PCS Guide

U.S. Army Garrison Benelux has an interesting and dual history.  Originally designated as the 80th Ordnance Group, the organization was activated Jan. 25, 1945, at Luneville, France and then later that year inactivated at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was again reactivated at Red River Arsenal, Texas in 1954.  In 1966, it was redesignated as the 80th General Support Group when it moved to Vietnam.  
 
After more than five years of distinguished service supporting 13 campaigns in Vietnam, the organization was inactivated in 1972.  In 1984, the 80th Support Group [Area] was reactivated and relocated to Chièvres, Belgium.
 
Of historical significance to the garrison is that of the NATO/SHAPE Support Group [U.S.] activated in Brussels in 1967 and moved its headquarters to Caserne Daumerie, Belgium, later that year.  

The sponsorship program is designed to help service members, civilian employees and family members plan their move from a duty station somewhere else in the world to their new duty station in Europe. Below are several links that can assist you during each step of your move.

Pre-Arrival: Planning your move after receipt of your assignment/orders

• Military One Source - Plan My Move
• Benelux Newcomers Information

Post-Arrival: Must-know & nice-to-know information after you get to your new duty station

• Driving in the Benelux
• SATO Leisure Travel Office
• Benelux Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation

U.S. Army Garrison Benelux Headquarters - Chièvres Air Base

Rue du Septieme Wing
7950 Chièvres
Belgium

U.S. Army Garrison Benelux - Brussels

Europalaan, 20
1932 Zaventem
(St-Stevens-Woluwe)
Belgium
 

U.S. Army Garrison Benelux - Brunssum

Kranenpool, 3
6443 VA Brunssum 
The Netherlands

Army Prepositioned Stock (APS-2) Site - Dülmen

Tuzzo Straus, 1
DE 48249 Duelmen
Germany

Army Prepositioned Stock (APS-2) Site - Zutendaal

Leutsestraat, 34
3690 Zutendaal
Belgium

Army Prepositioned Stock (APS-2) Site - Eygelshoven

Rimburgerweg
APS-2 Eygelshoven
NL 9708
The Netherlands

Prior to seeking off-post housing, U.S. military and civilian personnel regardless of service or command must in-process through the Housing Services Office within two business days of arriving in the Benelux.

To complete the housing application process, personnel will be required to provide copies of their orders, verification of date of departure from last permanent duty station and verification of dependents that traveled OCONUS with the sponsor.

Visit the Housing Services Office webpage to learn more. 

Homes already approved by the Housing Office are listed on HOMES.MIL.

The first few days in country, you will take part in an in processing brief, which will go over entitlements you may be allowed to receive in the Benelux. 

Some common entitlements are listed below: 

• Advance of Pay
• Temporary Lodging
• Foreign Transfer Allowance
• Living Quarters Allowance
• Post Allowance
• Danger Pay/Foreign Post Differential
• Non-Temporary Storage
• Benefits
• Retirement

Child and Youth Services (CYS) provides programs and services for children of eligible military and civilian families. Within CYS you will find something to meet your children’s needs, including:

• Full, part time or hourly child care
• Before/after school care
• Camps
• Programs for your middle school and teen youth
• Instructional classes
• Workforce preparation opportunities
• Sports and fitness activities

Visit the Child and Youth Services webpage to learn more. 

New Parent Support helps parents and expectant parents transition into parenthood by providing parenting classes, home-visits, playgroups and prenatal classes. As a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, the New Parent Support Home Visitor can make appropriate referrals and support your feeding journey.

Services include:

• Free lactation home/office visits
• Pre/Postnatal support
• Parenting classes
• Toilet training 
• and more 

Military families with a special needs family member, also known as an Exceptional Family Member (EFM), often require additional help in meeting the EFM’s needs. The Army designed the EFMP to be a comprehensive, coordinated, multi-agency program that provides community support, housing, medical, educational, and personnel services to military Families with an EFM.

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical, and personnel services to Families with special needs. Soldiers on active duty enroll in the program when they have a Family member with a physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder requiring specialized services so their needs can be considered in the military personnel assignment process.

Visit the Exceptional Family Member Program webpage to learn more. 

The Employment Readiness Program (ERP) provides information and referral services on employment, education, training, transition, and volunteer opportunities to give Family members the competitive edge needed to secure meaningful employment. ERP services are for Veterans, military spouses, dependent children, DoD Civilian employees and their dependents and include the following:

• Career counseling and job coaching
• Career assessments
• Employment prospects in the new location
• Preparing a new resume
• Self-improvement workshops and classes
• Job search techniques
• Information on training and education
• Obtaining a listing of current job openings

The Army Volunteer Corps (AVC) plays a crucial role in community involvement and development. Volunteers make a meaningful difference in the lives of Soldiers and their Families every day. Army Volunteer Corps is designed to help you find local volunteering opportunities with organizations that benefit the Army community and allows you to obtain ongoing training and advancement.

The ACS computer lab is available to assist you in viewing vacancy announcements/job listings. 

For more information regarding volunteering opportunities please contact the ACS Volunteer Coordinator at your location.

The Family Advocacy Program in Europe (FAP-E) outreach and prevention program is designed to strengthen and improve the quality of life for our military Families by increasing self-sufficiency, resiliency and community cohesion for active duty, Family members, civilians and retirees.

Together with garrison and host nation agencies, FAP-E provides a multitude of programs and services designed to build individual and Family strengths as well as advocate for non-violent communities. The goals of the FAP-E are:

• Leverage individual and Family strengths
• Overcome behaviors that may contribute to Family maltreatment
• Value Family member differences​​​​​​​
• Enhance behaviors that foster healthy military lifestyles

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment are incompatible with the Army Values and the Warrior Ethos.

The Army's Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, known as SHARP, exists so the Army can prevent sexual harassment and sexual assaults before they occur. Our goal is to eliminate sexual assaults and sexual harassment by creating a climate that respects the dignity of every member of the Army family. Additionally, we strive to:

• Reduce the stigma of reporting
• Protect the victim
• Increase prevention, investigation, prosecution and victim care capabilities
• Increase training and resources
• Refine and sustain response capability

The Financial Readiness Program is your resource for information on money matters. Let us be your first resource for all financial questions and issues. Financial planning is our subject matter of expertise. We are here to help reduce the stress associated with personal finance difficulties.

We are committed to assisting you in establishing financial security and helping you make sound financial decisions in the future. We can help you learn about other financial services, including:

• Thrift Savings Plan
• Federal Trade Commission
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Saveandinvest.org
• Military Saves
• Military OneSource
• Better Business Bureau

The Army Community Service (ACS) Information, Referral, and Follow-Up (I&R) Program provides Commanders, Soldiers, DoD Civilians and their Families with information regarding military and civilian community resources. Our trained staff will give clients any information or assistance they may need or will refer them to the appropriate agency that can best help them.

We can assist with the following:

• On or off-post community resources
• Questions about the community
• ACS Class registration and information

Army Substance Abuse Program strengthens the overall fitness and effectiveness of the Army's workforce, to conserve manpower and to enhance the combat readiness of service members.

Services of the Army Substance Abuse Program include:

• Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care
• Drug Testing Program
• Risk Reduction Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Prevention Education Program

Visit the Army Substance Abuse Program webpage to learn more.  

The Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) provides Active and Reserve Component Soldiers, Army Civilians, Family Members, Survivors, and Retirees a voice in shaping their standards of living by identifying issues and concerns for Army Senior Leadership resolution. Since its inception in 1983, the AFAP remains the only such partnership between a branch of the United States military and its constituents.

Issues can be submitted at the garrison Army Community Service office or to a unit Family Programs liaison. Army OneSource also facilitates AFAP issue online submission and routes the issue to the garrison/unit selected by the submitter for entry into the AFAP process.

The needs of the Army community remain in the forefront of Army Senior Leadership. AFAP is the primary tool to communicate the important issues facing Soldiers, Army civilians, families, survivors and retirees.

Army Family Team Building (AFTB) is a series of training modules taught through your local Army Community Service or Family Program’s office that cover topics such as basic information about the Army, personal growth skills and leadership skills. AFTB improves personal and Family preparedness which enhances overall Army readiness and helps America’s Army adapt to a changing world.

AFTB helps you to not just cope with, but enjoy the military lifestyle. Many of the courses can be applied toward resume’ and career building, self-development and leadership skills. AFTB provides the knowledge and self-confidence to take responsibility for yourself and your Family. The training is available to Soldiers, family members of all Soldiers, Department of Defense civilians and volunteers.

Visit my Army OneSource to learn more.

Mobilization, Deployment and Stability and Support Operations (MD&SSO) provides assistance to Soldiers, Civilians and Family members to maintain individual readiness.

The Operation Resources for Educating About Deployment and You (Operation READY) training program assists commanders in meeting Family readiness objectives. Operation READY includes training modules and resource books especially designed to help Soldiers and their Families cope with the personal, Family, and financial demands of deployment. Operation Ready materials also provide training and resources to Commanders, rear detachment cadre, Family Readiness Group (FRG) leaders and Family Readiness Support Assistants (FRSAs).

Operation READY materials are available through installation ACS centers, Reserve Component Family Programs, and at Military OneSource.

Army Community Service does not offer individual or group counseling.

Non-clinical individual counseling is available from the Military & Family Life Consultants (MFLC). The MFLC Program provides short-term, non-medical counseling support for a range of issues including: relationships, crisis intervention, stress management, grief, occupational and other individual and family issues. Psycho-educational presentations focused on issues common to the military family including: reunion/reintegration, stress/coping, grief/loss and deployment are provided to commands, Family Readiness Groups (FRGs), Soldier Readiness Processing and other locations, as requested. Support for these issues empowers individuals during the problem-solving process, increases individual and family competency and resilience in coping with the challenges of military life and ensures that these issues do not detract from operational readiness.

Families affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of State have the opportunity to send their children to the SHAPE Elementary, Middle School, or High School; Brussels American School (Kindergarten to 12th grade); AFNorth Elementary and Middle/High School, local schools (pre-school to  12th grade - tuition free) and local international schools (pre-school to  12th grade -  tuition required).

U.S. military and DOD civilian families who are not in the commuting area of a DoDEA school may enroll in the Non-DOD Schools Program and receive tuition reimbursement if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Visit the Schools webpage for more information. 

The Benelux Education Centers provide quality services and programs to active-duty service members, retirees, civilians and family members. Professional guidance counselors provide a full range of adult and continuing education counseling. Individual counseling is available during normal duty hours on a walk-in basis.

U.S. Army Garrison Benelux has one institution available for face-to-face classes for ID cardholders. This institution has a contract with the military to provide school representatives to assist with enrollment and support. They also provide online classes and degree plans.

Visit the Army Continuing Education System webpage to learn more. 

Active Duty and Family Members will report to the Army Healthcare facility closest to their duty station.

• Chièvres Air Base/SHAPE personnel will report to the SHAPE Healthcare Facility
• USAG Benelux-Brussels will report to the Brussels Health Clinic
• USAG Benelux- Brunssum personnel will report to Geilenkirchen (GK) Medical Treatment Facility

DoD Civilians may be able to use Army Healthcare Facilities. Please work with your health insurance provider to see what's covered at an Army facility. 

Off-post facilities may also be used, but please work with your insurance provider to know what's covered overseas. Healthcare on the economy may have to be paid upfront and submitted for reimbursement afterwards. 

Each community has a Patient Liaison available to help with translation if need be.

The Better Opportunities for Single Servicemembers (BOSS) program represents the voice of the single servicemember. If you're a single servicemember, BOSS members advocate for you by advancing quality of life issues on the installation, and in the barracks, to senior leaders on post and throughout the Army.  "Let Your Voice Be Heard"

The BOSS program is based on three program pillars:

• Quality of Life
• Community Service
• Recreation and Leisure

Moving is a part of life for Soldiers, DoD Civilians and their families. The Army Community Service Relocation Readiness Program is dedicated to ensuring our clients are capable of surviving and thriving through the PCS and ETS processes. We have developed this program to assist you in finding information and resources to make you more resilient and agile as you navigate your next move.

When relocating to a new installation, you can borrow basic household goods from your ACS Lending Closet. Keep in mind that item availability varies from garrison to garrison. Some of the items (based on installation availability) you may find at your location are:

• Pots and pans
• Dishes
• High chairs and car safety seats
• GPS
• Kitchen appliances

For in processing of Military personnel, check in procedures need to take place after checking in with your unit. DoD Civilians should check in after they have received their in processing brief from CPAC. Service members need to bring a copy of their duty memo and Civilians need to bring a copy of their orders. 

Out processing procedures are done 10 days prior to your leave date. Please bring a copy of your orders with you to the appointment. 

In addition to in and out processing procedures, this office also processes official no fee passports, VAT on household purchases, as well as DEERs, CAC, and Dependent US ID cards. Everything is done by appointment only. Please reach out by email or phone listed below.