There is not a large military community of families or on-base services for dependents at installations in Poland. This means that an assignment to Poland can be a great way to fully immerse your family into European life. It can also mean significant challenges.

Currently, only dependents aged 18 and over are permitted on command-sponsored orders to select USAG Poland locations. This includes both spouses and adult children.

If a spouse chooses to join their military sponsor in Poland, they should be aware that finding local employment will be difficult. Remote work from a U.S. employer, however, is a viable option.

Spouses may decide to immerse themselves in local Polish life, volunteer, pursue online educational advancement or travel. If you are interested in writing for Stripes Europe about your experiences in Poland, visit europe.stripes.com/lifestyle/submissions for details on how to become a contributing writer.

There are not any on-installation facilities for children in Poland, and children under 18 years of age are not currently supported with command sponsorship. If you choose to bring your kids to Poland for a visit, they will have an opportunity to experience a new culture.

• Lake Malta

• There are many fun options in the park around this lake that lies just east of downtown, a quick and fun tram ride away. There are trails and playgrounds in Millenium Park on the north side of the lake. Just beyond that is the Termy Maltanskie pool complex with indoor and outdoor swimming, slides and a spa. The city’s modern New Zoo is on the far east side of the lake, and in summer, a small historic train can take you the length of the lake to reach the zoo. South of the lake are seasonal paid attractions like a ropes course, alpine slide, in atable playground, mini golf and one-slope ski hill.

• Historyland

• This museum presents the history of the area with impressive interactive LEGO® exhibits, perfect for brick-loving fans of all ages.

• Croissant Museum

• More of a comedy show blended with a culinary workshop, families can learn about local Poznań culture, how to make croissants, and, of course, have a taste of this local specialty. Get tickets for the daily 2 p.m. English-speaking show.

• Stare (Old) Zoo

• This free zoo is the oldest in Poland and walking distance from both Camp Kościuszko and the popular hotels at the edge of downtown Poznań. It offers a look at a few interesting animals in an aged city park. Some indoor exhibits and a kid’s ropes course charge a small fee.

Pets younger than three months are not allowed to enter Poland. Visit the USDA website for all details, www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel. Before you ship or travel with your pet to Poland, you must obtain:

• An ISO-compliant microchip

• A rabies vaccination taken after the microchip implant and at least 21 days before arrival in Poland.

• An EU Health Certificate, which cannot be older than 10 days before arriving in Europe.

• Military vets are usually familiar with this certificate, but civilian vets may need several weeks to order the certificate from the Department of Agriculture.

Once you arrive, it is important to find a local Polish veterinarian and acquire an EU pet passport. There is no vet available on USAG Poland installations.

Vaccinations

Poland accepts 1-, 2- and 3-year vaccines. The following vaccines must be kept current.

Dogs

• Rabies vaccination

• Distemper combo vaccination (DA2PP)

• Leptospirosis vaccination in the pet’s life time. Two doses, a primary and a booster.

Cats

• Rabies vaccination

• Feline distemper (FVRCP) vaccine

Family

Welcome to Poland

USAG Poland

related stories

• Building Poland’s past at Historyland