Bamburg - is it a good duty station? (stationed, officers, soldier)

[HughMcs]

My son is an O-2 and may be assigned to the 16th Sustainment Brigade in Bamburg. How is the quality of life outside the base (restaurants, nightlife, do the locals like Americans...)? Do most soldiers live on or off base and if they live off base how expensive is it to rent an apartment within driving distance to the base?Thanks in advance.

[Poncho_NM]

I was stationed about 100 miles South of Bamburg. Bamburg was a wonderful town while I was in the area (1977 to 1980) and some Temporary Duty in the area after that, and I am sure it is the same.

I loved the area, my wife and kids loved the area. I am jealous and he should enjoy the assignment. There is a lot to do in Germany. At times I really miss it.

Here are two sites you might look at:

Bamberg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.bamberg.army.mil/sites/local/

Rich

[Balad1]

I've been to Bamburg on Temporary Duty and loved the town and surrounding area.

Any assignment in Germany is a great experience and will be a treasured memory. There are so many opportunities to travel and visit different countries while stationed there.

[BucFan]

Bamburg is beautiful. Not too far from Nurnberg, where there is an airport and a intercity train station - one can travel all over Europe from there.

Rent is paid for by the military. He should have no problem finding a nice place - some places offer on-post housing for officers, but usually that housing is very poor/small. It is convenient to live on post if he'll deploy - doesn't have to worry about rent, utilities, etc. If deployed (which is very likely), he'll be away from his housing for 12-15 months and will need to set up a payment from his checking account the landlord of his home - as well as have his utilities paid through his checking. It can be done, but can be complicated if he's not used to it.

Off post housing requires a deposit as well, so he'll have to supply that. Usually it is refundable if he gives his place back in good condition.


I've been to Bamberg several times and liked it. If he has a car, he'll be able to travel a lot as well. Driving is very fast there - and the roads are slick in the winter. He needs to be very cautious as we lose a lot of young people in Germany to nasty accidents.

Germans like Americans, imo. I've been there off and on since 1972 as a kid and a soldier (23 yrs), and have found that the Germans are nicer now then 10-20 yrs ago. More Germans are speaking english now, it seems.

Most German cities/towns have great restaurants. It is very hard to keep slim there.

Nightlife might not be as active as he's used to. Mostly bars, restaurants, dance-clubs.

To tell the truth, most soldiers today are too busy with work to have a lot of time for extra-curricular activity - especially if they're getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Balkans.
A 1LT is likely to be a platoon leader and he'll have a few soldiers (and their families) to keep an eye on (babysit) - it is his job.