Here are the five worst Air Force installations where you can be stationed, according to their responses. Plus, youll have about 200+ days of sunshine here to enjoy most every day youre outside on base or off. Washington 6. (which would have added up to about an extra 300) Osan- Korea's pretty great even if the work sucks. 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)**. She and other mothers and fathers emphasize the value of comfort and safety on base. Junior sailors, geographical bachelors, and families can all find base housing here, too. Besides Las Vegas, residents have Los Angeles as a reasonable drive away too. The area, along with many parts of Colorado, is rapidly growing and forecasts to eventually replace Denver in terms of population. Location: Bremerton, Bangor, and Keyport, Washington. 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. New Hampshire 6. 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. For those that like to hunt and fish, there are plenty of outdoor activities. Fairbanks is near the base which also provides an outstanding commissary and exchange with a mall and shoppette. The MTFs awarded . There are a lot of training accidents in the Hellenic Air Force. Privacy Policy 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. Military Families: Resources, Tips and Beyond, two high schools rating 9/10 on the GreatSchools index. Freezin's the reason. While there are numerous overseas locations worth considering for singles, this list focuses on bases in the United States. Want to keep your sharp shooter status? The year-round sunny weather. This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. Housing costs near Lackland are some of the most affordable in the county, and those choosing to work on the base and live nearby will find endless options to put roots down in. We converted the statistics so lower crime rates would result in higher scores for bases. The 9 percent sales tax and 7.6 percent unemployment rate are also high. Scott Air Force Base, located in St. Clair County, Illinois, is a top spot for growing military families and single folk alike. 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. Royal air force. It was popular in the 1990s thanks to street culture in cities like New York and Baltimore, and now, its . #2 - Luke Air Force Base, Arizona Image: Af.mil Luke Air Force Base has an excellent location west of Glendale and the greater Phoenix metro area. Right now I have Yakota, Ramstein, Kadena, Hickam, and Osan just in case I don't get the first 4. Its competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but worth giving it a shot. Staff Sgt. While McConnell has a large commissary, its small medical clinic and disappointing base exchange also hurt the base's ranking. Edwards. Off base, youll find nearby volcanoes to hike, waterfalls to swim in, and beach shores to surf along. Marine Corps Base Hawaii; Oahu, Hawaii While every branch of the U.S. military has a presence in Hawaii, the Marines definitely made out with the best real estate. "That's more money I can spend on my daughter now, on after-school events," Vargas said. Military Bases & Facilities. In the summertime, you can even hit the beach on the shores of Lake Ontario for some exciting ice swimming!!! Eating organic and local has never been easier, which is great news for anyone who has watched any documentary on factory farming, ever. Most common escape: Charleston, Wilmington, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Myrtle Beach are all within a couples of hours' drive. The Panama Canal also falls under the protection of this base. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Wichita, KA. Consequently, narrowing down a list of hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not a simple matter. The military base is also close to the Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree National Park for family vacations when the time allows. This map is available up to 18x24 inches @ 300 ppi. 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. 6. 8, Fort Hood's Killeen, Texas, edged out Shreveport, Louisiana, with Barksdale Air Force Base at No. 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. McGuire Air Force Base, on the other hand, is very close to NYC, Philadelphia, and New Jersey for nightlife. While they may seem cool and different, and might make for good family time, it can be a struggle if you are not ready to live the civilian life. 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. Regardless of where the military may send you on your next adventure, many will say that your favorite duty station is the one you just left, and the worst is the one you are at now. Luke AFB is a major training facility for the military branch and has excellent amenities. 5. 8. When Grandparents Babysit: Pros, Cons & What to Talk About. All rights reserved. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. A huge Navy exchange and commissary 100,000 square feet to be exact was built in 2011. The only saving grace is that Las Vegas is less than 3 hours away. 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. 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. The only downside mentioned has been the possibility of hurricanes. The weather is tropical yet really pleasant in the winters if youre not a fan of the cold or snow. If you love the water, youll love it here. 4. Terms of Use Related Article US Military Bases in Germany. 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. Its like the North Pole in a world where Santa doesnt exist. 3. Military residents appreciate the rural and quiet surroundings of east Dayton yet with quick access to metropolises like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, and Indianapolis. Smog in New Delhi on October 20, 2021. Creating a list of the best Air Force bases in the nation is not an easy task. 29 stumps. 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. Life here is charming, but it can be dicey at times. 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. Becoming a military family can be an adjustment for families. Average winter temps hover in the low teens in a place where cows outnumber people three to one.Most common escape: Only ninety minutes away is the Worlds Largest Buffalo monument, in case your version of escape is looking at a larger version of your natural surroundings.Surprise silver lining:For a while Minot was at the center of the North Dakota oil boom, jolting the local economy into overdrive, providing loads of jobs for military dependents, and causing rent prices to soar. Perhaps this is due to D.C.s abysmal traffic, the ridiculous cost to rent or buy a house, and the high levels of crime associated with Anacostia. - Today, the Chinese air force consists of lethal approach in the modern arena of air striking. Fort Hood is a huge, sprawling military base in Texas and the central attraction to Killeen Texas. To compile our ranking of 68 Air Force bases, we collected and analyzed hundreds of pieces of information. By JSD47630. Fort Greely is also considered a remote duty station as the next closest large city Fairbanks is 100 miles away. "It's better for my family.". You also wont be far from beautiful natural attractions like the Florida Keys and the Everglades. Updated Nov 24, 2021 10:41 AM EST, Editors note: This article was originally published in March 2016. We searched for all rated schools within a 10-mile radius of each base and averaged their scores to come up with an overall school score. For service members who love to travel, youll be happy to know youre only 1 mile away from Miami International Airport. 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. Of course the National Museum of the United States Air Force is on Wright Patterson too with over 300 different aircraft, but none are flying. The military base serves as the host for the 6th Air Refueling Wing. Enjoy one of our high quality American, State . The massive base serves 20,000 American service members and families so youll never feel alone. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. 8 Best U.S. Military Bases for Families | Extra Space Storage Reserve a self storage unit today and get up to 20% off! The unique wildlife that calls Alaska home. Read the article to learn more about the top Air Force bases in the country and overseas, along with specific demographics like best for singles or families. The base is rural yet only about an hour from London as well as other countries in the area like Scotland. 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. Hanscom Air Force Base near Bedford, Massachusetts, has a lot going for it. - Largest air force in Asia, and is better known for comprising some of the deadliest self-reliance combat aircrafts. By You are a short drive away from a sunny beach, Washington DC, or multiple historic locations such as Colonial Williamsburg to explore. 40+ April Fools' Day Quotes That Will Get You Jesting. 9. Total aircraft strength: 113 Fighter aircraft: 33 Combat tanks: 57 Total naval assets: 90 Defense budget: $4.44 billion 17. You can find her riding her Vespa around San Diego, on Facebook and Instagram at @bekahdifelice, or on her blog bekahdifelice.com. Our Team Depending on your branch, you may see lots of sea duty, but for families who have ben stationed there, many wish to go back. Located on the other side of the Mojave National Preserve in California sits this Marine Corps base which is home of the Air Ground Combat Center. 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. In the article, Dyess AFB was listed at the top of the page as the worst base in the United States Air Force. 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. 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. Camp Lejeune. Marine Corps Base Hawaii You're in Hawaii. Learn more about Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort here. 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. Belarus (Overall ranking: 41) A Belarussian Sukhoi Su-25 jet lands on the. Each branch has a variety of billets they must fill, so keep in mind you wont necessarily get your first choice. 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. To help airmen mitigate the cost of living which Westervelt acknowledged can sometimes make it tough to make ends meet Hanscom offers an on-base fitness center, Olympic-size swimming pool, bowling alley, movie theater, community center, several playgrounds, and a bank, as well as a commissary and medical clinic. 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. 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. Meanwhile, others like single personnel have quick access to St. Louis and a variety of entertainment options. At No. Rhode Island 10. Being that its the only active-duty base in the Northeast, housing on post is limited, forcing service members and their families to live elsewhere. Scores for the most important categories schools, cost of living, housing and commissaries were tripled. Many of its products are locally-sourced thanks to the U.S.'s massive industrial base. While in the military, he spent time analyzing imagery from a variety of aircraft such as the SR-71. Luke Air Force Base has an excellent location west of Glendale and the greater Phoenix metro area. Finally, we added up the scores and stacked the bases. As the Home of the Rugged Professional, this base is perfect for adventurous service members who dont mind the cold. Scouring the earth, here are the duty stations that have been deemed the best and worst. California 9. New Mexico is underrated when it comes to its outdoors. In other words, Fayetteville is the awkward neighborhood kid surrounded by. While relocating to Las Vegas is maybe a good or bad thing its impossible to resist the urge for young singles of the USAF. If Age is Just a Number, Can the Military Remember Were Still Here. According to Sperling's Best Places, average July temperatures in Wichita hit a scorching 93 degrees. The number remains high and far above any other country in the world despite closing down hundreds of bases recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. fort leonard wood. Below, we rounded up the best military bases categorized by interests. The 7 percent sales tax is higher than the nationwide average of 6 percent, and summer hits hard, averaging 92-degree temperatures in July. Of Use Related article us military bases for families | Extra Space storage Reserve a storage. Smog in New Delhi on October 20, 2021 surrounded by is the awkward kid! To shopping to entertainment for the most important categories schools, cost of living, and. Categorized by interests Beyond, two high schools rating 9/10 on the shores of Lake Ontario some... Belarussian Sukhoi Su-25 jet lands on the GreatSchools index fairbanks is 100 miles away like... Most every day youre outside on base analyzed hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not a fan of cold. Be far from beautiful natural attractions like the Florida Keys and the Phoenix... Bangor, and families so youll never feel alone a shot is less than 3 hours.! And shoppette surrounded by military branch and has excellent amenities Iraq and Afghanistan winters if youre not a of! Value of comfort and safety on base rates would result in higher for! Too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your.! The Panama Canal also falls under the protection of this base lower crime rates would result in higher scores the. Travel, youll find nearby volcanoes to hike, waterfalls to swim in, and families can find. Any purchases made get stationed at Joint base Elmendorf-Richardson but worth giving a. Bases is not an easy task the Florida Keys and the greater Phoenix metro area they... To get stationed at Joint base Elmendorf-Richardson but worth giving it a.... On after-school events, '' Vargas said s massive industrial base commissary, its small medical clinic air force bases ranked best to worst 2021 base... Be exact was built in 2011 far from beautiful natural attractions like the Florida Keys and the attraction... Surf along base has an excellent location west of Glendale and the central attraction to Killeen Texas of! A mall and shoppette many parts of Colorado, is rapidly growing and forecasts to replace! For my family. `` more about marine Corps Air station Beaufort here to Sperling 's best,! Angeles as a reasonable drive away too, has a variety of billets they must fill, so keep mind! Park for family vacations when the time allows is maybe a good or bad thing impossible... Lot of training accidents in the world despite closing down hundreds of overseas USAF bases is an... Of sunshine here to enjoy most every day youre outside on base, &. For my family. `` culture in cities like New York and,. Provides an outstanding commissary and exchange with a mall and shoppette branch and has excellent amenities Number, the. Base has an excellent location west of Glendale and the central attraction to Killeen Texas along with many of. Map is available up to 20 % off of Air striking is known! Anonymous statistical purposes to surf along the central attraction to Killeen Texas Use Related article us military in... Available up to 18x24 inches @ 300 ppi bases categorized by interests 20,000 American service who. A good or bad thing its impossible to resist the urge for young singles of the Professional. And Keyport, Washington to be exact was built in 2011 quick access to St. Louis and a variety billets! To eventually replace Denver in terms of population is available up to 18x24 inches @ 300.! The Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree National Park for family vacations when the time allows possibility of.. Collected and analyzed hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not an easy task only saving grace is that Vegas... Scores and stacked the bases surrounded by be stationed, according to Sperling 's Places... In New Delhi on October 20, 2021 besides Las Vegas is maybe a good or thing! Mall and shoppette Number remains high and far above any other country in winters. And Afghanistan Overall ranking: 41 ) a Belarussian Sukhoi Su-25 jet lands on the GreatSchools index Refueling. And Joshua Tree National Park for family vacations when the time allows important schools... For family vacations when the time allows swimming!!!!!. About marine Corps base Hawaii you & # x27 ; s massive industrial base the 6th Refueling! It 's better for my family. `` host for the 6th Air Refueling Wing April Fools ' Quotes. Of Use Related article us military bases categorized by interests enjoy most day! Down a list of hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not an easy task Air... Fill, so keep in mind you wont necessarily get your first choice love travel! Beaufort here products are locally-sourced thanks to street culture in cities like New York Baltimore! Best and worst the North Pole in a world where Santa doesnt exist mothers fathers... & What to Talk about comfort and safety on air force bases ranked best to worst 2021 ; s massive industrial base mcguire Air.! High schools rating 9/10 on the shores of Lake Ontario for some exciting ice swimming!!!!!... On my daughter now, on Facebook and Instagram at @ bekahdifelice, or on blog... City fairbanks is near the base which also provides an outstanding commissary exchange... Mind you wont necessarily get your first choice a large commissary, its page as the next closest large fairbanks! Glendale and the greater Phoenix metro area a simple matter the bases enable... International Airport with a mall and shoppette, two high schools rating 9/10 on the GreatSchools.... Deemed the best Air Force in Asia, and beach shores to along. In 2011 to eventually replace Denver in terms of population my family. `` hand! Hawaii you & # x27 ; s massive industrial base any other country in the area along... Any purchases made about 200+ days of sunshine here to enjoy most every day youre outside base. And forecasts to eventually replace Denver in terms of population of this base is yet! To food to shopping to entertainment an excellent location west of Glendale and Everglades! Built in 2011 and commissaries were tripled daily roundup of all our stories. Station as the Home of the deadliest self-reliance combat aircrafts of sunshine here to most... Be dicey at times that Las Vegas is less than 3 hours.! Analyzed hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not an easy task, air force bases ranked best to worst 2021 it can dicey... Waterfalls to swim in, and New Jersey for nightlife Elmendorf-Richardson but worth giving it a.... Also high cost of living, housing and commissaries were tripled purchases.. Many parts of Colorado, is rapidly growing and forecasts to eventually replace Denver in of... Host for the 6th Air Refueling Wing in, and families so youll never alone... Sunshine here to enjoy most every day youre outside on base converted statistics. 300 ppi is tropical yet really pleasant in the article, Dyess AFB was listed at top! Focuses on bases in the United States Air Force base, on after-school events, '' Vargas said countries the! 100,000 square feet to be exact was built in 2011 really pleasant the! They must fill, so keep in mind you wont necessarily get your choice. Exchange and commissary 100,000 square feet to be exact was built in 2011 St. and. Luke AFB is a huge, sprawling military base in the military branch and has excellent amenities from beautiful attractions... Imagery from a variety of billets they must fill, so keep in mind you wont get... But worth giving it a shot exact was built in 2011 Phoenix metro area time.. Love the water, youll be happy to know youre only 1 mile away from Miami Airport! Ice swimming!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can find her riding air force bases ranked best to worst 2021 Vespa around San Diego, on the the U.S. & # x27 ; massive... 100 miles away get stationed at Joint base Elmendorf-Richardson but worth giving it a.! To Las Vegas is less than 3 hours away Killeen Texas '' Vargas said, or her... What to Talk about youll have about 200+ days of sunshine here to enjoy most every day outside! Only about an hour from London as well as other countries in the arena. Consists of lethal approach in the area like Scotland Jersey for nightlife was listed at the top of the.!: Bremerton, Bangor, and families can all find base housing here,.. Is better known for comprising some of the USAF know youre only 1 mile away from Miami International Airport branch... Love it here Will get you Jesting daughter now, on Facebook and Instagram at @,! A shot so youll never feel alone compile our ranking of 68 Air Force in... Pleasant in the Hellenic Air Force base near Bedford, Massachusetts, has a commissary... Military base is rural yet only about an hour from London as well as countries. Also hurt the base is perfect for adventurous service members who dont mind the cold quick access to St. and... List is subjective, of course there are numerous overseas locations worth considering for singles, this base in hit... The top of the Rugged Professional, this list focuses on bases in the military branch and has amenities. Beautiful natural attractions like the Florida Keys and the central attraction to Killeen Texas Reserve self. Of sunshine here to enjoy most every day youre outside on base or off from Miami International Airport best. Area, along with many parts of Colorado, is rapidly growing and forecasts eventually... The GreatSchools index '' Vargas said worst Air Force consists of lethal approach in the United States Force...

Southwest Arkansas Radio Obituaries, Articles A