlines, including www.ryanair.com, fly from. Currently they fly regularly to London (STN), Birmingham and Edinburgh, with several other routes throughout Europe.

Travel (Road)   If you decide to bring your car(s) check out the links below for timings/prices.

Military discounts are available through Forces Travel and the MOD Defence Discount Directory.

Arrival

March in          Pre-arranged appointment.

Sponsor           Your sponsor will help you to familiarise yourself with the local area, guide you through the in-processing and also assist you with British Forces Germany (BFG) vehicle registration, opening a bank account, arranging home telephone and internet connection and introducing you and your family to the rest of the UK community. See UK Arrivals Aide Memoir.

Banking and Pay Arrangements          On arrival in Germany you will need to open a local bank account into which your monthly pay and allowances will be paid. You may also wish to have a Fixed Monthly Deduction (FMD) from your pay credited to a UK bank account to cover standing orders and direct debits, etc. You can set this up through JPA and it can be varied each month.

For your monthly salary to be paid into your German bank account you will require your BIC and IBAN numbers, these can be given to you by the bank. There are plenty of ATMs, many shops accept credit cards and you can pay with your German bank account card – known as EC-Karte.

HR Admin        POC for all RAF Admin matters is located in the Regimental Administration Office (RAO), JHQ Rheindahlen:

JPA      JPA access is available at both Kalkar and Uedem:

MT       Four MT vehicles are available and garaged in Goch. These are pool vehicles and can be utilised for duty journeys. Requests for MT are to be made to the MT co-ordinator located in the UK Community club. Only if a service vehicle is certified as non-available should private transport be used for duty journeys.

Supply             Any uniform or other supply/logistics matters should be addressed to the Logistics Flt at UKDSU Brunssum. Any demands should be sent hard copy by Fax, no special form is required.

Common Core Skills (CCS)      CCS Training is currently offered by the Joint European Training Team (JETT) based at JHQ Rheindahlen. All training takes place at Rheindahlen and it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure they are currently in date.

Fitness Tests          The Physical Education (P Ed) Flt from UKDSU Brunssum travel to Kalkar to conduct the FT once or twice per year. It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure they are currently in date.

Service & Private Mail             Mail is delivered and collected each working day between 1000 and 1200 hrs to the JAPCC and CAOC Central Registries by 99 Postal & Courier Sqn based at JHQ Rheindahlen. The Courier also provides a "Counter Service" for letters and parcels on Tues and Thurs each week.

Mail can be sent/received through either the BFPO system or the local German system. BFPO charges UK postage prices. The German mail system is very similar to the Royal Mail in that mail is delivered to your home and you will need to collect larger parcels from the local Post Office. The BFPO route is the cheaper; the German system is quite expensive but will move mail more quickly.

Currency Exchange             Personnel can cash cheques at the RAO, JHQ Rheindahlen, for not more than 2 months either end of their tour to assist while bank accounts are being changed between countries.  No more than 4 cheques per month and they must not be for more than your nett monthly entitlements.

NOTE:             It is best to obtain sufficient € Euro cash before leaving the UK to meet your initial needs.

Local Overseas Allowance (LOA)        LOA will commence with effect from the date of arrival in theatre, provided this is not prior to your ‘Ready to Move’ date. The rate of LOA is determined by your rank and whether you are single, married accompanied or married unaccompanied.

Travel Expenditure      All claims for expenses connected with travel under normal Service arrangements should be submitted via JPA.