You are jet-lagged. Your kids are either asleep on their feet or wired from the flight. You have more bags than you can count and a phone that may or may not have signal. Germany is outside the terminal window and it looks nothing like the base you just left.
The first 72 hours of a PCS to Germany are the most disorienting — and the most consequential. The decisions you make in this window set the tone for everything that follows. This guide tells you exactly what to do and in what order, so you are not figuring it out on the fly.
Hour 0: The Moment You Land
Do not try to do everything at once. Your only jobs in the first hour are:
- Get through customs and baggage claim
- Get your family to a safe, stable location
- Make contact with your sponsor or gaining unit
German customs for US military personnel arriving on orders is generally straightforward. Have your orders, passports, and military IDs accessible — not buried in a checked bag. If you are arriving at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), the military customs lane is separate from civilian arrivals. Your sponsor or a unit representative may be waiting at arrivals — confirm this before you board your flight.
Tip: If no one meets you at the airport, that is not an emergency. It is common. Call or text your sponsor, then call your gaining unit's rear detachment. If you cannot reach anyone, Army lodging can usually arrange pickup or give you the number for a taxi service that works with military families.
Hour 1–3: Get a SIM Card Before You Leave the Airport
This is the single most important thing you can do in your first hours and most families skip it.
Without a working German phone number you cannot:
- Call your landlord
- Make a doctor appointment
- Contact German businesses off-post
- Receive verification codes from German banks and services
Frankfurt Airport has multiple phone and electronics shops in the arrivals and departure halls. Aldi Talk, Congstar, and Telekom all sell prepaid SIM cards with no German ID required. A basic prepaid SIM with 10GB of data costs approximately €15–€20. Bring an unlocked phone — if your US phone is carrier-locked, buy an inexpensive unlocked Android at the airport or on-post exchange.
If you are arriving at Ramstein or a smaller installation, the on-post exchange (AAFES) sells prepaid SIMs and international data plans.
Tip: Put your new German number in your sponsor's phone immediately. This is now your primary contact number in Germany.
Hours 3–6: Check Into Lodging and Stop
Army lodging (Temporary Lodging Facility or TLF) is your home for the first days or weeks while you find permanent housing. You should have booked this before departure — if you did not, call your gaining installation's lodging office from the airport.
Once you are checked in:
- Eat something. The commissary or food court on post is open. Do not attempt a German grocery run on day one.
- Let your family rest. Jet lag with children is brutal. Do not try to in-process, explore, or handle paperwork on arrival day if you can avoid it.
- Charge everything. Germany uses 220V / Type F outlets. Your US devices need a voltage converter or adapter. The on-post exchange sells both.
Important: Keep every receipt from the moment you leave the US. TLA (Temporary Lodging Allowance) reimburses your actual lodging costs up to your authorized rate. Receipts are required for reimbursement — no receipt, no money.
Day 2: In-Process at Your Unit
Report to your gaining unit's S1 office within 24–48 hours of arriving. Bring:
- Original orders (multiple copies)
- Military ID cards for you and all dependents
- Passports for you and all dependents
- Birth certificates for children
- Marriage certificate if applicable
- Medical and shot records for all family members
- Pet health documentation if you brought pets
In-processing assigns you to your unit officially, starts your pay, and triggers the entitlements (BAH, COLA, OHA if applicable) that you are authorized for Germany. Do not delay this — every day you wait is a day your overseas allowances are not being processed.
Your S1 will give you an in-processing checklist specific to your installation. Follow it in the order they give you. Most installations have dedicated in-processing days or welcome centers that run you through the sequence.
Day 2: SOFA Registration
Immediately after or alongside unit in-processing, visit the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) registration office on your installation.
SOFA status is not automatic. You must register.
What SOFA registration gives you:
- Legal status in Germany as a US forces member or dependent
- Exemption from German income tax on your military pay
- Access to the VAT exemption card (saves 19% on German purchases)
- The right to use on-post facilities
- Special protections under German law for housing, driving, and employment
Bring your orders, military IDs, and passports. Dependent SOFA registration requires the same documents for each family member.
Important: SOFA status must be registered before you can apply for the VAT exemption card, before you can open certain German bank accounts, and before your landlord can issue the documentation required for your Anmeldung (address registration). Do not skip this step or push it to next week.
Day 2–3: Get a Phone That Works
If you did not get a SIM at the airport, do it now. This cannot wait.
Options ranked by ease:
- Prepaid SIM — fastest, no contract, works immediately. Aldi Talk and Congstar are the most popular among military families
- Add an international line to your US plan — works but expensive long-term. Fine as a bridge for the first week
- German contract plan — requires a German bank account and address. Not possible in your first days
Your on-post exchange (AAFES/PX) also sells international calling cards and mobile accessories if you need a backup.
Day 3: Transportation
You need a vehicle. Without one, you are dependent on installation shuttles and the train network — which work, but severely limit what you can do in your first weeks.
Rental car: On-post rental agencies (Enterprise, Hertz) accept your US license for the first 6 months. Book ahead if you can — availability during PCS season (June–August) is tight. Off-post German rental agencies also accept a US license.
Your sponsor's help: Many sponsors will drive you around for the first few days. Accept this help and use the time to orient yourself.
Buying a vehicle: Do not buy a vehicle in your first 72 hours. You need a German bank account, an address, and SOFA registration before the paperwork makes sense. Give yourself at least two weeks. When you are ready, see our car buying guide.
Tip: Learn one route before you need it — the route from your lodging to your unit, the commissary, and the on-post medical clinic. Germany drives on the right, road signs are in German, and roundabouts are everywhere. Give yourself grace on day one behind the wheel.
What NOT to Do in Your First 72 Hours
Do not drive if you are exhausted. Jet lag impairs driving as much as alcohol. If you arrived overnight and have not slept, do not get behind the wheel.
Do not attempt to set up your German life. The Anmeldung (address registration), German bank account, USAREUR license, and lease signing all come later. The first 72 hours are for stabilizing your family, not building your German administrative life.
Do not ignore your children's jet lag. Keep them on a flexible schedule for the first few days. Exposure to daylight helps reset circadian rhythms faster.
Do not lose your orders. Make digital copies immediately. Your orders are the single most important document in Germany — you will need them for nearly every administrative task for the first six months.
Do not expect your HHG immediately. Your household goods take 6–12 weeks. Your unaccompanied baggage takes 3–5 weeks. You packed a first night bag for a reason. Live out of it without stress — this is temporary.
Your 72-Hour Checklist
- Cleared customs and baggage claim
- Contacted sponsor or gaining unit POC
- Got a German SIM card with data
- Checked into Army lodging (TLA)
- Kept all receipts from day one
- Reported to gaining unit S1 (within 48 hours)
- Completed SOFA registration
- Located the commissary, food court, and medical clinic on post
- Arranged transportation (rental or sponsor assistance)
- Made digital copies of orders and passports
What Comes Next
The first 72 hours are about survival. What comes after is about building your life in Germany.
In the next 30 days you will need to handle transportation, banking, housing registration, school enrollment, TRICARE Europe registration, and your USAREUR driver's license. It is a lot — but it comes in sequence, not all at once.
Use the European Living PCS Guide to work through each phase at the right time. Use the services directory to find English-speaking doctors, mechanics, and other providers near your base when you are ready.
Germany is an extraordinary place to be stationed. The first 72 hours are the hardest. It gets significantly better from day four onward.
European Living is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, USAREUR-AF, or any military branch. Information is provided for general guidance — regulations change, always verify with your unit and official sources before making decisions.