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If you find yourself stationed on the beautiful island of Oahu, consider yourself among the lucky few who get this coveted duty station. And the last four categories pollution levels, climate, unemployment rates and sales taxes got no additional weighting. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. A home in Bedford will run you a median cost of $546,500. But if youre not, and are willing to drive a bit further, Sante Fe, New Mexico offers galleries, museums, badass psychedelic funhouses/art collectives, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains -- popular for hiking, biking, and skiing.Surprise silver lining: Isnt it always true that in the face of misery, communities pull together? McGuire Air Force Base is part of joint base operations with the United States Air Force. Pacific Fleet. 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. The U.S.'s northern fortress of military strategic solitude, Minot Air Force Base, has long been a prime destination for career-ending mishaps. Craig currently resides in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and runs his own business. Now c. Nearby towns include: One review did happen to indicate that there is government housing, but there is usually a one to two-year wait. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kirby Turbak. We'd wager school quality, for example, is a greater concern than the sales tax rate. Youll never regret a day at Lackland if you are single and looking to mingle. Unlike many other military bases, this one has a great cost of living its actually 18% lower than the U.S. national average. Here are the top 10 US military base towns overseas. Come along for the ride! 7. Though the concept of moving to Alaska may overwhelm some families it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Alaska Airlines. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. The IAF has ordered 689 aircraft in which there will be Su-57 (144), Tejas Mk.1 (99), Rafale (35), Su-30MKI (8), and other helicopters and aircraft. Consequently, narrowing down a list of hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not a simple matter. What are your hobbies? Families love living here for many reasons, including affordable housing. Here are some of the worst overseas bases. Base: Naval Air Station LemooreUnlucky call sign: Armpit of the Navy -- supposedly because of the smell and air qualityWhy it's not great: Never heard of Lemoore? As the only active-duty military base in New England, spokesman Justin Oakes said, Hanscom hosts many civilians and service members from other branches of the military, which also leads to a high occupancy rate on base. Wichita ranks as the worst city for veterans health care, largely because veterans make up just 0.03% of the city's population. Joint Base San Antonio is in the suburb of Lackland, Texas. Hickam Air Force Base is the highest rated Air Force base in Hawaii yet not for everyone which is why it doesnt rank tremendously high overall. 6. "For such a small base, we do have quite a lot of amenities," Oakes said. Travel comes easy as you can reach Japan and Korea in a few short hours. The program will embed 16 mental health providers with units across the base. Regardless of how tough our soldiers are, no one should feel completely discounted at their military base. The unassuming military base in small-town Illinois is a "hidden gem" based . You will learn to hate this slice of northeastern sensibility located in the mystical hills of Jefferson, New York. Royal air force. Armstrong. 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. 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. Pensacola Florida Military Bases. Off base, you can take to the mountains or surrounding regions for snowshoeing, hunting, camping, and fishing. Service members also have the choice of journeying north to Alburqurqe and many destinations in Colorado for extended leave vacations. South Korea's air force has come a long way in the same timeframe as China. 10 Worst States for Military Veterans and Retirees 2022: Vermont; Nevada; District of Columbia; Oregon Some residents have taken to calling the area Smell Segundo. The main issue, however, is really the money. Here are the finest locations for the outdoors: What else could you want in an outdoor paradise than Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and its incredible backyard to the Great Outdoors? In the surrounding areas, you can see everything from pre-Civil War forts to the southernmost point of the continental U.S. WA Eglin AFB, FL. Wright-Patterson AFB just makes the cut among many other competing military bases for top honors. If you love the water, youll love it here. Flickr/U.S. Oh, and theres also that small thing about the contaminated drinking water.Most common escape: Although theres basically nothing to do in Jacksonville except get a fresh tattoo or payday loan, Wilmington is just an hour away, Myrtle Beach is a little over two, and Nicholas Sparks lives nearby where he pens novels for your romantic escapism, I mean, for your reading pleasure. Serving the United States Air Force could land you in one of these premium locations depending on what you are seeking during service. Typically, nothing is open in the city from noon to three. It isnt technically an AFB, so they dont have the normal base facilities that you would typically see. While the state is usually not the top choice for many military families youll find a welcoming community with plenty of support. 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. Word has it that the family-friendly community here is so good that you dont just cry when you get there, you cry when you leave, too. Fort Polk/Fort Irwin. The base is small but accommodating. Naval Base Kitsap . By Everyone has interests based on where they are in life. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. You can find her riding her Vespa around San Diego, on Facebook and Instagram at @bekahdifelice, or on her blog bekahdifelice.com. 20 Reasons to Join the Military (and 7 reasons not to), Your email address will not be published. The secludedness makes you feel like you have an island to yourself with phenomenal beaches and splendid weather. Wichita, KA. According to some respondents, its an overly religious area with a high number of evangelical Christian churches. 2. Everyone has to settle down eventually, right? Everything on base is within walking distance, which is perfect for those who dont have transportation, including the commissary, barber shop, automotive shop, chapels, and a fitness center. Nellis Air Force Base is right outside North Las Vegas need we say more? Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Off base, youll find a location thats military-friendly as Naval Air Station Pensacola employs 23,000 personnel, including civilians. To enjoy all that the area has to offer, dress accordingly on and off base to explore the best parts of this beautiful region. Best reason to be stationed there: The . Base: Camp LejeuneUnlucky call sign: J-actionvilleWhy it's not great: The deal breaker here isnt the backwoods location or the fact that legitimate social functions are called pig pickins. No, the complaint we heard most often from Marines is that waaaaay too many Marines live here. Best area perk? Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. The average GreatSchools.com ranking of schools within a 10-mile radius was 4 out of a possible 10. New Mexico is underrated when it comes to its outdoors. No more Tattoo Taboo: Air Force and Space Force to allow neck and hand tats, How will I do when that time comes? Here are some of the best bases you will find overseas. We then assigned each category a score on a 10-point scale. Keep in mind its very competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but savor the opportunity if it presents itself. Scores for the most important categories schools, cost of living, housing and commissaries were tripled. We used formulas to convert the raw data from each category into a 10-point scale. And if you like to unwind from desert combat training by driving into more desert to shoot more guns and drive more off-road vehicles, then Fort Irwin is your paradise.Surprise silver lining: The Barstow Tanger Outlets offer soldiers the chance to buy their Air Jordans on discount so they can wear them to Shock Wave, the on-base night club that shows UFC fights without cover and serves food that is not half bad, hit or miss, and meh, according to Yelp! The overseas location is also instrumental to military operations on the Western Pacific. Orlando is also within a long days drive from MacDill Air Force Base. 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. Task & Purpose polled more than 1,000 of its readers on the worst military installations in terms of living. A new report of the 100 U.S. cities with the highest rates of sexually transmitted disease lists seven military towns in the top 20, all Air Force and Army installations.. A study published . Its also open seven days a week, so youre able to relax on this piece of paradise on your days off. The nonprofit group America's Promise Alliance, which was founded by Colin Powell, has listed Bedford as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People five times. For those that like to hunt and fish, there are plenty of outdoor activities. When youre stationed in a stunning location like Hawaii, get outdoors as much as possible. Why is Russia wasting so many troops to capture Bakhmut? Maybe your quirky office prank on the executive officer went horribly wrong. Fort Carson, Colorado. It is a great place if your spouse does not want to work. Hanscom Air Force Base near Bedford, Massachusetts, has a lot going for it. So even though the base may be a bust, it might just prompt enough personal growth to make a really excellent online dating profile. While there are numerous overseas locations worth considering for singles, this list focuses on bases in the United States. For service members who love to travel, youll be happy to know youre only 1 mile away from Miami International Airport. A enlisted thinktank brought to you by Task & Purpose. Hurlburt Field. 10. American Airlines. Besides the unique . Theres skiing at Dry Hill, tubing at Maple Ridge Snow Park, and plenty to explore in the Adirondack Mountains. Aircraft types considered include fighters (multirole, interceptors . Landscaping and repainting the parking lots was one of many projects for the Dorm Transformation process. And Do said the Basic Allowance for Housing in the Columbus area he gets $807 a month is far too low for airmen to live on. Best area perk? Those that prefer a small town or rural lifestyle can find plenty of housing in the area for their families. Having an open mind and a willingness to explore on and off base will make your duty station experience all the better. 1. The site has roots dating back to the Revolutionary War, and now hosts more than 700 Marines, sailors, and civilians. Upon landing, assuming you dodged the tornado, you can find exactly one Applebee's to toss your 51-dollar per diem at. This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. GreatSchools evaluates schools on a 10-point scale based on a combination of their standardized test scores, whether students are improving from year to year, and college readiness, defined as how well students take and score on SAT and ACT tests, and their graduation rates. Learn more about Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort here. Image: Wikimedia.org. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. Low housing costs and phenomenal support from the local community makes Luke AFB an ideal place for military families. Pick a direction and go. The fact that it feels like a prison has earned it the nickname AlcaTravis. There are reportedly dicey areas off post, but most families who live on base have few complaints. Kadena Air Base is another location in Asia to get lost in along with Guam. 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. In the summertime, you can even hit the beach on the shores of Lake Ontario for some exciting ice swimming!!! U.S. Air Force contracting Airmen search for potential improvised explosive devices June 3, 2015. I turned town an assignment to Eielson for Andersen.. got rewarded with an assignment to Minot afterwards.. Barrancas Beach is a private stretch of waterfront located on base. MacDill Air Force Base. ", 3. "Everything closes early on base and around town. This is a large base that does not have a lot of Westernized shopping. "I also know that a lot of enlisted members have a second job to support their families.". This made us wonder which military towns in the US are the safest and which aren't as secure for military personnel and civilians. In the case of Cannon AFB, solid relationships here are built not on entertainment or flashy dining options, but on good ol fashioned beer, football, and common commiseration. Lovely Fort Polk in blazing hot Louisiana is about as inviting as the mujahideen, unless youre a tropical disease virus. Bekah DiFelice is a writer, military spouse, and recovering addict to the word "literally." Combining Fort Sam Houston the Lackland and Randolph Air Force Bases, Joint Base San Antonio is home to some of the best and brightest service members in the country, including the 5th Army, 25th Air Force and 37th Training Wing. If you love it, perhaps youll be lucky enough to get extended there. It isn't the base itself that was the problem from what I was told, but the airmen at the base that was t. Air Force BMT Prep Guide eBook available NOW: https://www.airmanvision.com/store/air-force-bmt-prep-guide What are the top 5 stateside Air Force bases in you. Nellis AFB features more military schools and squadrons than any other Air Force base in the country. "It's better for my family.". You are forced to travel to an Army base an hour and a half away to go to the commissary or shop. Then look no further than the Sunshine State. It has all the usual complaints of a remote base town with one notable difference: it is regularly ranked among the nations worst for air pollution.Most common escape: We could talk about the nearby cities of Visalia or Fresno, but who cares about that when the most beautiful place on earth is literally in your backyard? We saw impoverished communities served by well water near that base. The commissary isnt great and the types of food are limited. Best area perk? But the area's high cost of living and housing prices partly because it is about a 25-mile drive from Boston landed Hanscom in the bottom five. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Craig spent many years on active duty service in the Air Force stationed in such places as Okinawa, Japan and SAC Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. It is minutes from downtown Tampa near the bay leading out to the Gulf of Mexico. Do you enjoy the indoors or outdoors more? In fact, one airman told us that he learned how to cook at Cannon since there werent any good restaurants. RAF Mildenhall (Air Force) Just a 45-minute drive to Cambridge, Suffolk is a quaint little village surrounded by cottages and castles straight out of a fairytale. Best Air Force Bases Overseas. Do warm days and sunny skies year-round sound appealing? United Airlines. A huge Navy exchange and commissary 100,000 square feet to be exact was built in 2011. Fort Bragg | Flickr/Dvidshub, badass psychedelic funhouses/art collectives, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Perhaps you parked in the admin NCOs parking spot. Okinawa, Japan is a favorite. Check out our list of the best Air Force bases to live on for couples, singles, and families. Known as the Joint Readiness Training Center and the National Training Center (respectively) both are locations that you will often find low on the list for servicemembers for various reasons. Its a great base for singles because of its proximity to downtown San Antonio and Austin which are paradises for this type of crowd. While living on post is extremely safe the base is home to the Defense Intelligence Agency living off post is a different story. Along with having the great wilderness as your backyard (more on that, below), its a great assignment for military families. Off base housing is nice, but expensive. And an Arlington, Virginia, house hits a punishing median cost of $583,400 well over triple the $170,100 median home cost nationwide. 6. BestPlaces.net's crime statistics had low numbers for low crime rates and high numbers for high crime rates. (tied) Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, formerly Bolling Air Force Base, ends up in our bottom five primarily due to the Washington area's abysmal traffic year after year, ranked the worst in the country and high cost of housing. Dirty Myrtle has cleaned up its act in the past few years).Surprise silver lining: Besides offering easy access to both major cities and ocean views, Fayetteville might be the best place to further your education. If you have time to research, do the following: The above list is by no means an exhaustive list of the potential options for duty stations. Fort Greely is also considered a remote duty station as the next closest large city Fairbanks is 100 miles away. If you consider every relocation an adventure, it will be easier to think of every duty station as the best military base. Home of the Space and Missile Systems Center and the 61st Air Base Group, Los Angeles Air Force base is situated in El Segundo, California. On base, youll enjoy access to a private, lifeguarded beach. RAF Mildenhall. Bolling's crime score was 3 out of 10, much lower than the nationwide average of 6. In other words, Fayetteville is the awkward neighborhood kid surrounded by cooler, more beautiful neighbors in every direction (yes, even Myrtle Beach. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. We think there is so much chatter about Fayetteville because it houses the biggest population in the Army -- and the naysayers are loud simply because there are so many of them. At SOUTHCOM, you can expect to meet a lot of different people as its a joint base. Besides the unique cultural tensions of living in a border town, service members reported that Fort Bliss was hot, isolated, and subject to sandstorms. Want to write for Task & Purpose? What lifestyle amenities do you appreciate in your life now? On base, youll find dental care, vet services, dining, and other recreational activities for a low-key day off. ), and Kings Canyon is the same distance east. And for how close it is to the water, youll probably be surprised by the low rates of living. Sometimes you end up drawing the short straw when it comes to military assignment locations. Base: Minot Air Force BaseUnlucky call sign: Why Not Minot? It seems like a rhetorical question, but: Freezins the reason.Why it's not great: Remember the ice planet in Intersteller? But he estimated food and housing expenses there were easily three to four times as much as in the Scott area. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. The number remains high and far above any other country in the world despite closing down hundreds of bases recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. "It's easier sometimes to ask a friend to get you something when they are TDY.". 3. 4. Plus, its located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, so the mountain views dont get much better from a military installation than Fort Carson. The primary duties of this station include supporting the Alaska National Guard with its key mission of monitoring security and operation of the Missile Defense Site. Related Article US Military Bases in Germany. 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. Since there's no chow hall, he tries to find healthy foods off base. While most residents acknowledge that it has nice, temperate weather, there isnt much else said about it. Twentynine Palms, California, sounds like a nice place to take a cheap family vacation. Nearby Northern Virginia's schools are popularly known as among the best in the country, and some live up to that reputation. Joint Base San Antonio Lackland is such a great place to get stationed that it makes the list twice. Whether you take a trolley tour or explore on foot, the minute you step off Naval Air Station Key West, youll be greeted by colorful old Florida culture that cant be missed. The weather is great as well as the beaches. Patrick Air Force Base. Traffic is notorious for being some of the worst in the entire country. The perk? An island, Okinawa is just about 70 miles long and an average of seven miles wide. Being that its Los Angeles, and very close to LAX airport, its a fairly pricey area especially if you choose to live off post. Republic of Korea Air Force. Did you know that there are nearly 800 Air Force bases around the globe? Not like you typically have a choice, but this list might help anyway. Related Article List of Air Force Bases in the US. Finally, we added up the scores and stacked the bases. ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, Best Air Force Bases in the U.S. Overall, #1 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, #1 Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, Texas, #1 Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, #3 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, #1 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Best Army Bases for Families, Couples and Singles, Top 15 Military Schools For Boys And Girls, Air Force Jobs List:A List Of All 135 AFSCs In The Air Force (2022), Army Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) Repairer (MOS 94P), List Of 9 Army Patches And Their Meanings, Army Sharpshooter Badge: 6 Things To Know, Army Service Ribbon (ASR): 5 Things To Know, Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM): 8 Things To Know. In reality, it is where Marines go to learn to hate the Corps. But whatever the reason, you are going to be PCSing to one of these horrible hotspots, which are all so bad youll wish you were in Kuwait. 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. You know, if youre into that kinda thing when you arent defending the country.Surprise silver lining: Surrounding Jacksonville are some truly charming historic and seaside towns, including New Bern, Swansboro, and the Emerald Isle. And New Orleans is a five-hour drive, so at least you can get a beignet for your troubles.Surprise silver lining: In recent years, Fort Polks base amenities have undergone an impressive facelift. It's so small that there is no chow hall. Marine Crops photo by Cpl. The base is on the smaller side, so youll get a chance to know your fellow service members and their families well. United States Southern Command. People's Liberation Army Air Force ( China) - 1991. Disappointing schools, higher-than-average crime rates, and high taxes combined to place McConnell Air Force Base, located near Wichita, Kansas, near the bottom of our list. 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. The Americans there are rude and begging to leave. Brad Howard To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. As the second-oldest city in South Carolina, history lovers will adore Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort located 70 miles southwest of Charleston. BestPlaces.net's cost of living score for nearbyEl Segundo, California, is 218, more than double the nationwide average of 100. The Best And Worst Airlines in America in 2021. Dyess AFB is located in West-Central Texas on the outskirts of the city of Abilene. Fairbanks is near the base which also provides an outstanding commissary and exchange with a mall and shoppette. Grand Forks Air Force Base is a hidden gem in North Dakota. E-2: $2,070 per . The Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are also within reason. When you fill out your "dream sheet," you are forced to list 10 stateside bases as well as 10 overseas bases. 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. Staff Sgt. The base is one of the oldest bases in the nation, and a portion of the homes on base are historic homes. Related: What Is Accrued . Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. You are able to get gardeners and maids for a fairly cheap price to come clean and do yardwork once a week (about $50 for both). Correction: The original version of this article inadvertently reversed the order of the towns and ranked Fayetteville #1 instead of #10. What are the best Air Force bases in the United States? Best area perk? 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.