Making decisions about orders without good information feels a lot like diving out of a plane–without being quite sure of your parachute. Our advice columnist Ms. Vicki fielded a question from a reader whose service member who is looking to move overseas after his reenlistment. MJ is having trouble figuring out how to get info because her husband’s first sergeant nixed asking around on Facebook. She wrote:
He has always wanted to live in Europe and is considering Camp Vilsack, Germany; East Camp, Germany; and Camp Ederle, Italy. I am trying to find information about these three places concerning continuing my education, housing, and distance from urban areas. I also want to know about transitional housing during the time we arrive and finding an apartment, pet policies, jobs and cost of living, as well as public transportation, since the Army will ship only one vehicle.
MJ had the same problem a lot of us have when trying to figure out military possibilities: you have to get exactly the right name, nickname and spelling before you can do real research. I have made this mistake myself. So ”Camp Vilsack” is actually Camp Vilsek in Grafenwoehr, Germany. ”East Camp” should also be researched as Grafenwoehr. Camp Ederle is really Vicenza (where I would like to go, too, please.).
The rest of her questions are exactly the things that I wanted to know before moving overseas. While I could get a pretty good start in the continental US with Military.com’s Base Guide and I could figure things out by Googling official base websites and Facebook pages, it was particularly hard to get accurate, current info from real people. Ms. Vicki knew just what official sources MJ should consult. I was wondering what kind of inside scoop you would offer MJ about Camp Vilsek, Grafenwhoehr in general, and Camp Ederle in Vicenza. Is any one of them considered better than another? Does any one of them offer a better opportunity for education? What do you know that official sources can’t begin to describe?
About Jacey Eckhart
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It is actually Rose Barracks, Vilseck, not Camp Vilsek. This is where I am now. To be honest about education, it is very limited to mainly online courses. The job market is small so you have to be creative and persistant. I love living overseas. That being said, you really have to have an adventurous heart and take all the opportunities that come your way.
I lived in Vilseck for 4 years. Loved every minute and would probably give my right arm to go back. There is a lot to do and it's beautiful. I'm happy to answer questions via email. :-)
I, too, lived in Rose Barracks (Vilseck is the tiny German village right outside the gate about 2 miles away – it means corner of river/stream in German). Like Jennifer, I'd be over the moon if we were stationed there again. It's farmland all around with great little villages, wonderful local people and the comforting "boom" of artillery ranges all night long.
Sam is correct in that the job market is very small and (honestly) a very nepotistic environment where your applications aren't going to be looked at if someone there doesn't know you/speak up for you. Though I have encountered far worse nepotism here in the States for on-post employment. Education wise, they do have college classes on Rose Barracks but you will be limited to what they have teachers there to teach.
Please, go off post! Enjoy Vilseck, enjoy Grafenwoehr! Go into the local rathaus and ask about local fare. Right in Vilseck there was an amazing Greek restaurant, just outside of post there was a dirty, tiny Chinese place that made the most incredible crispy duck, in the Rathause center of Vilseck, there was a great Cappacino/Ice cream place. You can get fresh honey just up the road from the Rathaus. Don't even get me started on the heart-breakingly delicious bakery across from the DHS office right on the main road going into Vilseck. :)
Please send her over to my blog! I've written TONS about Germany, and here is my primer for moving here to get her ready http://lifelessonsmilitarywife.com/?page_id=2757. I've lived in military communities in Karlsruhe (no longer there), Stuttgart, Vilseck, Grafenwoehr and Garmisch…in been to most of them at least for a visit…certain things are the same across the board…others…different! She can always ask me questions directly as well. I have many readers all over Germany:-)
Oh and for Italy, I recommend http://pcsitaly.wordpress.com/ and http://edithmills.blogspot.de/…oh and almost forgot http://blondeambitionnaples.blogspot.de/.