*The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. When looking at your options based on your position, think about what you love to do on your off-time. 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. Did you know that there are nearly 800 Air Force bases around the globe? I turned town an assignment to Eielson for Andersen.. got rewarded with an assignment to Minot afterwards.. If you really hate it well, at least you wont be there forever, right? And just like those Germans learned, once you are in, there is no point in trying to escape. Best Military Bases for Outdoor Enthusiasts 1. South Korean Air Force - 898. 3. A few months back we asked current and former military personnel where in the US they most enjoyed being stationed, and why. 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. Sometimes you end up drawing the short straw when it comes to military assignment locations. The unique wildlife that calls Alaska home. Finally the farther distance between 2 bases is about 219 miles which is well under most air force planes range capacity. 10 Worst States for Military Veterans and Retirees 2022: Vermont; Nevada; District of Columbia; Oregon Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. "I'm realizing more and more that it is just a black hole for enlisted members," Do said. Patrick Air Force Base. He was also one of the first enlisted members in the Air Force to experience working with near real time satellite imagery. Regardless of how tough our soldiers are, no one should feel completely discounted at their military base. The weather is great as well as the beaches. 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. 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. Twentynine Palms, California, sounds like a nice place to take a cheap family vacation. MacDill Air Force Base. Bases:Fort Bragg, Pope AirfieldUnlucky call sign:Fort Drag,No hope Pope"Why it's not great: Fort Bragg is like the Kardashians -- everybody in the Army knows about it, talks about it, and either loves it or hates it passionately. BestPlaces.net's crime statistics had low numbers for low crime rates and high numbers for high crime rates. The Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are also within reason. Nellis AFB features more military schools and squadrons than any other Air Force base in the country. The hospitality doesnt go unnoticed by military personnel making it a great place to feel welcomed. 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. Best area perk? Joint Base San Antonio is in the suburb of Lackland, Texas. 2. Low housing costs and phenomenal support from the local community makes Luke AFB an ideal place for military families. 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. Hanscom Air Force Base near Bedford, Massachusetts, has a lot going for it. This is a large base that does not have a lot of Westernized shopping. Now that Halliburton has closed its Minot facility, jobs arent as plentiful and rent prices are steadily decreasing. Unlike many other military bases, this one has a great cost of living its actually 18% lower than the U.S. national average. Related Article List of Air Force Bases in the US. Task & Purpose polled more than 1,000 of its readers on the worst military installations in terms of living. The base often runs out of supplies at the PX and has been considered not family-friendly. Single soldiers, in particular, will love Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS), an organization where soldiers can volunteer and participate in leisure activities together. But that food is much more expensive than junk food, he said, meaning he sometimes has to make a choice between eating healthily and making ends meet. "It's easier sometimes to ask a friend to get you something when they are TDY.". Fort Carson, Colorado. 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. | We pulled information on cost of living, housing, crime rates, commute times, pollution levels, climate, unemployment rates and sales taxes from the website Sperling's Best Places, which compiles demographic and other data on communities around the country. McGuire Air Force Base is part of joint base operations with the United States Air Force. Everyone has to settle down eventually, right? To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. To compile our ranking of 68 Air Force bases, we collected and analyzed hundreds of pieces of information. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If want to live off base, keep in mind the cost of living is high for junior enlisted families in particular, but youll likely find yourself in gorgeous historic neighborhoods. They have a DOD school that serves 9th-12th grade and recently built a new BX. (tied) Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. All the bases are on flat land no matter what terrain is surrounding it. Ft Rucker/Ft McClellan, AL - These bases have long been on the BRAC closure list, not many gyms and mwr's on post. Base: Fort BlissUnlucky call sign: Fort Piss, Hell PasoWhy it's not great: The base with the most misleading name, Fort Bliss is located in the border town of El Paso, Texas. 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. The press is silent, and people don't know they're being poisoned. They say there are two kinds of military towns: those that come ready-made and those you "make the most of." It may be fun to have pristine beaches and Disneyland practically in the backyard of your duty station. You are forced to travel to an Army base an hour and a half away to go to the commissary or shop. Nellis Air Force Base is right outside North Las Vegas need we say more? 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. Do warm days and sunny skies year-round sound appealing? Some residents have taken to calling the area Smell Segundo. The main issue, however, is really the money. As cold as Minot, but without the nukes; perhaps this place could use a little radiation. You wont be far from intercoastal waterways, museums, fine dining, and more. Republic of Korea Air Force. Okinawa, Japan is a favorite. The coastal military base provides that Florida weather with plenty of charm. 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. 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. 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. This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. | For the most part, you will have to live off base and may feel that Italian houses are not up to par with Western style housing. The current version has been updated to reflect the change. 6. Housing on post often has long waitlists and living off base means more crime. While living on post is extremely safe the base is home to the Defense Intelligence Agency living off post is a different story. Holloman AFB is between White Sands National Park and Lincoln National Forest. Here are some of the best bases you will find overseas. This is where NORAD and USAFA is located. The military complex has a ton of history and its evolution has transformed into one of the largest bases in the world. There are tons of national parks, plus all the skiing and rock climbing you can . 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. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. This is a USAF KC-130 Tanker refueling 2 F-35's. Ft Greely, AK - 4 hours . 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. 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. As far as Navy bases in Florida go, its tough to beat that. Global Firepower tracks total air service strength for each national power taken into consideration for the annual GFP ranking. As one of the most requested locations in the Army, youre in for a treat if you get stationed at Fort Carson. South Korea's air force has come a long way in the same timeframe as China. Correction: The original version of this article inadvertently reversed the order of the towns and ranked Fayetteville #1 instead of #10. Capt. 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. Finally, we added up the scores and stacked the bases. Eglin Air Force Base is another excellent choice for military couples. (tied) McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. The perk? Luke AFB is a major training facility for the military branch and has excellent amenities. The amenities at the military base are excellent and Colorado Springs is an excellent community to call home since so many residents are either active duty or retired military personnel. You have to shop using the Euro. Related Article Best Army Bases for Families, Couples and Singles. One review compared it to Hawaii but without the crowds. Best area perk? 8. Do you enjoy the indoors or outdoors more? Its also open seven days a week, so youre able to relax on this piece of paradise on your days off. This little city has it all:beautiful scenery, protected beaches, and historic sites all over. The median home value here is around $150,000 and has historical roots. 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. With nearly 13,000 active duty members across the areas bases, youll meet people from all over the country if you get stationed here. Traffic is notorious for being some of the worst in the entire country. If youve always wanted to have the island experience without feeling trapped on the actual island, living in the Keys is the closest you can get to that opportunity. 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. Learn more about Naval Air Station Key West here. To enjoy all that the area has to offer, dress accordingly on and off base to explore the best parts of this beautiful region. 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. Therefore, if you really like city life then youll find many of the USAF bases on the list problematic for their rural settings. The Americans there are rude and begging to leave. The weather is tropical yet really pleasant in the winters if youre not a fan of the cold or snow. A home in nearby Fairfax County, Virginia, has a median cost of $455,300. There are many small villages that are very friendly. Housing is also surprisingly affordable in parts of San Antonio and soldiers that are single will cherish the live music scene in nearby Austin. Team Little Rock Airmen help landscape the dormitory parking lot for Dorm Transform at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas July 17, 2020. Look at what matters most to you, and then research if those amenities and interests are present in the duty station location. Travis is in Solano County, California. Fort Lewis is easily one of the best Army bases in the United States. On your off-duty days, you can do everything from tasting the best key lime pie around to snorkeling, diving, or fishing off the coastline. The military facility is in the Fort Walton and Destin area with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. This post is responsible for training all Air Force B-1 crews and is commonly referred to as the Home of the B-1. Residents report that the base is small and theres nothing to do in the area, unless you want to drive to Dallas or Houston. Youll never regret a day at Lackland if you are single and looking to mingle. Savings may be hard to come by, as local shopping and driving are both very expensive. 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). Locals are friendly to soldiers serving in the USAF 18th Wing, 353rd Special Operations Group, and other units. So we weighted each category. Housing near Lakenheath is among the best with plenty of new and trendy options. Families also benefit from no state income or sales tax in the Anchorage area. If you have children, they will have to drive roughly an hour to the nearest international school. Whether youre on or off base, youll find activities to fulfill your need to explore the great outdoors in this mountainous terrain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller). Of all the branches of the military, the Air Force always had really nice bases including Minot. Sometimes you end up drawing the short straw when it comes to military assignment locations. In alphabetical order-. Barrancas Beach is a private stretch of waterfront located on base. The one that turned Matt Damon into a bad guy? What are the best Air Force bases in the United States? On base, youll find dental care, vet services, dining, and other recreational activities for a low-key day off. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kirby Turbak. As the Home of the Rugged Professional, this base is perfect for adventurous service members who dont mind the cold. 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. Pensacola Florida Military Bases. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Check out online forums like Reddit for open discussions. United Airlines. The United States currently operates 59 active Air Force bases. 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. Besides the unique cultural tensions of living in a border town, service members reported that Fort Bliss was hot, isolated, and subject to sandstorms. According to some respondents, its an overly religious area with a high number of evangelical Christian churches. Consequently, narrowing down a list of hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not a simple matter. 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? Both families and singles can easily find plenty of on-base housing, including single-family, duplex, and townhome floor plans (up to 5 bedrooms). Yet these are the top Air Force bases overseas relying on the same factors as the top-rated in the U.S.: Anderson AFB also serves as naval headquarters yet is largely considered the premier place to live and serve overseas in the USAF. Thankfully, many of the USAF bases in the United States have quick access to the outdoors and are in rural locations. Keep in mind its very competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but savor the opportunity if it presents itself. Besides the unique . 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. Armstrong. 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. (tied) Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. The area, along with many parts of Colorado, is rapidly growing and forecasts to eventually replace Denver in terms of population. Despite the astronomical costs of living in L.A., BAH rates are surprisingly low. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. The massive base serves 20,000 American service members and families so youll never feel alone. The base is rural yet only about an hour from London as well as other countries in the area like Scotland. The remote base is on the little island of Guam in the middle of nowhere on the Pacific. 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. And with Vegas, Palms Springs, Lake Havasu, Big Bear, and Los Angeles all within a two- to three-hour drive, there really are lot of places to get away. Welcome to Fort Drum. So if youre unimpressed by Louisiana, at least you can benefit from some military-issued, updated hospitality. The scenery is not only gorgeous but the weather is decent (by Alaska standards) and wildlife is abundant. Being that its Los Angeles, and very close to LAX airport, its a fairly pricey area especially if you choose to live off post. The forts Southern gothic landscape matches its history as a prison. Youll have occasional lockdowns and curfews imposed, but most people seem to enjoy their time spent here. Published Jun 5, 2018 7:48 PM EDT. 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. Serving the United States Air Force could land you in one of these premium locations depending on what you are seeking during service. When youre stationed in a stunning location like Hawaii, get outdoors as much as possible. Related: Five worst Navy bases where you can be stationed . Want to write for Task & Purpose? 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. Below, we rounded up the best military bases categorized by interests. If you love it, perhaps youll be lucky enough to get extended there. No more Tattoo Taboo: Air Force and Space Force to allow neck and hand tats, How will I do when that time comes? 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. Jason Do has been stationed at Columbus for five years and called it "one of the worst bases" in the Air Force. Off base, youll find a location thats military-friendly as Naval Air Station Pensacola employs 23,000 personnel, including civilians. U.S. Marines with Combined Anti-Armor Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division practice ground fighting techniques during a deployment for training exercise at Twentynine Palms, CA., Feb. 22, 2018U.S. - now a Space Force base Peterson AFB, CO - now a Space Force base Andrews AFB, MD. Answer (1 of 26): I've been hearing from plenty of Air Force retirees that Minot is THE worst. And sales taxes there are 7.15 percent, higher than the usual 6 percent. 4. It's so small that there is no chow hall. The next most important categories crime, health care facilities, commute times and exchanges were doubled in value. Here are the five worst Air Force installations where you can be stationed, according to their responses. RAF Lakenheath is located in Suffolk County in East Anglia. Flickr/U.S. Sure, there are dozens of barbers that will give you a tight fade, but theres really nowhere to be off duty and allow your face to fade into a five oclock shadow. You also wont be far from beautiful natural attractions like the Florida Keys and the Everglades. Vacation. Dyess AFB is located in West-Central Texas on the outskirts of the city of Abilene. Its like the North Pole in a world where Santa doesnt exist. Most families report that the base is a black hole that you never leave. For a complete directory of U.S. and overseas military installations, visit the Department of Defense Military OneSource network. Do says that for airmen stationed in Columbus, it's tough to afford to eat healthily and stay fit. ", 3. Youre never far from outdoor island adventures here. While in the military, he spent time analyzing imagery from a variety of aircraft such as the SR-71. In the surrounding areas, you can see everything from pre-Civil War forts to the southernmost point of the continental U.S. 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! The program will embed 16 mental health providers with units across the base. 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. The on-base amenities for Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi are disappointing. We saw impoverished communities served by well water near that base. While most residents acknowledge that it has nice, temperate weather, there isnt much else said about it. On base, youll find everything from medical care to housing to take care of your daily needs, and off base youll discover a world rich in music, French culture, and history that cant be found elsewhere. What lifestyle amenities do you appreciate in your life now? Florida.