Everyone has to settle down eventually, right? The U.S.s northern fortress of military strategic solitude, Minot Air Force Base, has long been a prime destination for career-ending mishaps. Military personnel get a discount, too. (tied) McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. 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. Base pay starts at $1,650 per month and will increase to $1,785 per month after four months. Image: Wikimedia.org. 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. Meanwhile, others like single personnel have quick access to St. Louis and a variety of entertainment options. Sarah Sicard On-base housing is rumored to be nice and the post boasts a brand new commissary, PX, and a really good hospital. Enjoy one of our high quality American, State . Finally, we added up the scores and stacked the bases. This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. Jason Do has been stationed at Columbus for five years and called it "one of the worst bases" in the Air Force. The secludedness makes you feel like you have an island to yourself with phenomenal beaches and splendid weather. These are the highest ranking Air Force bases for couples: Do you really need an excuse to live in Hawaii? Consequently, narrowing down a list of hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not a simple matter. Some residents have taken to calling the area Smell Segundo. The main issue, however, is really the money. Scores for the most important categories schools, cost of living, housing and commissaries were tripled. Want to write for Task & Purpose? Fort Carson main gate. Because its an island, the cost of living is high but can be offset if you live with roommates or use base housing and budget wisely. The one that turned Matt Damon into a bad guy? The weather is tropical and can become very humid in the summer. In addition to vacation days, known as leave, Air Force members also get a variety of paid holidays and family leave days. Unlike other services, where most complaints stem from life on and off post, most issues with the Air Forces bases come from being the cost of living in the areas and high rates of crime. 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. The Panama Canal also falls under the protection of this base. 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? The 7 percent sales tax is higher than the nationwide average of 6 percent, and summer hits hard, averaging 92-degree temperatures in July. The median home cost there is a whopping $766,000. We'd wager school quality, for example, is a greater concern than the sales tax rate. A ROKAF T-50 at the Singapore Air Show. And an Arlington, Virginia, house hits a punishing median cost of $583,400 well over triple the $170,100 median home cost nationwide. "I also know that a lot of enlisted members have a second job to support their families.". Theres skiing at Dry Hill, tubing at Maple Ridge Snow Park, and plenty to explore in the Adirondack Mountains. If you love blues music and jazz history, delight in the fact that theres no shortage of that all around Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. 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. The military base serves as the host for the 6th Air Refueling Wing. Bekah DiFelice is a writer, military spouse, and recovering addict to the word "literally." Despite the astronomical costs of living in L.A., BAH rates are surprisingly low. 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. Off base, youll find nearby volcanoes to hike, waterfalls to swim in, and beach shores to surf along. You will learn to hate this slice of northeastern sensibility located in the mystical hills of Jefferson, New York. The unassuming military base in small-town Illinois is a hidden gem based on those who have served at the location. They have a DOD school that serves 9th-12th grade and recently built a new BX. If you cant fit in smaller sized clothing, you will be forced to order online. 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. "It's hard to find anything that'll fit, and there isn't much selection" at the exchange, Do said. At SOUTHCOM, you can expect to meet a lot of different people as its a joint base. 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. Housing is also surprisingly affordable in parts of San Antonio and soldiers that are single will cherish the live music scene in nearby Austin. What are the best Air Force bases in the United States? Kadena Air Base is another location in Asia to get lost in along with Guam. "A lot of people have to have roommates just to not live in a bad area, which Columbus, Mississippi, has many of," Do said. Having an open mind and a willingness to explore on and off base will make your duty station experience all the better. Base: Cannon Air Force BaseUnlucky call sign: AfcannonstanWhy it's not great: Blame the fact that Clovis is more West Texas than New Mexico, that there are limited on-base amenities, or that its completely surrounded by cattle farms and dairies; but airmen know Clovis as a remote base town memorable for the wafting smell of cow manure and the downright biblical wave of pestilence known as fly season.Most common escape: Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas, are the two closest cities, but we cant bring ourselves to see how this is a good thing -- unless you enjoy taking down 72oz of free steak in an hour. There are tons of national parks, plus all the skiing and rock climbing you can . Do warm days and sunny skies year-round sound appealing? 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. Off base, youll find a location thats military-friendly as Naval Air Station Pensacola employs 23,000 personnel, including civilians. A few months back we asked current and former military personnel where in the US they most enjoyed being stationed, and why. The military bases on this list range in size from 62,435 acres to more than 3.5 million and are operated by one of the military's four branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines . There are no schools on base. Overall, it seems that everyone enjoyed their time at Kadena, despite some of the drawbacks. 8. Marine Crops photo by Cpl. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. Craig currently resides in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and runs his own business. Why is Russia wasting so many troops to capture Bakhmut? ", 3. Surfing, hiking, ziplining the list is endless. Both families and singles can easily find plenty of on-base housing, including single-family, duplex, and townhome floor plans (up to 5 bedrooms). You can find her riding her Vespa around San Diego, on Facebook and Instagram at @bekahdifelice, or on her blog bekahdifelice.com. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. Very cold and very sad.Most common escape: Syracuse is the closest town, although Lake Placid, Niagara Falls, and Montreal are a little over three hours away. The quiet countryside serves as a quick escape from the hectic nature of the military base. The massive base serves 20,000 American service members and families so youll never feel alone. Below, we rounded up the best military bases categorized by interests. Plus, the Kitsap Peninsula isnt far from multiple day trip options, including Seattle, local mountain ranges, water trails, and even Canada. 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From sweltering hot weather to a distinct lack of nightlife, it almost makes you forget that there are literal lakes of human waste in this godforsaken hellhole. 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. Now c. The United States currently operates 59 active Air Force bases. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kirby Turbak. As one of the most requested locations in the Army, youre in for a treat if you get stationed at Fort Carson. Were sorry, Fayetteville -- you didnt deserve that. When you view any duty station as your new home, youll be able to better embrace the local culture and unique base aspects. Whats your dream duty station and why? The towns where feral cats circled the moving van when they pulled in. Nellis AFB features more military schools and squadrons than any other Air Force base in the country. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Based on Air Force Times research, these are the five least-popular . This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. Joint Base San Antonio Lackland is such a great place to get stationed that it makes the list twice. Here are the top 10 US military base towns overseas. We used formulas to convert the raw data from each category into a 10-point scale. I turned town an assignment to Eielson for Andersen.. got rewarded with an assignment to Minot afterwards.. 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. Wright-Patterson AFB just makes the cut among many other competing military bases for top honors. It may be fun to have pristine beaches and Disneyland practically in the backyard of your duty station. Base: Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine PalmsUnlucky call sign: 29 Stumps or The StumpsWhy it's not great: Marines call The Stumps the place for the best training and arguably the worst social life. "Everything closes early on base and around town. Some are devoid of entertainment, run by unfit staff, have horrible food, or offer horrible amenities. Fort Lewis is easily one of the best Army bases in the United States. 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. 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. Keep in mind that you may not get anything on your list (my wife and I didn't). The coastal military base provides that Florida weather with plenty of charm. Best area perk? (Army) Ok, now we're talking it's an outdoorsman's paradise. Unlike many other military bases, this one has a great cost of living its actually 18% lower than the U.S. national average. Since there's no chow hall, he tries to find healthy foods off base. 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. Each branch has a variety of billets they must fill, so keep in mind you wont necessarily get your first choice. Base (s): Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base. The Best And Worst Airlines in America in 2021. You are forced to travel to an Army base an hour and a half away to go to the commissary or shop. Eglin Air Force Base. Additionally, the USAF maintains hundreds of military bases around the globe in more than 70 countries. Pick a direction and go. Most families report that the base is a black hole that you never leave. A well-guarded military base can imply that such areasincluding the nearby military townsare safe and secure. The base often runs out of supplies at the PX and has been considered not family-friendly. One soldier put it this way, If God had to give the Earth an enema, he would attach the hose to Fort Polk. Yeesh. BestPlaces.net's cost of living score for nearbyEl Segundo, California, is 218, more than double the nationwide average of 100. They say there are two kinds of military towns: those that come ready-made and those you "make the most of." And it's hot, too. 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? Joint Base San Antonio. Holloman AFB is deserving even if Luke AFB and MacDill AFB also need to get considered on this list. This city has one of the highest veteran populations in the U.S. and is home to . 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. This little city has it all:beautiful scenery, protected beaches, and historic sites all over. 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. On-base housing is privatized here and is open to active-duty families, DoD civilians, and active duty bachelors. Upon landing, assuming you dodged the tornado, you can find exactly one Applebee's to toss your 51-dollar per diem at. 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. 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. Unlucky call sign: "Fort Piss," "Hell Paso". Fort Polk resides in Louisiana where the hot summers and mosquito problems can make the area unpleasant. Soldiers say the operational tempo is punishing, the single ladies are few, and the nearest town is 45 minutes away -- and that town is Barstow, CA, a place that frequently holds the title of meth capital of the world.Most common escape: Like many of the desert base towns on our list, Fort Irwin is located in the middle of nowhere but in the middle of everything. Big Bear, San Diego, Vegas, and LA are all within reach. Ft Greely, AK - 4 hours . United Airlines. Many people join the military to travel and see the world which is most desirable for active-duty members that are single. Located in the middle of nowhere the Mojave Desert, 29 Palms is where tanks outnumber sedans and sunburns happen through car windows. 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. Ranking the premier Air Force bases in the United States is not an easy task as there are several worthy of top honors. Best area perk? 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? Near Washington, D.C., Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is unpopular among airmen. The military facility is in the Fort Walton and Destin area with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Tyndall Air Force Base. San Antonio is one of the most underrated cities in the United States with mild year-round temperatures, entertainment options, and a thriving nightlife.
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