1. Alaska Airlines. 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. As one of the most requested locations in the Army, youre in for a treat if you get stationed at Fort Carson. There are about 26,000 US military. The Cheyenne Mountain Shooting Complex (CMSC) is a 400-acre site near the base thats open daily for practice, including trap and skeet shooting. Sometimes you end up drawing the short straw when it comes to military assignment locations. The year-round sunny weather. In alphabetical order-. If you have children, they will have to drive roughly an hour to the nearest international school. This is the second year Altus Air Force Base and Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, contracting offices have teamed up to participate in a deployment exercise.U.S. Nevertheless, it is great during the winter. Travel comes easy as you can reach Japan and Korea in a few short hours. Perhaps you parked in the By The remote base is on the little island of Guam in the middle of nowhere on the Pacific. The overseas USAF base is top-notch even if it lacks modernized shopping. On-base housing is rumored to be nice and the post boasts a brand new commissary, PX, and a really good hospital. 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. Here are the top 10 US military base towns overseas. The unique wildlife that calls Alaska home. Any time you want to participate in any outdoor activity, you can pretty much guarantee the weather will be ideal to spend time outside. Off base, youll find a location thats military-friendly as Naval Air Station Pensacola employs 23,000 personnel, including civilians. The base's commissary is small, its only medical facility is a clinic, and its small exchange is just a shoppette. Kadena Air Base is another location in Asia to get lost in along with Guam. 3. This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. On base, youll find dental care, vet services, dining, and other recreational activities for a low-key day off. Below, we rounded up the best military bases categorized by interests. Despite the astronomical costs of living in L.A., BAH rates are surprisingly low. 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. - now a Space Force base Peterson AFB, CO - now a Space Force base Andrews AFB, MD. Its competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but worth giving it a shot. Bekah DiFelice is a writer, military spouse, and recovering addict to the word "literally." On base, youll enjoy access to a private, lifeguarded beach. Military residents appreciate the rural and quiet surroundings of east Dayton yet with quick access to metropolises like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, and Indianapolis. 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. At a mere 44 miles long, it can be easy to get island fever here if you arent actively seeking adventure while stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Best Military Bases OCONUS: Okinawa, Japan. 2. Fort Carson main gate. Florida. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. You are forced to travel to an Army base an hour and a half away to go to the commissary or shop. Serving the United States Air Force could land you in one of these premium locations depending on what you are seeking during service. Considering the number of advanced aircraft with large personal strength and the future fleet of IAF, it is one of the most powerful and best air forces in the world. 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. While living on post is extremely safe the base is home to the Defense Intelligence Agency living off post is a different story. Best area perk? The overseas location is also instrumental to military operations on the Western Pacific. Shop here and skip paying sales tax on everything from electronics to groceries. South Korean Air Force - 898. If you drive to the middle of nowhere, then keep driving a little farther, youll hit Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, considered by many airmen to be one of the least desired military bases in the nations vast expanse. Below, we rounded up the best military bases categorized by interests. The military facility is in the Fort Walton and Destin area with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. The coastal military base provides that Florida weather with plenty of charm. When looking at your options based on your position, think about what you love to do on your off-time. "Everything closes early on base and around town. However, what helps Guam is that its a territory of the United States with English as the predominant language. 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. Housing near Lakenheath is among the best with plenty of new and trendy options. Here are some of the best bases you will find overseas. 20 Reasons to Join the Military (and 7 reasons not to), Your email address will not be published. As the second-oldest city in South Carolina, history lovers will adore Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort located 70 miles southwest of Charleston. One soldier put it this way, If God had to give the Earth an enema, he would attach the hose to Fort Polk. Yeesh. And an Arlington, Virginia, house hits a punishing median cost of $583,400 well over triple the $170,100 median home cost nationwide. Eglin Air Force Base. F-5s and F-4s have been replaced by F-16s, and they developed the T-50 Golden Eagle, which is a very capable advanced trainer so much so it has also been turned into a multi-role fighter as well. Colorado Springs is also home to the scenic Air Force Academy and right along the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains. The one that turned Matt Damon into a bad guy? Here are some of the worst overseas bases. Plus, the Kitsap Peninsula isnt far from multiple day trip options, including Seattle, local mountain ranges, water trails, and even Canada. Marine Crops photo by Cpl. Eating organic and local has never been easier, which is great news for anyone who has watched any documentary on factory farming, ever. Families also benefit from no state income or sales tax in the Anchorage area. The military complex has a ton of history and its evolution has transformed into one of the largest bases in the world. 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. When you view any duty station as your new home, youll be able to better embrace the local culture and unique base aspects. Should you make a base of preference, that will be your assigned duty station for the next two years. 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. As the Home of the Rugged Professional, this base is perfect for adventurous service members who dont mind the cold. Melanye Martinez. Housing is affordable with high-quality schools and excellent features on the base. RAF Lakenheath is located in Suffolk County in East Anglia. Learn more about Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans here. Pikes Peak, among the many 14ers in the state of Colorado, is right in your backyard. Bedford is a great place to raise children, said Lisa Pizarro, the school liaison officer at Hanscom. The hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque is also within reach, but it will take you at least eleven attempts to spell Albuquerque correctly before your GPS will be any help.Surprise silver lining: From what we can tell, Fort Bliss has the best on-base amenities of any military installation ANYWHERE. Though the concept of moving to Alaska may overwhelm some families it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Pensacola Florida Military Bases. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Korean People's Army Air Force ( North Korea) - 946. Location: Bremerton, Bangor, and Keyport, Washington. "It's better for my family.". Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. One review went as far as to refer to it as the gates of hell, but did not indicate much more than that. At Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Air Force and Army installations that merged in 2010 to form a single post, Task Force True North was recently created to address suicide, Air Force Col. Gregory Beaulieu, commander for the joint base, said in a statement Sunday. The United Kingdom Air Force is ranked 6 in the 10 best air forces in the world and is the world's oldest air force. "A lot of people have to have roommates just to not live in a bad area, which Columbus, Mississippi, has many of," Do said. Based on Air Force Times research, these are the five least-popular bases from fifth worst to worst to be stationed in the Air Force: 5. While the state is usually not the top choice for many military families youll find a welcoming community with plenty of support. "You might be leaving, but you're always part of the community. | Best area perk? 4. Whether you have shore or sea duty, sailors have a good chance in getting stationed here thanks to a large fleet that includes aircraft carriers and submarines. Share with us in the comments below! If you love the great outdoors and dont mind a little rain, Naval Base Kitsap is one of the prettiest places to be stationed. However, the area of Bedford, Massachusetts, is extremely expensive. It's so small that there is no chow hall. To enjoy all that the area has to offer, dress accordingly on and off base to explore the best parts of this beautiful region. Were sorry, Fayetteville -- you didnt deserve that. 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. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. Correction: The original version of this article inadvertently reversed the order of the towns and ranked Fayetteville #1 instead of #10. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. They say there are two kinds of military towns: those that come ready-made and those you "make the most of." There are 2,744 people assigned to Columbus, including 1,447 military service members, 598 contractors, and 472 civil servants. While families may find Hawaii expensive and difficult to spend time with extended family, most military couples love getting stationed on one of the islands. Oh, and you can walk on the ferry for free to go to Seattle! 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. Best reason to be stationed there: The . 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. Since there's no chow hall, he tries to find healthy foods off base. Do said Columbus' exchange is horrible, and he usually goes to Wal-Mart instead. Unlike many other military bases, this one has a great cost of living its actually 18% lower than the U.S. national average. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. The base is on the smaller side, so youll get a chance to know your fellow service members and their families well. McGuire Air Force Base is part of joint base operations with the United States Air Force. 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. If you find yourself stationed on the beautiful island of Oahu, consider yourself among the lucky few who get this coveted duty station. The unassuming military base in small-town Illinois is a "hidden gem" based . Do warm days and sunny skies year-round sound appealing? The scenery is not only gorgeous but the weather is decent (by Alaska standards) and wildlife is abundant. While in the military, he spent time analyzing imagery from a variety of aircraft such as the SR-71. 1. According to the Military Family Advisory Network, 78% of surveyed military personnel still live off base and in the surrounding cities. 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. Best area perk? Everyone has to settle down eventually, right? Related Article Top 15 Military Schools For Boys And Girls. Single soldiers, in particular, will love Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS), an organization where soldiers can volunteer and participate in leisure activities together. Fayetteville is one of the few bases on our list thats located in an actual town, or as a Marine spouse in neighboring Camp Lejeune put it, at least they have a mall and a Discount Tire. Still, soldiers insist that the place reminds them of every combat zone the US has visited in the past four decades.Most common escape: Charleston, Wilmington, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Myrtle Beach are all within a couples of hours drive. Families love living here for many reasons, including affordable housing. Of all the branches of the military, the Air Force always had really nice bases including Minot. Welcome to Fort Drum. There are, of course, many things we cannot control for when joining the military, but some bases are just worse than others. Located in the southern part of Colorado Springs, this mountainous area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Republic of Korea Air Force. Did you know that there are nearly 800 Air Force bases around the globe? Upon landing, assuming you dodged the tornado, you can find exactly one Applebee's to toss your 51-dollar per diem at. Its a poo pond created from the open sewage of a water treatment facility.Most common escape: If you are the rugged sort that enjoys inhaling sand and spotting rattlesnakes, there are miles of desert to explore on a dirt bike or four-wheeler, along with the trails and famous rock climbing available at Joshua Tree National Park.Surprise silver lining:Although 120-degree heat brings out the best in no one, the high desert does bring out the stars in an unforgettable night sky. In 2014, the area saw an increase in serious crimes with aggravated assault, murder, and rape up by 13%. Fort Polk resides in Louisiana where the hot summers and mosquito problems can make the area unpleasant. 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. Men in combat. Whats your dream duty station and why? 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. Finally the farther distance between 2 bases is about 219 miles which is well under most air force planes range capacity. (tied) McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Not like you typically have a choice, but this list might help anyway. American Airlines. Altus, Oklahoma Cannon, New Mexico Dyess, Texas (to replace with Grand Forks) Eielson, Alaska Ellsworth, South Dakota (convinced-removed) Ft.Polk, Louisiana Holloman, New Mexico Malmstrom, Montana Minot, North Dakota (edit-How did I forget??) Cost of living and housing prices are through the roof around Los Angeles Air Force Base, helping to land it at the bottom of our list of Air Force bases.
Restaurants With Private Rooms Frisco,
Miller And Carter Sevenoaks Car Park,
2 Bed Flats To Rent Kidderminster,
23 Local Government In Rivers State And Their Capitals,
Kaiserreich Avoid Civil War,
Articles A