U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden

Branch: U.S. Army
Location: Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany
Installation Type: U.S. Army Garrison (USAG)
Status: Active

Overview

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, centered on Clay Kaserne (formerly Lucius D. Clay Kaserne) in the Erbenheim-Delkenheim boroughs of Wiesbaden, serves as the headquarters of U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and is one of Europe’s most strategically important U.S. military installations. The garrison hosts approximately 15,000 U.S. military and civilian personnel and their families, including the joint staffs of USAREUR-AF. Wiesbaden is located in the Rhine-Main metropolitan region, one of Germany’s most economically vibrant areas, offering outstanding quality of life for assigned personnel and families.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Serve as the headquarters garrison for U.S. Army Europe and Africa; enable theater-level command and control; provide installation support for USAREUR-AF and tenant commands.
Major Units: U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) headquarters; V Corps forward command post; Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U); 2d Theater Signal Brigade; 66th Military Intelligence Brigade; 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command; 21st Theater Sustainment Command elements
Tenant Units: Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) elements; 1st Air Support Operations Squadron (USAF); 485th Intelligence Squadron; 5th Signal Command; various NATO and joint staff elements; 1-214th Aviation

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Wiesbaden city center immediately adjacent; Frankfurt (major international hub) approximately 40 km east; Mainz approximately 10 km south
Nearest Commercial Airport: Frankfurt Airport (FRA) approximately 40 km east; Wiesbaden does not have a commercial airport; Clay Kaserne has an on-post airfield for military use
Gate Access: Clay Kaserne main gate (24/7 for military ID holders); visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; multiple kaserne access points throughout Wiesbaden area

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 3,000 (primarily joint/Army staff officers and NCOs)
Family Members: Approximately 6,000
Civilian Employees: Approximately 6,000 (U.S. and local national employees)
Total Installation Population: Approximately 15,000

Key Facilities

Medical: Health Clinic Wiesbaden at Clay Kaserne; primary care, dental, behavioral health, and preventive medicine; specialty referrals to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (approximately 100 km southwest) or excellent local German hospitals (Horst-Schmidt-Kliniken in Wiesbaden are excellent)
Commissary: Yes – full-service commissary at Clay Kaserne
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – AAFES main store, food court, and shoppettes; auto center at Clay Kaserne
Fitness & Recreation: Multiple fitness centers; indoor pool; golf course; bowling; extensive MWR programs; outdoor recreation; ITT/ITR travel office; Rhine River recreation nearby; wine tasting tours organized
Schools: DoDEA Wiesbaden schools: Wiesbaden Elementary School, Wiesbaden Middle School, Wiesbaden High School at Clay Kaserne; well-regarded and large DoDEA school system
Childcare: Child Development Centers on post; School Age Services; waitlists common; contact Child and Youth Services for enrollment and availability
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on post; wellness exams, vaccinations, preventive care; call for appointments
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office at Clay Kaserne; walk-in and appointment services

Housing

On-Post Housing: Hainerberg Housing Area is the primary family housing area – townhomes and duplexes; Clay Kaserne barracks for unaccompanied personnel; additional housing areas throughout Wiesbaden; managed by USAG Wiesbaden Housing Services; condition generally good
Average Wait Time: Varies; typically 4-10 weeks; Wiesbaden is a desirable assignment so competition for housing can be significant
Off-Post Housing: Wiesbaden and surrounding suburbs offer good housing options; suburban areas of Nordenstadt, Breckenheim, Erbenheim popular; Frankfurt suburbs also accessible; average rent EUR 1,200-2,000/month for family housing; Rhine-Main area is among Germany’s more expensive housing markets; Housing Services Office provides referral lists
BAH Rate Reference: Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) applies; Wiesbaden OHA reflects higher Rhine-Main metropolitan costs; check current OHA rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit/command upon receipt of orders; joint staff assignments often have robust sponsorship programs; USAG Wiesbaden Welcome Center provides orientation and initial support
In-Processing: Clay Kaserne Welcome Center; typically 2-3 business days; security badge and access credential processing required for USAREUR-AF billets; ACS Culture College 101 for German cultural orientation available
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Army Community Service, Clay Kaserne; enrollment required; Wiesbaden is an excellent location for EFMP families – multiple high-quality German specialist hospitals accessible through TRICARE; LRMC 100 km for complex cases

OCONUS-Specific Information

SOFA Status: NATO Status of Forces Agreement; bilateral U.S.-Germany SOFA supplementary agreement; customs and tax exemptions for SOFA personnel; USAREUR-AF personnel may have additional status considerations based on command role
Host Nation Rules: German traffic law off-post; blood alcohol limit 0.05%; Ruhezeit observed (1300-1500, 2200-0700 daily, all day Sunday); recycling mandatory; Wiesbaden is a prosperous spa city (Kurstadt) – residents take local quality of life seriously; U.S.-German relations in Wiesbaden area are generally excellent
Curfew Policy: No formal adult curfew; USAREUR-AF policy may impose notification requirements for personnel with access to classified programs when traveling
Ration Card / Customs: U.S. Forces Tax-Relief Program; purchase limits on controlled goods; coordinate with USAG Wiesbaden ration control office
Vehicle Registration & Licensing: USAREUR driving license required; German license required after 12 months; TUV for non-USAREUR POVs; Motor Vehicle Registry at Clay Kaserne; Frankfurt Autobahn network provides excellent connectivity
Language & Culture: German (standard German; Hessian dialect); English widely spoken near Clay Kaserne and in Rhine-Main area generally; Wiesbaden is a cultured city with museum, theater, and casino culture; ACS Culture College 101; German language classes at Education Center
Currency & Banking: Euro (EUR); banking at Clay Kaserne; Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and Sparkasse Wiesbaden branches available; Frankfurt financial center ATMs widely available
Travel Restrictions: Excellent travel access; Frankfurt Airport (40 km) is one of Europe’s busiest hubs; France 1.5 hours, Luxembourg 2 hours, Netherlands 3 hours; USAREUR-AF personnel with high-level clearances may have additional travel notification requirements per command policy
Mail: APO AE 09096 (Clay Kaserne); typical CONUS delivery 7-14 days; Deutsche Post available in Wiesbaden city
Pets: No quarantine for properly vaccinated/chipped dogs and cats from U.S.; EU pet passport or USDA-endorsed certificate required; Hesse breed restrictions apply; Veterinary Treatment Facility advises on import requirements

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Temperate Rhine Valley climate; warm sunny summers (average high 25C/77F July); mild winters (average low -1C/30F January); Rhine Valley position creates warm microclimate; autumn Rhine wine harvest season is exceptional
Cost of Living: Moderate-high; Rhine-Main area is Germany’s financial hub and living costs reflect this; OHA and COLA account for local costs; outstanding quality of life largely offsets higher costs
Nearby Attractions: Wiesbaden Kurhaus (Kaiser Wilhelm’s preferred summer residence and elegant casino); Rhine River Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage Site, 30-60 km); Rhine wine region and Ruedesheim wine village (20 km); Mainz (historic city, Gutenberg Museum, 10 km); Frankfurt (shopping, museums, international airport, 40 km); Cologne (100 km); Mosel wine region (2 hours); Paris by high-speed rail (4 hours via Frankfurt)
Spouse Employment: Outstanding employment opportunities given Rhine-Main location; Frankfurt financial sector, multinationals, international organizations; USAG Wiesbaden NAF positions; DoDEA positions; remote work common; strong international job market; ACS Employment Readiness Program

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://home.army.mil/wiesbaden
Main Installation Phone: DSN 337-1110; civilian +49-611-705-1110
MWR Website: https://wiesbaden.armymwr.com
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Army Community Service (ACS), Clay Kaserne; DSN 337-5245; relocation assistance, financial readiness, employment readiness, cultural orientation, family advocacy

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://home.army.mil/wiesbaden; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/usag-wiesbaden; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LuciusD.Clay_Kaserne; https://militarybases.com/overseas/germany/wiesbaden