Incoming soldiers complete temporary housing allowance paperwork at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan, Poland, on Jan. 13, 2026. Unexpected housing costs and lack of on-post lodging are forcing some soldiers to rely on emergency grants and loans to secure housing upon arriving for duty in Poland. (ShaTyra Cox/Stars and Stripes)

POZNAN, Poland — When Spc. Jontae Fielder arrived at her new duty station in Poland, she was in for immediate sticker shock.

With on-post housing unavailable for soldiers on permanent change of station orders to the Army’s garrison in Poznan, Fielder was given just days to find her own apartment, a process that involved lease negotiations and the need to cough up thousands of dollars along the way.

“I found out I would have to pay the upfront costs the first week I got to Poland,” said Fielder, a signal operations support specialist said. “Thankfully, I had a little money saved, but it caused me to use all of my savings.”

Like other soldiers new to the Army’s first permanent garrison in Poland, Fielder said delays in processing her travel voucher compounded the strain, forcing her to cover housing costs out of pocket for months.

Poland has emerged as the center of gravity for the Army in Europe. The vast majority of U.S. troops assigned there are on rotational missions focused on deterring potential Russian aggression on NATO’s eastern flank.

But the Army also has begun offering more permanent duty assignments in the country as it solidifies its presence alongside the forces of what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called a model ally.

With that transition has come some growing pains, such as grappling with how to assist soldiers making a move to an Army garrison less-established than counterparts in other countries such as Germany.

As the U.S. military presence in Poland continues to expand, many soldiers arriving on PCS orders say they were unaware of and unprepared for the high costs associated with making the move to Poznan and the laborious process of navigating a foreign real estate market.

At the low end of the price range, a roughly 600-square-foot Poznan apartment with one bedroom and one bathroom was listed at about $970 per month in rent.

Agency fees, deposit requirements and utilities add to the cost, although the fees can be avoided by using the base housing office.

The situation has forced some soldiers to seek out financial assistance from organizations such as Army Emergency Relief just to make ends meet.

Staff Sgt. Courtney Brittian, an intelligence specialist, said coming to Poland on PCS orders was much different from her previous stint in 2018, when she was deployed on a rotational mission and lived in the barracks.

“I wasn’t informed by my sponsor about the upfront costs of living off post before I arrived,” Brittian said. “I knew Poland, but I didn’t realize how different the financial side would be when you’re here permanently.”

Fielder voiced the same concerns.

“I wish someone would have informed me that I would be living off post and at least given me an estimate of how much money I needed to have available,” Fielder said. “I also wish someone would have explained what could cause delays in receiving back pay.”

Like many soldiers arriving on PCS orders, Brittian was required to secure civilian housing immediately, paying deposits and agent fees out of pocket while waiting for the finance and housing offices to process her paperwork and entitlements.

To bridge the gap while her paperwork and entitlements were processed, Brittian applied for an Army Emergency Relief grant and loan. The assistance was approved within five hours and covered the cost of her first month’s rent plus utilities, she said.

“AER helped me stay afloat while everything was being processed,” Brittian said. “Without that assistance, it would have been much more stressful trying to cover those costs upfront.”

The harsh realities of housing in the country are something that U.S. Army Garrison Poland seek to convey.

Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Stewart, one of the first U.S. soldiers permanently assigned to Poland, stands in his apartment in Poznan on Feb. 7, 2023, shortly after moving in as a tenant. Soldiers assigned to Poland face upfront housing costs due to a lack of on-post lodging.  (Devin Klecan/U.S. Army)

Younger soldiers and those unfamiliar with European rental markets are prone to feeling the strain of the living situation, garrison housing manager Rhona Nutter said.

“For a newly arriving soldier, the first week can be financially overwhelming,” Nutter said. “Agent fees are standard here, deposits are higher than soldiers expect, and landlords typically want large payments upfront before they hand over the keys.”

Unit-level sponsors are typically responsible for informing soldiers about such matters, but there can be breakdowns in the communication process. Army officials in Poland say they are working on bringing a more formal process for advising incoming troops.

Meanwhile, the garrison is taking steps to help soldiers make the transition more easily.

For example, the first local Army Emergency Relief section gives soldiers in-country access to direct assistance for emergencies and unexpected costs. AER plans to open a support site in Poznan later this year.

“As USAG Poland moves toward full operational capability, it’s essential that we offer the same comprehensive quality-of-life support found at established military communities,” said Diane Hupko, the personal financial readiness program manager for the garrison. “A local AER presence gives soldiers a place to sit down with someone, talk through concerns and get immediate help.”

Although soldiers apply for AER assistance online, having representation in Poland removes barriers related to time zones and distance. The larger challenge has often been awareness, according to Hupko.

“Many soldiers didn’t realize AER followed them wherever they went,” she said. “Too often, they waited until challenges worsened before reaching out.”

Requests for support at Army locations across Poland vary, but move-in expenses remain one of the most common issues for incoming personnel, Hupko said.

The goal is to help get new arrivals into housing quickly so they can integrate into their duty assignment, she added.

“Support is available,” Hupko said. “We want soldiers to feel empowered to ask for help before a setback becomes a crisis.”