Assignment to SHAPE

[MajorMadMax]

Howdy All! I just found out yesterday I am being posted to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium. I am very happy to be returning to Europe and NATO but I can't find much on the web about the organization and the area. :confused: I've been to www.nato.int (http://www.nato.int) but it is more geared towards NATO public affairs releases than information on the mission, location, etc. (at least what I've found)

If anyone has ever been assigned here I would appreciate any info you can share. Even just some web pages about the area would be great.

If anyone is concerned about posting information due to security reasons, I will be more than happy to go 1 v 1 via email, and can send you my official USAF email address if necessary.

Cheers!

[How Low...?]

Try http://www.shape.nato.int/Default.htm

Good luck...!

[Megaton]

MMM,

I know you can't read this becuase you're having your eyes sandbalsted today but good luck with the op and congratulations on your assignment.

[MajorMadMax]

HP

Thanks, the surgery isn't until 1430L, so I am just trying to keep cool before they fire lasers into my eyes.

Surprised at the lack of replies to this thread, I thought there would be at least 2-3 NATO types out there who've done a tour at SHAPE...

After this my posts will be in 24 pitch font or greater :p

Cheers!

[two rackets]

Just remember SHAPE stands for "Super Holiday at Public Expense"!!!!!!

Great place but Mons is real quiet - only 1 hr to Brussels though.

[MajorMadMax]

Thanks, after this assignment I could use some "quiet". <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[SentryIP]

MajorMadMax,

Congratulations on your assignment. I was assigned to NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen for 4 years and enjoyed it very much. Since you know the meaning of the acronym SHAPE, now you need to know that NATO stands for "Not After Two O'clock" (Monday through Thursday) and "Not After Twelve O'clock" (Friday only). Enjoy!

<img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[ 24 December 2001: Message edited by: SentryIP ]</p>

[Firefly80]

Bin there, done that.

Nearest US 'Base' is Chevres, about 20 mins away. Got a BX (no Brits), fast food and sport. Go for on base housing if you can, I did, and as a Maj you will get a fair sized place, v convenient. I know the housing officer (Army LTC) if you want the inside angle on the waiting lists.

You'll love it.

[MajorMadMax]

FF80, thanks much, and if you can send me the name of the housig officer, I'd be grateful. We are looking forward to the assignment, just a matter of selling a house here in San Antonio as well as two condominiums outside Baltimore, plus a car and then ship the other one.

Ham, weren't you hosting a party about the time of your last post?? <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> I remember as it was the last time I could see correctly <img src="cool.gif" border="0"> before being blinded by some Scot saying "we need a little more light in here..."

Cheers!

[MajorMadMax]

So...no more insight on SHAPE anyone?

(sorry...shameless, feeble attempt to keep this thread alive <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> )

Cheers!

[BEagle]

Sorry chum - as far as most aircrew are concered it's just some building full of pen-pushers and sundry PONTIs and cocktial party warriors who are merely a drain on the defence budget!

Enjoy your assignment though!

[MajorMadMax]

No arguments from me, but some of those pen-pushers and sundry PONTIs and cocktail party warriors are aircrew on a non-flying assignment (in the USAF we call it "career broadening", which may be in reference to what happens to your Gluteus Maximus from sitting at a desk al day!)

I was hoping some would sink low enough to admit they've had an assignment to SHAPE and could provide some gouge. I met a guy yesterday who just came from there (saw a silver Volvo V70 wagon with Belgian license plates, and since we interested in getting that exact same car, I stopped to chat). He told me about the great deal he got on the car, and when I asked him what he did at SHAPE, he said he was in the band! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Cheers!

[bluntie]

Bin there, got the t-shirt.
For the record I didn't enjoy it much. Belgium is very expensive for food etc. Get on base housing. I lived in a hiring and was burgled. The local area has high unemployment as it is an ex-mining area. SHAPE was put there to pump money into the local economy. The locals don't like 'Shapians' and vandalism to SHAPE plated cars is common. Mons is a dump. Very dirty and the locals are unfriendly. Most wives go on a shopping trip to the UK once a month as it is cheaper than shopping in the local supermarket. It is either that or a run to the NAAFI at Rheindahlen.
Sorry to be so negative but my experience was not good. I hope yours is much better. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

[MajorMadMax]

bluntie

If you are still around, you nailed it...this place is pretty much a dump. It looks entirely temporary although it has been around since 1967, when the Frence bugged out of NATO's military structure and booted SHAPE out of its Paris locale. Story goes that SACEUR Lemnitzer had hoped that SHAPE could be located near to NATO Headquarters, as had been the case in Paris, but the Belgian authorities decided that SHAPE should be located at least 50 kilometres from Brussels, NATO’s new location, because SHAPE was "a major wartime military target" (very funny, as the best thing an enemy could do to this place is to leave it alone!)

The Belg also said that SHAPE had to be placed on land already owned by the government in order to "limit costs" and "construction time." (in other words, they wanted to boost a sagging local economy without having to invest any money). The Belgian government then "offered" Camp Casteau, a 200-hectare Belgian Army summer training camp near Mons, which was an area in serious need of additional economic investment (a truer statement has never been made!). To overcome SHAPE’s objections about the distance from Brussels, the Belgian government agreed to build a "high-speed motorway" connecting Mons and Brussels. (that would be the pothole-infested E19, constantly a single-laner as the Belg are always "working" on it!)

In September 1966, a massive seven-day-a-week building programme began, co-ordinated between the Belgian central and local authorities, the building consortium and SHAPE (more BS, as the Walloons do absolutely nothing on Sundays, and very little the other six days of the week!). Highest priority was given to building command and control facilities(?!?). SHAPE closed its facility at Rocquencourt near Paris on 30 March 1967, and the next day held a ceremony to mark the opening of the new headquarters at Casteau. Lemnitzer called the construction effort "a miracle of achievement" (it was a miracle there was actually anything that resembled a building where SHAPE was suppose to be) and "praised" the Belgian authorities and workmen for their efforts to ensure that SHAPE had a new headquarters in a remarkably short time. (what a load of crap, but it explains why the place looks so temporary!)

All I can say is...Ramstein is only 230 miles away!

Cheers! M2

[LowNSlow]

Go to Antwerp. Great bars, excellent restaurants (some expensive, most not) and don't forget to visit the Piano Bar.

[ENG]

Cheap flights from Charliewa. Ryanair's European Hub!
Weekend UK flight 20p.

[BEagle]

Try Bruges or Oostende. Particularly Bruges.

Unfortunately the excellent SeaCat service from Dover to Oostende is no more, so I haven't been there for a while.

...and you'll find that Belgian chocolate beats the heck out of Hershey bars!