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Stress during a Permanent Change of Station move is inevitable, but proper planning before leaving a current station is one way to mitigate some of the pressure and anxiety that can occur after arriving at a new duty location.
For members and dependents PCSing to Germany, one big stressor is passing the U.S. Army in Europe driver licensing test. A passing grade on this demanding test is a requirement before active-duty personnel and dependents can apply for a USAREUR driver license, mandatory for anyone who want to operate a motor vehicle on or off base.
Failing this test causes unnecessary stress on military members, their families and the family sponsor who often shoulders the responsibility to transport members to and from work and to all appointments during the first few weeks after arrival.
Statistics show that those on their first assignment to Europe will be challenged by the USAREUR driver license test. More than 30 percent of all first time testers fail to meet the minimum passing score of 85 percent. But why is this test so difficult? Since most of the German and European traffic patterns, speeds, signs and laws are different than in the United States, it requires some real studying to pass. Additionally, a rigorous test is directly tied to a driver’s understanding of the rules of the road and informational signs.
In an effort to reduce the associated stress of the USAREUR driver licensing process, the 435th VRS has teamed up with its U.S. Air Forces in Europe Headquarters counterparts with one goal in mind – to help Airman prepare for successful completion of their licensing test. Our initiative is two-pronged: the first initiative is aimed at moving the point of USAREUR driver license testing from the destination location to the departing location. A procedural breakthrough is now available at limited CONUS locations enabling members to test for their license before they PCS.
Unlike the conventional test, this one is paperless, allowing applicants the ability to take proctored tests online at local education offices. Just a few seconds after the last question is given, the results of the test will be available on the screen.
With a test result in hand, members arriving at USAFE bases can easily apply for and instantly receive their USAREUR driving privileges. The new testing process is currently available at 16 bases across the Air Force.
Additionally, this capability is expanding and by March, another 19 bases will also posses this capability.
The second initiative involves educating those who must take the test after arrival so they understand both the materiel they’ll be tested on and the amount of studying needed to successfully pass the test on the first opportunity.
The 435th VRS has created pamphlets and study guides that are a must for every sponsor package to explain expectations and allow for plenty of preparation time.
Additionally, the 435th VRS is working on improving the testing appointment process to allow easier sign up and cancellations. A significant no-show rate is currently wasting many testing opportunities for those members who need them.
The exam itself is made up of 75 multiple-choice questions on rules and driving procedures plus 25 traffic signs that must be properly identified. Practice exams and information about the USAREUR test can be found at wwwmil.usafe.af.mil/dlt/.
The feedback provided from many individuals who have failed the test is that study materiel is sufficient but the amount of time set aside to study was not. Many people who failed just didn’t anticipate the difficulty of the test. For anyone expecting to pass this exam, a minimum of 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted study time is recommended.
It is imperative that sponsors get the word to inbound personnel and their families that the driver licensing exam is challenging. Encourage them to pre-test at their current duty location if possible and to properly prepare if they must test after arrival. Also, keep in mind that personnel covered under the Status of Force Agreement must have a USAREUR license before driving anything or anywhere in Germany. Call 318-480-5534 or 2394 for more
information.
