Okinawa, Japan is a favorite. And if your spouse hopes to find a job in the local community, that's going to be tough Columbus' unemployment rate is a staggering 12.9 percent, more than double the nationwide rate. But Westervelt said if someone really wants an off-base home, her office can usually find something for them within 20 or 30 minutes of Hanscom. Keep in mind its very competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but savor the opportunity if it presents itself. From mountain climbing to whitewater rafting, youll find some of the best outdoor adventures here. The constant rainfall makes the entire region green and lush year-round. "It's easier sometimes to ask a friend to get you something when they are TDY.". The 2021 IQAir report ranked India among the countries with the . The military bases on this list range in size from 62,435 acres to more than 3.5 million and are operated by one of the military's four branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines . If you love the water, youll love it here. On the clearest of days, the Bremerton base has a beautiful view of the snow-capped Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. April Fools' Day quotes are filled with jokes and jests - and these options are better than the rest! Though the concept of moving to Alaska may overwhelm some families it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Bedford is a great place to raise children, said Lisa Pizarro, the school liaison officer at Hanscom. Living in the north's extreme elements isn't for every family, but for those who value the beauty of rugged terrain, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is perfect. Base: Fort Irwin National Training CenterUnlucky call sign: A string of expletives that we cannot repeatWhy it's not great: Fort Irwin is the vast desert training area for the Army, a severe and remote landscape that could easily double as the Mad Max set. Now that Halliburton has closed its Minot facility, jobs arent as plentiful and rent prices are steadily decreasing. Becoming a military family can be an adjustment for families. Laughter really is among the best medicines, says Air Force nurse. The secludedness makes you feel like you have an island to yourself with phenomenal beaches and splendid weather. While most residents acknowledge that it has nice, temperate weather, there isnt much else said about it. With Duke and UNC (among other universities) nearby, you can get smarter while also becoming manically invested in March Madness. Related Article US Military Bases in Germany. On base, youll find dental care, vet services, dining, and other recreational activities for a low-key day off. Being that its Los Angeles, and very close to LAX airport, its a fairly pricey area especially if you choose to live off post. | From an amazing median home cost of just over 57K near Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, to having access to major league sports teams in every field at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, there's some amazing bases across the country that have a lot to offer. But he estimated food and housing expenses there were easily three to four times as much as in the Scott area. Naval Base Kitsap . Technically located in Belle Chasse, this joint station is bustling with activity that includes the Navy Reserve, Coast Guard, Marine Corps Reserve, and the Louisiana Air National Guard. The medical care facilities here are superb, and the base offers excellent childcare options for working families. Single soldiers, in particular, will love Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS), an organization where soldiers can volunteer and participate in leisure activities together. Housing on base can be good, but inhabitants say it depends on a service members rank, and the D.C. school system has a less-than-stellar reputation. Yes, some bases may be better for certain demographics, so prior to having to pick your dream list, do a bit of research. If you find yourself stationed on the beautiful island of Oahu, consider yourself among the lucky few who get this coveted duty station. Holloman AFB is between White Sands National Park and Lincoln National Forest. You can find her riding her Vespa around San Diego, on Facebook and Instagram at @bekahdifelice, or on her blog bekahdifelice.com. While optempo might be high with sea duty and European rotations, with all the various installations located there you could maneuver into a local PCS to extend your time. Privacy Policy Joint Base San Antonio is in the suburb of Lackland, Texas. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. Base: Fort DrumUnlucky call sign: Fort Drunk (due to the number of alcohol-related incidents on base in the 1990s)Why it's not great: As the old joke goes, Fort Drum has two seasons: winter and July. Base (s): Honestly, too many to list. With forty nearby museums to choose from, families will never tire of learning and exploring. 5/10/2021 Air Force 1st Lt. Katelyn . Related Article Top 15 Military Schools For Boys And Girls. So we weighted each category. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Craig currently resides in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and runs his own business. Fayetteville, North Carolina, home to Fort Bragg, listed as No. It also maintains dedicated strategic-level bombers, CAS . Air Force Times evaluated statistics in a dozen categories: school quality, cost of living, housing costs, commissary size, base exchange size, size of on-base health care facilities, crime rates, commute times, pollution levels, climate, unemployment rates and sales taxes. Iowa 10 Best States for Military Veterans and Retirees for 2022: 1. Armee de lAir Get Customized Quotes Best area perk? 10 Worst Cities 1. It is one of the finest Air Force bases in the country similar to Scott Air Force Base and Joint Base San Antonio Lackland because of low housing, superb medical facilities, and a large commissary. After taking into consideration weather, morale, base amenities, stuff to do, and accessibility to major cities, it seems that some of our militarys most heroic acts of service might not be fighting battles abroad, but bravely conquering these 10 towns at home. The one that turned Matt Damon into a bad guy? Nature enthusiasts want to spend their time hiking while they tour jungle land with numerous waterfalls. However, the area of Bedford, Massachusetts, is extremely expensive. It's so small that there is no chow hall. Location: Bremerton, Bangor, and Keyport, Washington. Edwards is home . Jim Mowreader US Army veteran Author has 17K answers and 77.8M answer views 9 mo Related What is the smallest air force base? Ask anyone who has PCSd a couple of times, and they will give you their favorite and least favorite duty stations where theyve been stationed. In the summertime, you can even hit the beach on the shores of Lake Ontario for some exciting ice swimming!!! The Panama Canal also falls under the protection of this base. ), and Kings Canyon is the same distance east. Its cheaper to live in the place you never wanted to! "It's more of a celebration," Pizarro said. As a service member, theres a good chance youre going to move around a lot. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam (Closed 1972) Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, (Closed 1971, Reopened 1972-1974) Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam (Closed 1973) Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam (Closed 1970) U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand, (Closed 1976)**. If youre bored around base, catch a flick at the theater, take a walk along a trail, or check out Afterburners, a rec facility with 36 TVs, pool tables, and an outdoor tiki bar. Similar to Hampton Roads, the San Diego area has several installations near by which makes the possibility for a local PCS to extend your time there. Schriever AFB is among several USAF bases in the Colorado Springs metropolitan. Oh yea, and the Pentagon. Therefore, if you really like city life then youll find many of the USAF bases on the list problematic for their rural settings. While many Air Force families have no choice where they land, those who get stationed at these top-ranked bases consider themselves fortunate. 8 Best U.S. Military Bases for Families | Extra Space Storage Reserve a self storage unit today and get up to 20% off! In an interview, Debra Westervelt, Hanscom's capital asset manager, acknowledged that the Bedford housing market is "pretty tight," and said many airmen assigned there choose to live on base for that reason. Enjoy one of our high quality American, State . coast guard air station kodiak. It is in Burlington County, New Jersey which might not sound all that terrific for young couples but keep in mind its proximity to New York City and Philadelphia. Base Map. Elmendorf-Richardson sits near Anchorage, Alaska, and draws in military families from all over the country because of its beauty and excellent medical and dental care, employment assistance, and educational programs. Any time you want to participate in any outdoor activity, you can pretty much guarantee the weather will be ideal to spend time outside. The base is considered a community within a community by many of its adoring members. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Some 1,300 families call this place home and speak highly of its strong sense of community. Huge base great support and there was reasons that Clark had the highest re enlistment and DEROS extension rates in the Air Force. When you arent working, swing by MWR to snag clearance tickets to Miami Dolphins games and other attractions like concerts, shows, and sports events in Miami. Sperling's Best Places also provided data it collected on the size and type of on-base commissaries, exchanges and health care facilities, and rankings on a 10-point scale. Holloman AFB is deserving even if Luke AFB and MacDill AFB also need to get considered on this list. So, its like Aladdin, except without a genie to help you.Most common escape: Ruidoso, New Mexico offers all sorts of outdoor activities plus a casino and horse racetrack. Do you enjoy the indoors or outdoors more? source GAIA package: Sx_MilitaryTimes_M6201410307210028 . McGuire Air Force Base, on the other hand, is very close to NYC, Philadelphia, and New Jersey for nightlife. Greece. What someone that serves the military and is single wants is drastically different from a service member with a wife and kids. The site has roots dating back to the Revolutionary War, and now hosts more than 700 Marines, sailors, and civilians. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. So if youre unimpressed by Louisiana, at least you can benefit from some military-issued, updated hospitality. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. There are at least a dozen other locations where airmen receive more not just places like New York City and Honolulu, but also West Point, New York; Oakland, California; Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; and New Haven, Connecticut. Though the weather isnt terrific its still a fantastic place to get stationed if you have to go outside the United States. Best Air Force Bases Overseas Here are some of the best bases you will find overseas. In fact, one airman told us that he learned how to cook at Cannon since there werent any good restaurants. To come up with a school quality score, we used the website GreatSchools.com, a respected resource for ranking and comparing schools used by real estate agents and real estate websites such as Zillow and Realtor.com. Best Military Bases OCONUS: Okinawa, Japan. Not like you typically have a choice, but this list might help anyway. Having an open mind and a willingness to explore on and off base will make your duty station experience all the better. Pick a direction and go. If youre getting ready to pick your dream list for your very first duty station, you may be a little unsure of what locations to choose for your top choices. You can increase your odds of success by helping your family relocate to a place with affordable housing, family-friend amenities, good schools, and low crime rates. 12, while. Article 5/12/2021 Air Force Col. Jacqueline Killian, senior nurse scientist for the 711th Human Performance Wing, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, talks about her 2015 PhD research on the health benefits of laughter yoga. Base: Fort PolkUnlucky call sign: Fort PukeWhy it's not great: The Army has some pretty terrible duty locations, but they were more unanimous than any other branch of the service on which post qualified as THE WORST. Kadena, Japan This is a large base that does not have a lot of Westernized shopping. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. Families also find the base to be loaded with conveniences such as shopping centers and malls. But other schools received low rankings from the Great Schools website, dragging the Washington area's school score into the average range of 6 out of 10 possible points. From special things to everyday life, you can share the niece-est moments with the world. The area, along with many parts of Colorado, is rapidly growing and forecasts to eventually replace Denver in terms of population. The white Nike Air Force 1 Low is one of the best Air Force 1s because it has withstood the test of time. Matthew Robins assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, is ready to go at the skijoring event at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Required fields are marked *. The unassuming military base in small-town Illinois is a hidden gem based on those who have served at the location. Here are the top Air Force bases in the nation: Located in St. Clair County, Illinois, Scott Air Force Base tops the list of the best Air Force Bases in the U.S. overall. There is nothing like spending leisure time in the outdoors. ", 3. MacDill Air Force Base sits just four miles outside of Tampa, and for families looking to live near the sun and surf, it seems ideal. The cost of living here hovers slightly below the national average, and the schools are well ranked. The overseas location is also instrumental to military operations on the Western Pacific. The IAF also has issues with squadron strength and target practice. Driving along the roads, dont be surprised if you see herds of moose or elk wandering along the side of the road. While many enjoy the mission of the installation (bombers and missiles), many dislike the location being in such a remote area without a bigger city nearby. Advertise Along with having the great wilderness as your backyard (more on that, below), its a great assignment for military families. Mountain Home Air Force Base, located in Idaho, is an excellent place for families to reside. Soldiers say the operational tempo is punishing, the single ladies are few, and the nearest town is 45 minutes away -- and that town is Barstow, CA, a place that frequently holds the title of meth capital of the world.Most common escape: Like many of the desert base towns on our list, Fort Irwin is located in the middle of nowhere but in the middle of everything. Big Bear, San Diego, Vegas, and LA are all within reach. If thats not enough to get you excited about this duty station, just remember youre living in one of the top-rated cities along Floridas coastline. We'd wager school quality, for example, is a greater concern than the sales tax rate. It regularly ranks in the Top 5 Air Force bases in the country. So yeah, Lemoore might not be much to look at, but you are just down the road from some spectacular #nofilter #views.Surprise silver lining: Another perk of living in the agriculture-heavy Central Valley of California is access to fresh, local eggs and produce through farm co-ops. Those living on base have many housing options to choose from, ranging from small duplexes to lakeside, four-bedroom abodes. Since there's no chow hall, he tries to find healthy foods off base. Because everything is bigger in Texas, the post has the largest on-base bowling alley, fitness center, and Post Exchange (PX) in the whole Army. Being close to a major city provides families with additional activities to entertain those of all ages during non-working hours. It may be fun to have pristine beaches and Disneyland practically in the backyard of your duty station. When Grandparents Babysit: Pros, Cons & What to Talk About. Fort Carson, Colorado. Most blame the misery on the humidity, the bugs, or the fact that chain gangs are not at all uncommon in this swampy, far-from-everything town.Most common escape: Lake Charles and Alexandria, both proper towns, are about an hour away. Best area perk? Near Washington, D.C., Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is unpopular among airmen. Newsletter (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller). 9. Key West the very last Key on the string is the dream station for anyone who loves warm weather and blue coastal waters and is one of the nicest military bases in Florida. Here Are the Top 5 Best and Worst Army Bases, According To New Recruits September 24, 2022 Jenna Biter Right, Staff Sgt. Again, the desert climate and dry heat make the location undesirable, and despite the name, there are no palm trees. Yosemite National Park is just a couple hours north (and its great hikes!

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