Air Force milk and cuckoo clocks: Going out and shopping at Spangdahlem Published Nov. 10, 2008 By Katharina Hammermann Translated by 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Translation of an Oct. 31 Trierischer Volksfreund article, which is the last part of a series of stories which the TV did on Spangdahlem Air Base under the motto "American Way of Life in the Eifel." The smell of cinnamon buns, giant TVs and cereals that taste like back home: the air base intentionally offers military members stationed at Spangdahlem AB familiar products. Visitors, however, may easily forget they are in the Eifel area. A few half cars are mounted on walls, a dozen televisions are playing "jeopardy," and the smell of cinnamon buns is tempting - these are rich pastries with lots of cinnamon and a firm creamy "icing" inside of them, like you normally only find in the United States. Inside the Brick House, a leisure center, it's easy for people to forget Germany is only located one kilometer away from the base. And this is done intentionally. The chief of the installation said the base wants to offer the Airmen a recreational facility where they can relax after work and get their minds off operational business. The Force Support Squadron, which employs about 500 members, offers a lot of things to the Airmen on base that they would normally find in a small city in the U.S.: pubs, cafes, restaurants, a movie theater, a fitness center and various shopping facilities. The cinnamon smell comes from a small café adjacent to the Brick House. From there it seems to reach every corner of the Brick House. And every space inside the facility is taken up by a Mosel wine vendor, a car rental agency, a souvenir shop and a cuckoo clock shop. In a handcraft store, a pregnant woman is comparing fabrics while in the basement, a team of travel agents is conducting business. That's where the base's travel agency is located. Fliers advertise short trips to Paris, Prague, Dresden, Berlin, a visit to the Tongeren flea market or a medieval dinner at the Cochem castle. But people can also book flights to various European spots here. Only outside the Brick House does the cinnamon smell disappear. On the left you can smell French fries and Bratwurst -- "German Imbiss" is written on the Imbiss stand. From the right, it smells like pizza and hamburgers. Across from here and on the other side of a large parking lot lies a shopping facility. A large selection of electronics already placed in the entrance of the store underlines what a female vendor stated: "They love large TV screens. The larger, the better." DVDs also sell well and the same goes for cuckoo clocks -- they hang in a large selection in between outdoor clothing and baby outfits. Those who prefer to work out instead of going shopping can do this about 100 meters away. Right next to the movie theater is the fitness center, which is the oldest fitness center in the Air Force. In 2010, a new fitness center is planned to be built in the amount of $23.5 million on the northern side of the base. Until then, people will have to train on the worn-out rubber mats through dark hallways and rooms that have no windows. Here you can find hundreds of dumbbells and numerous cross trainers. About 1,100 people train here daily. Airmen have to conduct mandatory fitness training three times a week. Once a year they are being tested for fitness and those who fail -- for instance if they are overweight -- will be sent upstairs to the Health and Wellness Center. There they teach healthy cooking and give classes on how to shop for healthy food. Offered: A class for shopping healthy food items People do not have to leave the base to practice shopping for healthy food items. At the commissary they can get anything their heart desires. The selection is different from what some people may expect as often stereotyped; the smell of root beer in a U.S. supermarket or artificial, colorful and fattening products with many preservatives and ready-to-microwave items. The vegetarian and biological food products are very popular, said Jeff Rose, Commissary Chief. He is one of the few people that can be found at the supermarket not wearing a uniform, and walking up and down the isles. German employees nor visitors are allowed to shop here. According to Rose, the selection of healthy food products has never been this large. He points out a great selection of cereals that carry the American brand name. Although a lady offering samples of donuts and muffins just walked around the corner, the commissary manager is right. When taking a quick look at the products, one can find bio-vegetables, bio-ice cream and bio-Angus-steak. But the milk offered at the commissary is different. Instead of bio-milk it reads "Air Force" milk. It comes from Denmark and has a lot of vitamins, specifically produced for Air Force commissaries. Such contracts ensure costumers everywhere in the world can purchase the same products from their chain. Regardless of whether it is in England, Afghanistan, Italy or Japan, the bases offer American military members the security for trust - their new outside surrounding, however, gives them a chance to discover a new environment.