LTC/EN
35th Engineer Regiment
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Description of duty position and work environment
Location
35 Engineer Regiment is located at Barker Barracks in Paderborn, Germany.
Barker Barracks is home to three battalion sized units including the 1RRW and 3 REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) Battalion in addition to 35 Engineers. Until April 2000, the Regiment was Hamel, Germany, so their presence in Paderborn is still relatively new. The military community in Paderborn and the nearby towns is known collectively as the Sennelager Military Community. The 20 Bde HQ is only a 20 minute drive from the 35 Regimental HQ.
Paderborn itself is a compact university/light industry/agricultural town of about 130,000 in a beautiful rural area of Germany 171 miles by autobahn north of Frankfurt and 107 miles by Autobahn northeast of Düsseldorf. Paderborn has a wide range of activities, shops, parks, markets, and architecture that make it a very pleasant place to live. It is right off Autobahn 33 and serviced by its own airport and rail station.
Climate
During the summer months, temperatures average about 70° and with highs close to 85°. During winter the average temperature is 30° in the low lying regions. Temperatures can drop as low as 0° and snow showers are likely. During spring and autumn the climate alternates between mild, chilly and damp. Rainfall may occur at any time of the year.
Job Description
Job Description as translated into US terms for the OER. Battalion S-3 (British term is Operations Training Major) of a mechanized engineer battalion comprised of approximately 700 soldiers, $22 million of equipment and an annual operating budget of $5.6 million. Responsible for the Battalion’s training readiness to successfully execute NATO and contingency missions in support of a forward deployed British Armored Division in Germany. Plans, coordinates and executes external and internal training activities, exercises and specific operational tours in support of NATO and the United Kingdom. Supervises and directs the S-3 and S-2 section comprised of approximately 12 soldiers. Maintains and executes the unit’s Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with supported organizations.
PT
I do PT With the HQ squadron three times a week. This does not include the Wednesday sports afternoon, which I usually do not participate in. Squadron PT is similar to what you would expect from a US engineer company. The gym on Barker Barracks is small but nice and clean. Family members are welcome to use the gym, but they will have their best experiences mid morning and mid afternoon when the minimum number of soliders will be there. The gym has CV equipment, free weights, and universals. Classes for men and women such as kick boxing, jazzercise, etc, are given in the evenings. The German community has paved pathways all through the countryside for a runner's or cyclist's dream.
Uniform and Wardrobe Requirements
The basic uniform is BDUs each day. I drew and wear British TA50 exclusively but would recommend drawing at least the helmet from Giessen CIF. I wear my blues quite frequently.
I wear both the mess coat and the regular coat. The mess coat is not strictly required.
I have worn my tux and my two dark suits several times.
Description of Housing
Housing is provided by MoD. It is a 2000sf house with full basement, walk in attic, one car garage, and roomy back yard. Very, very nice place to live. The three most recent American officers have lived in the same house. Since it is recently renovated, I see no reason that this will not continue. The house is NOT special or modified in any way to accommodate the American family. The house has 220v throughout; transformers are required. The house is supplied by the Geisen DPW with a dishwasher, upright freezer, washer, dryer, and two refrigerators (one in kitchen, one in basement). All appliances furnished by Giessen DPW are 220v. If servicing/replacing is required, simply call Giessen DPW.
TV, DVD and Powersupply
TV
I have a multi-system TV which will pick up German stations and the British Armed Forces station via an aerial. A basic American TV will pick up neither.
Satelite
Most Britsh families in Germany subscribe to Sky TV which is a British sattelite system. You must have a UK address to subscribe. I do not subscribe and do not know the cost. The US Armed Forces Network is now via satellite. I have the dish and box to receive AFN programming (about 8 channels) and several audio channels. The initial cost is quite high (more than $500) for the dish and box, but there are no other costs. I bought the dish from my predecessor and will sell to my successor. Other used systems are always advertised in the Stars and Stripes.
DVDs
US DVDs and US DVD players are Region 1. I recommend a multi-region DVD player so that you can rent Region 2 DVDs from the British PX or from the German economy.
Most US DVD players will not play region 2 DVDs unless it is specifically a multi-region DVD player. As an alternative, you can buy a region 2 DVD player.
Power
My TV, DVD player, and VCR all operate fine on the 110v transformer.
Medical and Dental care
My family and I receive all of our routine medical care from the facilities at Hanau or Giessen to include orthodontic care (Hanau), dental care (Giessen), and physicals, etc (Hanau). Although we are authorized medical care through the British military system, we have never used it except for minor emergencies or simple things like immunizations. We just prefer the continuity of care and record keeping provided by the US facilities. I have never taken medical TDY, although I think it would be authorized for our trips to Hanau and Giessen. I just don’t consider it worth the trouble of filling out the paperwork. For significant medical needs which exceed the level of care provided by the Hanau clinic a bus travels from Hanau to Heidelberg hospital each day. If needs exceed the capability of the British military clinic, they send us right out on the economy for German care. This can be quite nice as there it no TRICARE or paperwork involved.
Description of Military Post Office, Commissary and PX Facilities
We use the commissary and PX facilites at Hanau and Giessen depending on where our medical appointments are that day. They are both roughly 2.5 hours from Paderborn; the closest US facilties. The Hanau PX and commissary are located together, the Giessen facilities are across town from one another. I would say the Hanau PX is better, but not markedly, than the Giessen PX. The commissaries are equal in quality and quantity. The Giessen commissary is closed on Mondays, the Hanau commissary is not. Our mail is delivered right to the regimental mail room via APO AE 09103, but we never actually visit that APO. Any outgoing mail we have goes through the German or British systems (both expensive) unless we are visiting Hanau or Giessen.
What religious services are available locally?
Barker Barracks chapel has weekly UK Protestant services; the flavor of the service depends largely on the presiding chaplain. We recently went from a Scottish Presbyterian to a High Anglican. UK Catholic services are available at another barracks in the Paderborn-Sennelager military community. Paderborn has a few civilian churches that offer English speaking services that I hear are well attended. Paderborn is an early and significant seat of Catholicism in Germany, the Catholic church building dominates the town. The religious community is not nearly as large, vibrant, or active as you would expect to find on a typical US Army post.
Banking
British Forces Germany (BFG) uses the euro; no need at all to buy or use pounds sterling. Rent, utilities, and mess bills are all calculated in pounds and then converted to euros for payment. On deployments to multinational theaters, US dollars are used. Although I can withdraw euros from my USAA account at almost any ATM, setting up a German bank account simplifies paying bills automatically such as the phone, the mess bill, and rent. I put money in my German account by withdrawing euros from my USAA account at the ATM and then physically depositing them into my German account. I could probably make these transfers automatic or do it on line, but I have not investigated that option. USAA sends all mail directly to my German address.
Schools
My children go with the UK military children go to MOD schools in the military community. Very simple to enroll and transport is provided by bus. Children up through age 12 go to school in Paderborn. Older children have a considerable bus ride to Kings School in Gutersloh over 30 miles away. All children wear simple uniforms to school such as white shirts and black trousers with gray sweatshirts. We have been happy, in general, with the schools. When placing children, US grade 4 is equivalent to British year 5, etc. Older children will have few peers because most Britsh soldiers send their children to boarding school at about age 12. US children will need to have their education supplemented at home for subjects like US history, geography, and civics. Must file Form 900 with DODDS Germany to properly enroll children in the British MOD schools.
POV Information
This can be a headache, but it is easier for me in Germany than for Americans in the UK. Ship the car, HHGs, and hold baggage as though assigned to Giessen. The car will then come into Mainz Kastel where you will have to go pick it up, AFTER getting a USAREUR driver's license in Giessen. Technically, I should get a BFG license and BFG registration. But, getting the USAREUR license and registration is easier and avoids a issues like a) getting into a US Army base in Germany with British registration plates requires additional passes and paperwork b) problems with the US-German SOFA agreement and c) operating in undefined gray areas when the legal ramifications could be severe d) paying UK road taxes and e) modifying the car to meet MOT specifications. I drive one Chevy and one Ford. I get service for the Chevy at the Opel (owned by GM) dealer in Kassel. I have never sought service for the Ford, but Germany has many Ford dealers. Service for Chrysler products is easier now that many Mercedes dealers sell Chrysler cars. Service for Toyotas is pretty easy as is any German make. After hours, soldiers are permitted to use the unit motor pool to work on POVs and I can do the same. Many mechanics are happy to help if needed.
Miscellaneous
No further information available at present.
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