FDXLAG

Yes. If you volunteer for one it may give you brownie points, but since we seem to be hiring 30 a month it would likely be a non issue if you don't want to go. You will be given a choice and you can not be forced. I think both locations are essentially full.

BGD011

Is this FDA Q&A a public document? If so, where can one be downloaded from?

bear2duby

Back to the working spouse thing for 1 minute, Albief15's info may be better then mine and I tried to find the answer but I can't. However I know the company sponsored HKG Visa allows spouses to work, I have heard that working spouses in CGN have had to get sponsored by the company they work for or with. Something to do with taxes or social security. (Maybe I am wrong and someone has a better answer).

Stealthy

Gents,
New to the forum and have done some searching on CGN living.
Thanks for the time in advance!

The wife and I would like to get our first assignment out to CGN (if given the choice). We have a couple kiddo's, however, after reading through the most current contract, it seems like the company does a fairly good job in compensating a new hire (from the previous contract).

Any of you out there a new hire with kids doing the CGN gig?

Thanks again...glad to be part of the forum.
Best Regards

MaydayMark

I don't want to rain on your CGN parade as I personally think I would go ... but the last CGN bubba I spoke with is still complaining about having to take his German drivers license test in german and complaining about the 1000 Euro cost!*? He says he still doesn't have his license?

He's a reasonably bright guy ... so if that's a show stopper for you or your spouse (maybe you already speak german? I took 3 years of german in High School!).

The 757 is a nice airplane and the Europeans are pretty civilized in the aviation world (especially the Germans). It could still be an exciting first FedEx assignment!*? Sounds like fun to me!

CompetentFool

There are plenty of new hires with kids in the Köln domicile. Fedex gives you $15 K tax free for education expenses. That won't cover the cost of a private education (unless you choose the French school in Düsseldorf). Otherwise a lot of folks are immersing their kids in public schools and using the 15K for daily private tutoring, Mac computers, and any other school related expenses. You'd be surprised how quickly kids start speaking German. The only problem is the parent teacher conference if the teacher doesn't speak English! Oh, and the German school system separates kids at the end of 4th grade into two groups - those going to college and those going to trade school. So hopefully your kid isn't a dumb**s and gets tracked for college! Otherwise, plumbing school here you come.

Albief15

Immersed my daughter in Kindergarten back in 90s in rural Germany. Took her a whole week to start chatting, singing, and playing in German and doing things previously considered impossible with the letter "R". Village teacher spoke flawless English and told us not to worry, stay out of the way, and let our girl learn and do her thing. Worked great and also had the benefit of pulling us into local village life with school activities and fests.

Every child is different and you should monitor it closely, but if you resist helicoptering too much the kids may just bloom.

The biggest problem living in Germany is not the education. It is the fact your German neighbors do not consider a social gathering over until some ******* pulls down a bottle of schnapps and insists on doing a shot or two before you get to go home. It took me a few parties until I learned to pace myself and expect a two shot exit tax before you go home. Forewarned is forearmed.

thrust

How difficult would it be to balance an ANG/AFRC gig with a CGN/HKG domicile? Too much trouble to be worth it?

Hacker15e

This is awesome.

My USAFE experience took place in the UK and Italy, and clearly I chose poorly!

Stealthy

Thrust,
I'd be in the same boat brother. From a personal standpoint the family and I would more than likely take the 2 year'ish Leave of Absence from the Reserves. I believe you and your family still keep your Reserve Tricare Select and Military ID's (so the plan would be to take the drivers test for free at one of the Military Bases). Commuting back to the states once a month seems hard both in time, money, and family life.