Savings may be hard to come by, as local shopping and driving are both very expensive. However, couples will love everything millions of vacationers find a reason to visit Hawaii each year including spectacular scenery and fantastic weather. While relocating to Las Vegas is maybe a good or bad thing its impossible to resist the urge for young singles of the USAF. Nellis Air Force Base is right outside North Las Vegas need we say more? Its a great base to live on whether youre single, married, or have kids, as theres a lot to do in your downtime. This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. With nearly 13,000 active duty members across the areas bases, youll meet people from all over the country if you get stationed here. Related Article US Military Bases in Germany. 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. Men in combat. 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. Part of the reason Lackland ranks so high is because of its superior medical facilities which are important to a lot of military families. Unlucky call sign: "Fort Piss," "Hell Paso". This is a USAF KC-130 Tanker refueling 2 F-35's. It's a very depressed social and economic area. The base's commissary is small, its only medical facility is a clinic, and its small exchange is just a shoppette. Its cheaper to live in the place you never wanted to! McConnell's crime score was 3 out of a possible 10, lower than the nationwide average score of 6. Did you know that there are nearly 800 Air Force bases around the globe? The military base serves as the host for the 6th Air Refueling Wing. As a service member, theres a good chance youre going to move around a lot. Plus, youll have about 200+ days of sunshine here to enjoy most every day youre outside on base or off. What lifestyle amenities do you appreciate in your life now? There was one positive review that indicates that, for the right price, you can find a nice place to live. For those that like to hunt and fish, there are plenty of outdoor activities. Best Military Bases for Outdoor Enthusiasts 1. In fact, one airman told us that he learned how to cook at Cannon since there werent any good restaurants. Overall, it seems that everyone enjoyed their time at Kadena, despite some of the drawbacks. Colorado Springs is also home to the scenic Air Force Academy and right along the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains. The purpose of any great military base is to serve the country yet the location should also boost morale by offering amenities and other perks. No more Tattoo Taboo: Air Force and Space Force to allow neck and hand tats, How will I do when that time comes? Egyptian Air Force - 1,062. Here are the five worst Air Force installations where you can be stationed, according to their responses. Its a great base for singles because of its proximity to downtown San Antonio and Austin which are paradises for this type of crowd. The next most important categories crime, health care facilities, commute times and exchanges were doubled in value. Off base, youll find nearby volcanoes to hike, waterfalls to swim in, and beach shores to surf along. 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. Required fields are marked *. Fixed-wing and rotary-wing (helicopters) aircraft types are factored in from all branches of service (Air Force, Army Aviation, Navy, Marine). While we don't join the military to feel comfortable and pampered, considering how stressful the job is, it's nice to have some fun around. 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. Each branch has a variety of billets they must fill, so keep in mind you wont necessarily get your first choice. Naval Base Kitsap . On your days off duty, you can explore more than 40 of the areas museums or take a history and heritage tour to learn about the rich culture that is NOLA. 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. Sarah Sicard Jason Do has been stationed at Columbus for five years and called it "one of the worst bases" in the Air Force. Beaufort was also named as the Souths Best Small Town by Southern Living Magazine. Maybe your quirky office prank on the executive officer went horribly wrong. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The base is small and it only takes about 45 minutes to travel from the north side of the island to the south. If you find yourself stationed on the beautiful island of Oahu, consider yourself among the lucky few who get this coveted duty station. 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. There are several military bases that have a lot to offer to military personnel and their families. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. And for how close it is to the water, youll probably be surprised by the low rates of living. Sweltering summers the average high temperature in July hits an always-muggy 89 degrees and high crime rates in the District of Columbia also dragged Bolling's score down. 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. Traffic is notorious for being some of the worst in the entire country. Fort Polk/Fort Irwin. Compared to the other bases on this list, Hanscom is in an area with good schools and low crime. Patrick Air Force Base. Their rankings look at all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 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. Also, according to residents, the smell from a nearby water treatment plant makes the area very undesirable, especially during the hot and humid summers. As the second-oldest city in South Carolina, history lovers will adore Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort located 70 miles southwest of Charleston. Pick a direction and go. 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. 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. 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. Additionally, the USAF maintains hundreds of military bases around the globe in more than 70 countries. Any time you want to participate in any outdoor activity, you can pretty much guarantee the weather will be ideal to spend time outside. Kadena, Japan. All the bases are on flat land no matter what terrain is surrounding it. It is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters. If you have children, they will have to drive roughly an hour to the nearest international school. Theres skiing at Dry Hill, tubing at Maple Ridge Snow Park, and plenty to explore in the Adirondack Mountains. 3. The unique wildlife that calls Alaska home. It isnt technically an AFB, so they dont have the normal base facilities that you would typically see. This is the lowest enlisted rank and includes airman basic (Air Force), private (Army and Marine Corps), seaman recruit (Coast Guard and Navy), fireman recruit, airman recruit or hospitalman recruit (Navy) and specialist 1 (Space Force). 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. As cold as Minot, but without the nukes; perhaps this place could use a little radiation. A static Curtiss P-40E Warhawk is displayed outside of the front gate at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 3, 2020. Orlando is also within a long days drive from MacDill Air Force Base. And sales taxes there are 7.15 percent, higher than the usual 6 percent. Do warm days and sunny skies year-round sound appealing? Come along for the ride! Members of the Air Force receive 30 days of vacation with pay each year. Off base housing is nice, but expensive. Locals are friendly to soldiers serving in the USAF 18th Wing, 353rd Special Operations Group, and other units. At SOUTHCOM, you can expect to meet a lot of different people as its a joint base. Wichita ranks as the worst city for veterans health care, largely because veterans make up just 0.03% of the city's population. 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. If you want to experience the culture, you will need to learn to drive on the opposite side of the road and cope with the narrow roadways. Southwest Airlines. 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. When you arent heading out to the coastline, youll find theres plenty to see and do on base, including bowling, swimming, working out, movie-going, and dining. Marine Crops photo by Cpl. Off base? Its like the North Pole in a world where Santa doesnt exist. According to some respondents, its an overly religious area with a high number of evangelical Christian churches. Hanscom has a total workforce of 5,828, including 922 active duty service members and 92 reservists. ", 3. 10. Landscaping and repainting the parking lots was one of many projects for the Dorm Transformation process. 20 Reasons to Join the Military (and 7 reasons not to), Your email address will not be published. San Antonio is one of the most underrated cities in the United States with mild year-round temperatures, entertainment options, and a thriving nightlife. According to a new survey, about 1 in 25 adults say they recently fell asleep while driving. There are many small villages that are very friendly. You'll find the living to be a bit of a slower pace, but there's plenty of opportunities to travel to the bigger UK cities as well as other destinations throughout Europe. After much consideration, these are the five bases that should count as a deployment if they manage to survive the next round of base closures. There are 2,744 people assigned to Columbus, including 1,447 military service members, 598 contractors, and 472 civil servants. One review went as far as to refer to it as the gates of hell, but did not indicate much more than that. Answer (1 of 3): I've answered this before but here's what they were when I was in: McChord AFB. Of course, not all categories are equally important to service members. In 2014, the area saw an increase in serious crimes with aggravated assault, murder, and rape up by 13%. Top 10 Worst Bases. The Air Force also offers multiple programs for tuition assistance to airmen. Then look no further than the Sunshine State. As far as Navy bases in Florida go, its tough to beat that. 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. Population: 448,759 Veteran Population: 94,938 Median Home Price: $222,100 Unemployment Rate: 4.8% Crime Rate: Safer than 10% of U.S. cities Military Bases Near Colorado Springs: Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base; Colorado Springs is one of the best places for military retirement! Learn more about Naval Air Station Pensacola here. Eating organic and local has never been easier, which is great news for anyone who has watched any documentary on factory farming, ever. Melanye Martinez. | Russian Air Force - 3,863. 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. Regardless of how tough our soldiers are, no one should feel completely discounted at their military base. Related Article List of Air Force Bases in the US. The summers are upward of 100 degrees. If you can't fit in smaller sized clothing, you will be forced to order online. South Korean Air Force - 898. One review compared it to Hawaii but without the crowds. The 5th Civil Engineer Squadron removes snow from the flightline before a training sortie at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Jan. 14, 2016.U.S. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. As with virtually every other town on this list, Lemoore is almost indiscernible on a map. Your email address will not be published. MacDill AFB is another prime location for the single crowd. A ROKAF T-50 at the Singapore Air Show. If you love the great outdoors and dont mind a little rain, Naval Base Kitsap is one of the prettiest places to be stationed. 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. Creating a list of the best Air Force bases in the nation is not an easy task. The military complex has a ton of history and its evolution has transformed into one of the largest bases in the world. Base pay starts at $1,650 per month and will increase to $1,785 per month after four months. Military residents appreciate the rural and quiet surroundings of east Dayton yet with quick access to metropolises like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, and Indianapolis. You may or may not like the summers, but the rest of the year offers some of the best mild temperatures in the United States. 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. Additionally, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland offers its own mall on the base and several other amenities. So it is best to be prepared. 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? At one point it was home for German POWs during World War II. Related Article How To Join The US Air Force. And the schools are middling, with average ranking of 5 within 10 miles. Housing is also surprisingly affordable in parts of San Antonio and soldiers that are single will cherish the live music scene in nearby Austin. Eglin Air Force Base. Families also benefit from no state income or sales tax in the Anchorage area. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. When youre stationed in a stunning location like Hawaii, get outdoors as much as possible. Hanscom Air Force Base near Bedford, Massachusetts, has a lot going for it. 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. What are the best Air Force bases in the United States? Finally the farther distance between 2 bases is about 219 miles which is well under most air force planes range capacity. An island, Okinawa is just about 70 miles long and an average of seven miles wide.