Lajes Field, Portugal

DIRECTIONS TO THE INSTALLATION:  The Portuguese civilian terminal shares the runway with the American and Portuguese military. All military flights will arrive on the American side of the shared runway.  If arriving on a commercial flight one will arrive on the Portuguese side. Your sponsor should be there to greet you either way. If your sponsor is not there to pick you up at the Portuguese terminal a taxi will charge approximately ten Euro from the commericial Airport to Lajes Air base. You can withdraw Euro with your debit card from the terminal on base. Your driver will take you there and will know where lodging is as well. If one were to drive themselves they would take the only exit out of the Portuguese terminal and come to a traffic circle. Go 3/4 around the circle as though you were turning left. Aproximately 1/4 mile down the road is a large white church on the right and a "Post Um" sign. At this intersection you will turn left. Follow this road for 1/2 mile to a traffic circle and go around to the left again as before. You are now on base.

BEFORE YOU MOVE: Receive relocation counseling and attend a Smooth Move seminar and aquire a sponsor through your unit. Your sponsor will send you a sponsor package, answer your questions about Lajes and the local area, and help you and your family before, during and after the move.  
It is always a good idea to complete a budget when there is a significant change in circumstances (relocation, employment change, family status, etc). Assistance is available at Family Support Centers worldwide. It is important to make temporary lodging reservations early.
Contact the Relocation Office, either at your current installation or at the losing base for relocation planning.
If you plan to live in base housing you may put your name on the waiting list a month in advance at the losing base.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS TO HAND CARRY
1. At least 10 copies of your orders
2. Birth Certificates (or certified copy)
3. Marriage Certificate
4. Copy of advance travel pay or allowances paperwork
5. All moving paperwork including: inventory, TMO information, Self-Procured Move paperwork, and all receipts associated with moving
6. Employment records or resume of civilian family members
7. Medical/dental records from your previous duty station
8. Immunization records
9. School records/transcripts
10. Pet medical and immunization records

Note: If you get married before you PCS, you MUST inform your commander and follow the procedures exactly as you are given them.  The military WILL NOT pay for travel and housing of your spouse if you do not follow the proper procedures.

Travel and Relocation Entitlements:  Make sure to keep all receipts - food, gas, lodging, pet expenses, while in transit.  Some receipts may be needed when you file your travel voucher upon your arrival.  Members may contact the finance office and/or TMO to determine entitlements based on their exact situation.

CHECK-IN PROCEDURES:  Air Force personnel are required to report to the Family Support Center, Bldg T-126,          at 8:00 a.m. on the Tuesday after their arrival for the Newcomer's Orientation (Right Start). Right Start is an all encompassing, one location in-process, which is conducted Tuesday and Wednesday. An Island tour is offered on Wednesday. Spouses and civilians are welcome to attend.

Telephone Access:
Commercial 011-351-295-57-1110; DSN from CONUS 535-1110; DSN from Europe 312-535-1110.  NOTE:  All local numbers have a (2) prefix. When using DSN, the 2 MUST BE DROPPED.

CHANGE IN ELECTRICY:

On 20 September 2004, Lajes started receiving electricity from commercial providers.  The biggest change is that the electrical cycles will change from 60 to 50 Hz.  Most Lajes customers are not affected by the base conversion to European power.  Facility voltage in the work place and MFH remains 110/208 volts.  The conversion only affects frequency dependent equipment and appliances.  

Before deciding to bring any electrical appliance to Lajes you need to ensure they can operate on 50 Hz.  Lajes has approximately 350 families (roughly 680 people) already using 50 Hz power in their off-base homes.  Similarly, military personnel previously stationed at other USAFE base's lived and worked in a 50 Hz facility and can be a valuable reference.  Please check with your sponsor or call the Lajes Family Support Center, DSN 535-4138, for further information.  

Lajes AAFES has (some) 50 Hz compatible electronics and appliances available locally but we suggest you do your shopping before you come here as you might have a wider selection. Also, make sure to inquire with tour sponsor for more specifics.

FOREIGN SPOUSES COMING TO THE AZORES:  Any military member whose spouse is NOT a U.S. citizen SHOULD contact the MPF at Lajes upon receipt of assignment notification to obtain the correct information on whether or not their spouse will need to obtain a Portuguese Visa prior to their arrival at Lajes.  Failure to do so will result in their spouse either not being allowed to board the plane or not being admitted into the country upon arrival.  In the past the Azorean government did not make these individuals leave the country--now they are.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS:  All personnel should bring their records, dependent passports, and any receipts or information needed to complete their travel voucher.  All Individuals must bring their valid stateside drivers license get their Portuguese license and attend Driver's Safety Course.

TEMPORARY HOUSING:  Due to the increase of incoming personnel during the summer months (May through August), base temporary quarters are extremely limited and the waiting time for housing may be longer than usual for some personnel.  Personnel should consider arriving ahead of their families to secure housing before their family arrives, especially if their sponsor has been unable to secure billeting reservations.  Hotels and motels are extremely limited and very expensive.

PETS: QUARANTINE MAY BE IMPOSED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PORTUGUESE AUTHORITIES FOR NOT FULFILLING ENTRY REQUIREMENTS.

General Information:  The Lajes Field Veterinary Clinic is located in T-459.  Hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 and one night clinic once a month.  We are closed weekends and U.S. holidays. Our staff consists of a military animal care technician and a NAF receptionist. A military veterinarian visits the island approximately every 6 weeks.

Importation of  Dogs & Cats (from CONUS):  The Azores follows procedures set up by the Portuguese government. Contact us or your local military clinic for these requirements. There is no quarantine unless you fail to fulfill entry requirements. In general, both rabies and the distemper vaccinations are needed. They cannot be more than 1 year or less than 30 days old. An import permit is required through the Portuguese Consulate (2310 Tracy Place, N.W., Washington D.C., 20008. Phone: 202-332-3007). A health certificate (DD form 2209) is also required, dated within 10 days of departure.

Other than CONUS: Follow the vaccination requirements above. Check with the Portuguese Embassy in the country of origin to determine if an import permit is required. In general, members of the European Union do not require this permit.

Base Registration: All animals arriving on the island must be registered with the veterinary clinic within 72 hours. A microchip identification system is available and mandatory. Dogs and cats are required to be immunized against rabies and distemper annually.

Services: Some of the services that we provide are: microchip identification, vaccinations, parasite testing and control, routine health care, dental cleaning, spays, and neuters. Due to the absence of a full-time veterinarian our emergency services are severely limited. The technician can only stabilize the animal until a civilian veterinarian is contacted. The clinic has a list of civilian veterinarians to assist you in an emergency. Please note, the technology we take for granted in the U.S. is generally not utilized by local veterinarians. Certain medications and special diets are not easily available, we do not recommend that you ship pets with chronic problems or special needs.

A NAF pet boarding facility is available while awaiting housing.

We at the Veterinary Treatment Facility hope this information is useful to you and sincerely welcome you to the Lajes Field community. If you have further questions, please contact us at the numbers listed above.

Pet Shipment is limited to passengers traveling in PCS status only and limited to two pets per family.  Pets are defined as dogs and cats.  Space to ship your pet(s) must be reserved in advance through TMO to fly on the commercial charter (Patriot Express).  Each pet counts as one allocation.  The number of pet spaces on each aircraft is limited by the type aircraft.

Pet movement charges are based on airfare of the passenger and the combined weight of the pet and carrier.  Weight up to 70 lbs charged as one piece ($85 rate as of 10 Jan 96).  Weight 71 lbs and up charged as two pieces ($170 rate as of 10 Jan 96).  Weight of 100 lbs and over will no longer be shipped by AMC.

Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, money order, traveler's checks, certified checks, and cashiers checks.

Shot requirements vary from country to country.  Check with the Veterinary Clinic at 295-57-3134.  Health certificates are required for all pets leaving Lajes.  Health certificates are valid for 10 days at Lajes.  Lightly feed and water the pet prior to shipment.

Carriers must be approved by the International Air Transport Association.  The carrier must be large enough for the animal to stand up, turn around, and lie down with normal posture and body movements.  Several layers of newspaper, shredded paper, or absorbent material should be placed in the bottom of the container.  A familiar article or toy is also advised.  Pets of different species will not be shipped together in the same container (i.e., a small dog and a small cat).  Contact your commercial carrier for stateside instructions.

Take supplies for your pet in your hand carried baggage.  For dogs take a leash, bowls, food, and zip lock plastic bags; for cats, bowls, food, and zip lock plastic bags.

The passenger terminal can help you with advance planning, such as weighing your pet and carrier in advance, and checking pet documentation in advance.  If you have trouble getting your pet in the carrier, try backing the pet into the carrier.

There are new EU rules as of 03 July 04.  Please see the TMO contact for the internet connection with this information.

COST OF LIVING:  LOCAL CURRENCY:  The local currency is the EURO. This rate changes each business day and is affected by the U.S. dollar's strength in foreign money markets.  The medium of exchange on Lajes Field is the U.S. dollar.   BANKING FACILITIES:  Pentagon Federal Credit Union has a branch at Lajes.  They do not make over-the-counter transactions in cash. There is an ATM located outside the Credit Union which does assist you with your cash needs.  Personal checks may be cashed at the Base Exchange and The Club.  Additionally, money order service is available at the Base Exchange and the Post Office.

CHILD CARE: Our School-Age Program offers before and after school care for children in kindergarten through 6th grade.  The program is offered at the Youth Center and fees are based on family income. Children start the day with a nutritious breakfast and are escorted to school by our School-Age Program staff.  After school, the staff escorts the children to the Youth Center, a snack is provided, and the children are able to make their own activity choices from art projects, quiet time, homework time, and physical activities. The School-Age program offers a Summer Camp program as well and School holiday camps.

A kindergarten Program is offered for those children enrolled in afternoon kindergarten.  The children remain at the center in the mornings and are served lunch prior to being escorted to school.

HOME ALONE POLICIES:  Children who are not old enough to go to school must be attended at all times. Five to 7-year-olds can be alone only when traveling to and from school or playing next to residence in a child play area. Eight to 9- year-olds may be left unattended in child play areas, but caregiver must know where they are at all times.  Ten-year-olds can be left unattended up to 3 hours during daylight hours.  Eleven to 15-year-olds can be left unattended, except over night.  Overnight care can not be provided by a person less than 16 years of age.

CURFEW:  There is no curfew on the installation.

POV SHIPMENT:  All Privately Owned Vehicles (POVs) are Shipped to the Azores via Norfolk.  Dedicated shipping service to the Azores is approximately every 25 days.  To inquire about your POV you can contact the Army Azores Detachment (Army).  Their hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Civilians serving a two-year agreement and all military personnel are authorized to ship a privately-owned vehicle to Lajes Field, provided they have at least 12 months remaining on their tour when the vehicle arrives.  Permission from the area commander is not required.  Consult your transportation office for details regarding requests for shipment.

Shipment of a small or medium, well maintained, rust-free car is recommended.  Roads are extremely narrow and very difficult to negotiate in a large vehicle.  Repairs can be made locally, but parts are often difficult to locate and may have to be ordered from the states.  All vehicles will be subject to a stringent vehicle inspection by Portuguese inspection officials.  This inspection is comparable to vehicle inspections conducted in the states. Ensure your POV's brakes are in good shape.  These inspections started 01 January 1997 and thus far bad brakes are causing the most failures.  Portuguese law requires all POV's shipped to the Azores to be equipped with rear mud flaps, front and rear license plate holders, and emergency road kits.  All trucks and non-passenger vehicles are required to have side view mirrors on both the driver and passenger sides, and a reflective strip mounted along the entire length of the rear bumper.  Additionally, all 1995 and newer POV's are required to have a rear fog light mounted on the left rear side of the vehicle.  This rear fog light must be red in color and be able to be switched on separately during low visibility weather.

To pick up your POV you must have your Military Registration and Certificate of Title of Motor Vehicle (SPAP Form 2), three copies of your PCS orders, a copy of the DD Form 788 (Private Vehicle Shipping Document), proof of insurance, US Forces Azores license plates, and your Azorean driver's license.

VEHICLE REGISTRATION:   Newly arrived vehicle - After completion of your Right Start briefing, report to Pass & ID with: 1) Proof of Insurance, 2) DD Form 788/Shipping Document, 3) Lajes Form #13/Pink or Green Temporary Driver's License. You will complete an AF Form 533/Certificate of Compliance-Private Motor Vehicle Registration card, and will be issued your DEROS stickers and a license plate number. Proceed to the AAFES gas station where you will purchase your license plates, and affix the DEROS stickers too the rear plate. When you are notified that your vehicle is ready for pick up at the vehicle processing center, you will need to bring: 1) DD Form 788, 2)Proof of Insurance, 3) Lajes Form #13/Drivers License, 4) License plates with DEROS stickers, and 5) your valid local registration with Pass & ID's stamp.
NOTE: Prior to departing the port, both license plates MUST be attached to the vehicle. The rear plate must have the DEROS stickers in place. Plates will NOT be placed in the windows of the vehicle.

Locally purchased vehicle - Report to Pass & Registration with proof of insurance, a bill of sale issued by the legal office, Lajes Field Form #13/local driver's license and current vehicle inspection documentation.

Motorcycle and moped registration - Same as above with one major exception:  you must have a current motorcycle operators license or a motor vehicle operators license that is endorsed for motorcycle operation by a civilian licensing agency and a certificate of completion of an approved Motorcycle Safety Foundation safety course before arriving at Lajes Field.  Motorcycle safety training is NOT available at Lajes Field.

There are no restrictions on shipment of two-wheeled vehicles.

INSURANCE:  Insurance is available locally at reasonable to high rates, but local policies differ significantly from those in the United States. Check with your current insurance company to see if your policy would be valid in the Azores.  Bring a letter from your last insurance company to obtain a reduced fee.  Policies issued by American insurance companies and valid in mainland Portugal may not be valid in the Azores.  Check with the base legal office before buying a local policy to ensure you understand its provisions.

NOTE:  All vehicles shipped to the Azores must be equipped with mud flaps and front and back license plates

MAIL SERVICE:  Mail arrives and leaves the base by AMC aircraft and daily commercial flights.  It sometimes suffers lengthy delays, especially in the winter months.  Eight days for first class mail is the average delivery time, but delays of up to 14 days are not uncommon.  If you send your sponsor a copy of your orders, he/she can obtain a Post Office Box for you, prior to your arrival.

BICYCLES:  Portuguese law prohibits any child less than 12 years of age from riding a bike on any public road off base.

RESTRICTED WEIGHT ALLOWANCE:  Lajes Field has a restricted weight allowance.  All base housing is fully furnished and off-base housing is provided full furnishings. Contact your nearest TMO for weight allowances and your sponsor for more information on items provided.

MEDICAL NEEDS:  Individuals with unusual medical problems or who are on special medications should check with their overseas clearance section prior to departure, due to the limited medical care available at this MTF.  Individuals must have family member(s) social security number(s) available at Right Start to expedite Tri-Care Prime enrollment.  Social security numbers are not listed in passports.  Obstetrical Care:  See MEDICAL AND DENTAL OVERVIEW, IMPORTANT NOTES.

ENVIRONMENTAL MORALE LEAVE (EML):  All command sponsored families can take two EML trips per year while stationed at Lajes.  This grants individuals a higher category while traveling Space "A."  EML destinations are CONUS, and England. The AMC Passenger Terminal at Lajes is the best source for correct information on the subject.  A class explaining EML is conducted monthly at the Family Support Center.

Base Operator
DSN: 535-1110
011-351-295-57-1110

Major Units
65th Air Base Wing

Billeting/Quarters
DSN: 535-5178
011-351-295-57-5178

Mailing Address
PSC 76
APO, AE
09720

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