Geilenkirchen is a NATO Air Base. If you want to integrate with various European cultures/people, that would be my first choice.

Spangdahlem is in a beautiful part of Germany and very accessable to Holland, Belgium, Lux, and France.

Ramstein is like a Little America with all the conveniences of the U.S.

Geilenkirchen would be my first choice. If you're more comfortable being around Americans and associated creature comfort items, then Spangdahlem.

Mollyann - how do you get to "choose"?

Do they have dentists there to take of the tooth decay?

My son in enlisting in a few weeks. He takes his test on Monday and then will be enlisting on June 30.

His future wife would like to put Europe as their "first" choice of where to be stationed.

This has been a timely and enlightening thread.

My son put the base in St. Louis as his first choice, and put only US bases on his list.

He leaves Sunday for three years in Ramstein, Germany.

abram - really? Did he just enlist? What tech school/job did he get?

Assuming your son is Air Force, is Aviano a possibility?

Hello Dawn, just in case you do not know Aviano AFB is in the Region of Veneto. A beautiful area.

My son was in ROTC in college, and entered the Air Force as an officer. He was a missileer in Minot, ND. After four years, he left active duty, became part of the inactive reserves, and went back to school to become clergy. He has just returned to active duty status as a Chaplain. Ramstein is his first assignment.

At least he doesn't carry a gun and won't kill people now!

abram may God richly bless your son for his service.

MomDDTravel, thank you for your kind wishes.

logos999, you are right! AF Chaplains aren't permitted to carry weapons because while the rules allow them to shoot an enemy to defend themselves, they aren't permitted to shoot someone to defend someone else, and it would be too much to ask them to holster their weapons while an enemy shoots their colleague.

You must be relieved that he could get somewhat out of the system. I believe, most are stuck and realize too late what they're forced to do for money.

And don't let anybody tell you, how proud you can be for having a son that "serves his country".

They always tell those lies. Nothing but lies!

I am proud of him for putting his patriotism into action, and for working hard to fulfill his dream.

Of course, I worry--because I know he will, at some point, be deployed to Iraq. And I was against the war way before the possibility arose of my son's life being at risk.