You are forced to travel to an Army base an hour and a half away to go to the commissary or shop. 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. 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 towns where feral cats circled the moving van when they pulled in. Having an open mind and a willingness to explore on and off base will make your duty station experience all the better. Here are the top 10 US military base towns overseas. The next most important categories crime, health care facilities, commute times and exchanges were doubled in value. Joint Base San Antonio Lackland is such a great place to get stationed that it makes the list twice. What are your hobbies? There are tons of national parks, plus all the skiing and rock climbing you can . Related: Five worst Navy bases where you can be stationed . American Airlines. This is a USAF KC-130 Tanker refueling 2 F-35's. What are the best Air Force bases in the United States? This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. 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). 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. Hurlburt Field. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. All the bases are on flat land no matter what terrain is surrounding it. It's a very depressed social and economic area. Traffic is notorious for being some of the worst in the entire country. Off base housing is nice, but expensive. (tied) Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, formerly Bolling Air Force Base, ends up in our bottom five primarily due to the Washington area's abysmal traffic year after year, ranked the worst in the country and high cost of housing. South Korean Air Force - 898. Nellis AFB features more military schools and squadrons than any other Air Force base in the country. Pensacola Florida Military Bases. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Also worth mentioning: Freedom Crossing, the first-ever, on-base, open-air shopping center offers tons of restaurants and shops. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Fort Polk resides in Louisiana where the hot summers and mosquito problems can make the area unpleasant. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Best Military Bases for Outdoor Enthusiasts 1. Pikes Peak, among the many 14ers in the state of Colorado, is right in your backyard. Junior sailors, geographical bachelors, and families can all find base housing here, too. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. Basic allowance for housing is nowhere near enough to foot the bill of an area that has a housing purchase median cost of $766,000. 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. The military base serves as the host for the 6th Air Refueling Wing. 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. 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. There are, of course, many things we cannot control for when joining the military, but some bases are just worse than others. E-2: $2,070 per . There are many small villages that are very friendly. It's a great base to live on whether you're single, married, or have kids, as there's a lot to do in your downtime. Learn more about Naval Air Station Key West here. Besides the unique cultural tensions of living in a border town, service members reported that Fort Bliss was hot, isolated, and subject to sandstorms. "It's better for my family.". Housing is also surprisingly affordable in parts of San Antonio and soldiers that are single will cherish the live music scene in nearby Austin. Naval Base Kitsap . In addition to vacation days, known as leave, Air Force members also get a variety of paid holidays and family leave days. In our survey, it ended up with one of the highest school rankings 8 out of 10 the lowest crime ratesreceiving 9 points out of 10, far greater than the nationwide average of 6 and lowest unemployment rates 3.9 percent compared with 6.1 percent nationally. Travis is in Solano County, California. According to a new survey, about 1 in 25 adults say they recently fell asleep while driving. 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. Serving the United States Air Force could land you in one of these premium locations depending on what you are seeking during service. There are several military bases that have a lot to offer to military personnel and their families. 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. And it's hot, too. This list is subjective, of course there are too many duty stations to post here so do your research before submitting your wishlist. 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. Additionally, the USAF maintains hundreds of military bases around the globe in more than 70 countries. However, the area of Bedford, Massachusetts, is extremely expensive. Then look no further than the Sunshine State. Savings may be hard to come by, as local shopping and driving are both very expensive. 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. Best area perk? The unassuming military base in small-town Illinois is a hidden gem based on those who have served at the location. Angel Vargas, a group practice manager for the 375th Medical Group at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, who was previously stationed at L.A., said that he loved the near-constant 70-degree weather there, as well as all the social things to do. 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. These are the highest ranking Air Force bases for couples: Do you really need an excuse to live in Hawaii? Bolling's crime score was 3 out of 10, much lower than the nationwide average of 6. 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. 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. 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. 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. Scores for the most important categories schools, cost of living, housing and commissaries were tripled. Its a great base to live on whether youre single, married, or have kids, as theres a lot to do in your downtime. Learn more about Naval Air Station Pensacola here. And if your spouse hopes to find a job in the local community, that's going to be tough Columbus' unemployment rate is a staggering 12.9 percent, more than double the nationwide rate. 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. Top 10 Worst Bases. The United States currently operates 59 active Air Force bases. "It's easier sometimes to ask a friend to get you something when they are TDY.". All air force and military bases are not made the same. hiv12 antigen and antibodies fourth generation with reflexes labcorp replacement trigger howa 1500 comcast business outage map startup companies in boston hiring beside still water puppies japanese threesome barn door for closet tummy tuck pictures week by week 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 unassuming military base in small-town Illinois is a "hidden gem" based . When looking at your options based on your position, think about what you love to do on your off-time. The base is on the smaller side, so youll get a chance to know your fellow service members and their families well. Women in the military: Moving beyond firsts, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Officials OK some hand and neck tattoos for airmen, Guardians, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Another Air Force fleet grounded over fears plane tails may fall off, Pentagon orders engine vibration fix for entire F-35 fleet worldwide, Minot firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. I would like to indicate that I will not be listing bases that are considered "deployments." In alphabetical order-. Answer (1 of 26): I've been hearing from plenty of Air Force retirees that Minot is THE worst. Come along for the ride! Home of the Space and Missile Systems Center and the 61st Air Base Group, Los Angeles Air Force base is situated in El Segundo, California. 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. The secludedness makes you feel like you have an island to yourself with phenomenal beaches and splendid weather. The overseas location is also instrumental to military operations on the Western Pacific. "I also know that a lot of enlisted members have a second job to support their families.". While most residents acknowledge that it has nice, temperate weather, there isnt much else said about it. People's Liberation Army Air Force ( China) - 1991. Image: Wikimedia.org. BestPlaces.net's crime statistics had low numbers for low crime rates and high numbers for high crime rates. Learn more here and be sure to check out more great stories on our homepage. 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. 10 Worst States for Military Veterans and Retirees 2022: Vermont; Nevada; District of Columbia; Oregon Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kirby Turbak. Learn more about Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort here. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. The quiet countryside serves as a quick escape from the hectic nature of the military base. This accrues at 2.5 days per month. Barrancas Beach is a private stretch of waterfront located on base. 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. Base: Camp LejeuneUnlucky call sign: J-actionvilleWhy it's not great: The deal breaker here isnt the backwoods location or the fact that legitimate social functions are called pig pickins. No, the complaint we heard most often from Marines is that waaaaay too many Marines live here. 6. 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. Related Article Best Army Bases for Families, Couples and Singles. Youre never far from outdoor island adventures here. Outdoor activities are also abundant given all the natural features in the area. For example, a staff sergeant without dependents in L.A. gets a monthly BAH of $1,704 and a chief master sergeant without dependents gets $2,373. 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. (tied) Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. 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. 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. Creating a list of the best Air Force bases in the nation is not an easy task. 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. While there are numerous overseas locations worth considering for singles, this list focuses on bases in the United States. 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. The military base is also close to the Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree National Park for family vacations when the time allows. Florida. "That's more money I can spend on my daughter now, on after-school events," Vargas said. Some even deliver to your door. ), and Kings Canyon is the same distance east. Best area perk? We then assigned each category a score on a 10-point scale. The perk? Want to keep your sharp shooter status? Now that Halliburton has closed its Minot facility, jobs arent as plentiful and rent prices are steadily decreasing.