Am I mad to put DS into German Kindergarten when he could go to army pre-school ?

[trockodile]

This is my very first time starting a thread. Please can someone answer!
Husband is in the army, we live in Germany. Both DH and I speak basic German, DS (3 in May) does not yet speak any. I would love him to have a chance at learning the local language and feel it is such a good chance. I am going to look round a local kindergarten tomorrow, my German neighbour recomends it and her child starts this week.
Given all the horror stories I have read on here about German education is this a good idea? We would probably be here for another 3 years and then back to uk where i would try to keep up his German through German Sat School. Not worried about his English or standard of work on return to UK. He is a bright boy and I see it as a bonus that he could put off starting formal education.
So can anyone reassure me that it is a good idea?
Any hints on what to ask Kindergarten and what negative points I should look out for? Please help!

Have another question! Kita (is that the 'short') say they can't offer a place for 35 hours but may for 45. I don't mind paying but can they insist i use them all? Cannot in a million years think of more than 25 absolutely max. If I sent him to a UK pre-school it would have been no more than 12-15 but i realise he has to go more to give him a fair chance at the language. Am I best to agree to everything and then just suit myself when he starts?[sneaky emoticon!]
Am also going to apply to others without visiting on the basis that it cannot hurt. Refuse to get stressed about it! (Mantra of the week!)
Am hopeful that a lovely bi-lingual 17 year old will come and play with him for 2-3 hours a week before he starts to give him a headstart. Any ideas on what to pay her. 15 euros per hour? I would hope she would do 2 x 1.5 hours per week of solid playing (duplo, jigsaws,painting, stories etc) and talking throughout so not 'babysitting'. She wants to be a teacher so good practise for her.
He will be 3 in May btw so would start in August. We are hoping to go to a 'kinderhotel' before that so would also be good practise for him.(The big downside to most people in the reviews of german speaking childcare would be a bonus to us!)

'Thequietone' -how is your son this week? Glad he has been doing so well. Very encouraging.

trockodie - yes, you can do whatever you want with those hours. They probably want the higher funding for the more-hours place.

Thanks, that is what i hoped -don't want them to think i am too difficult-not yet anyway!