Sources in Germany???

[jeepdreamer]

Whoopie!!!...

Man! This is like winning the lottery of information! Hahaha! Thanks everybody.
Best point taken is the use it don't just keep fixing it till I can't! LOL! I do spend a great deal of time tinkering and building since that is one of my outlets. But I can't imagine ever being bored there. Way to much to see and do...esp for a history buff like me! Museums and famous historical sites and battlefields! Yup. I'll be busy. The wheeling in Normandy sounds like it would be a blast too!
I do think I'm fortunate enough to be single and no kids. That allows me to take full advantage of whatever, finances permitting. And the trains and cheap flights will be great.
That does bring up the question of moving country to country. I understand that now the Army "green card" is no longer a valid tool to travel as it used to be. A soldier mus get a passport now. When and how and how much and how long does it take...etc...?

 

[StumpXJ]

That does bring up the question of moving country to country. I understand that now the Army "green card" is no longer a valid tool to travel as it used to be. A soldier mus get a passport now. When and how and how much and how long does it take...etc...?

I can only answer from the civilian side, but we had to get a civilian/tourist passport ourselves, and it took about 6 weeks. We also were issued two "official" US government passports (they are brown, instead of blue) I remember them being here quicker. My wife handled all of the work with those though... I know we were only supposed to use the brown official pasports when we were on official orders, like when we PCS'd to there, and when we PCS'd back.

I do know that travel back to the US while we lived in Germany was done using the regular blue tourist passport. I was told pretty much if you are on orders, you use the official passport, and if you re not travelling on orders, use the blue one. I usually made 1-2 trips back to the US once a year. One note, one of the last trips I made back to the US, I almost was 'not allowed' to go back to Germany because I didnt have a copy of my orders stating I lived there (even thought there was a big SOFA stamp in my passport) This only happened that one time, and the lady helping me, was German. I think she didnt know what she was talking about, because after she made several phone calls (all in fast german) I was allowed to proceed just like I always had been. She still gave me a 'lecture' about not having orders, but it fell on deaf ears. Germans dont like to admit when they are wrong, and will argue until they are blue in the face. I dont mean that in a bad way, and although it is a bit of a stereotype, its true in my opinion. Either way, its probably not a bad idea to carry a copy of orders when travelling.

Like I said, this is a civilian point of view. You guys might have something different... ?

 

[AFSOC]

Way to much to see and do...esp for a history buff like me! Museums and famous historical sites and battlefields! Yup. I'll be busy.

The USO offers guided bus tours, prices are pretty good, I went on several to battlefields. I took the Verdun tour, Remagen, Battle of the Bulge and they have a three day Normandy D-Day trip that should be considered mandatory. All the major sites (Gold, Juno, Omaha, Utah, American Cemetery) to include 8 museums dedicated to different facets of the invasion (Mulberry Bridge, Kaan, St Mare Egliese, etc).

Wheeling wise you will be in Eastern Germany. There are world class trails and 4x4 competitions in Romania, Czech and Poland. Some of these trials are like a highlight film of Camel Trophy only there is no easy section that hits the editing room floor.

Europeans are "all in" with their hobbies, they eat, sleep and live it. The most devout enthusiasts I have ever encountered no matter what their hobby is, horses, motorcycles, caravanning, off-roading etc. Befriend a German who is into wheeling, it should be easy because your CJ-8 will draw their attention. If you meet their approval, you will no doubt be invited to attend club events and meet other Germans with the same passions (my German friends sort of liked sporting their Amerikaners with them). They will point you to the best trails, ORV parks and club events. You should attend some "Truck Trials" while you're there, a little hard to find without an in but amazing to watch.