And despite the lure of perfect weather here, if you decide to move on base, the housing waiting list is only about a month for 3-bedrooms or less! If youre traveling near the Delta Junction area, keep your eye out for rare sightings of wild buffalo. The only saving grace is that Las Vegas is less than 3 hours away. 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. 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. 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. Besides Las Vegas, residents have Los Angeles as a reasonable drive away too. 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 9 percent sales tax and 7.6 percent unemployment rate are also high. Fairbanks is near the base which also provides an outstanding commissary and exchange with a mall and shoppette. 1. To compile our ranking of 68 Air Force bases, we collected and analyzed hundreds of pieces of information. You can increase your odds of success by helping your family relocate to a place with affordable housing, family-friend amenities, good schools, and low crime rates. 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. Grandparents can make amazing babysitters, but there are some things to keep in mind. Again, the desert climate and dry heat make the location undesirable, and despite the name, there are no palm trees. - After the fall of USSR, Russia became China's principal arm suppliers. Learn more about Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans here. Youll never regret a day at Lackland if you are single and looking to mingle. Housing is also surprisingly affordable in parts of San Antonio and soldiers that are single will cherish the live music scene in nearby Austin. The base is one of the oldest bases in the nation, and a portion of the homes on base are historic homes. 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. 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. However, what helps Guam is that its a territory of the United States with English as the predominant language. This little city has it all:beautiful scenery, protected beaches, and historic sites all over. (Army) Ok, now we're talking it's an outdoorsman's paradise. Most families report that the base is a black hole that you never leave. Oh, and you can walk on the ferry for free to go to Seattle! So even though the base may be a bust, it might just prompt enough personal growth to make a really excellent online dating profile. So if youre unimpressed by Louisiana, at least you can benefit from some military-issued, updated hospitality. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Becoming a military family can be an adjustment for families. Best area perk? Task & Purpose polled more than 1,000 of its readers on the worst military installations in terms of living. The southern station is where families hope to be if they value vibrance, diversity, and culture. 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. Learn more about Naval Air Station Key West here. And if you like to unwind from desert combat training by driving into more desert to shoot more guns and drive more off-road vehicles, then Fort Irwin is your paradise.Surprise silver lining: The Barstow Tanger Outlets offer soldiers the chance to buy their Air Jordans on discount so they can wear them to Shock Wave, the on-base night club that shows UFC fights without cover and serves food that is not half bad, hit or miss, and meh, according to Yelp! Each branch has a variety of billets they must fill, so keep in mind you wont necessarily get your first choice. 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. Location: Bremerton, Bangor, and Keyport, Washington. Regardless, they're all ones you won't want to miss: 1. Best reason to be . The base's commissary is small, its only medical facility is a clinic, and its small exchange is just a shoppette. Located in the southern part of Colorado Springs, this mountainous area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. So, if you are into warm weather, sunshine, and free time, there is nothing here for you. On-base housing is rumored to be nice and the post boasts a brand new commissary, PX, and a really good hospital. Consequently, narrowing down a list of hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not a simple matter. Edwards is home . -- Schoenfield Schoenfield's bold prediction: Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes combine for 35 wins and a sub-3.00 ERA, and the Brewers win the NL Central. 3. Life at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, is hard to beat. Military Bases & Facilities. With nearly 13,000 active duty members across the areas bases, youll meet people from all over the country if you get stationed here. 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. There are tons of perks to being near NOLA, but it isn't for every family. Pick a direction and go. Single soldiers, in particular, will love Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS), an organization where soldiers can volunteer and participate in leisure activities together. We used formulas to convert the raw data from each category into a 10-point scale. Its a great base to live on whether youre single, married, or have kids, as theres a lot to do in your downtime. These were the best and worst places for air quality in 2021, new report shows. Plus, youll have about 200+ days of sunshine here to enjoy most every day youre outside on base or off. If you love it, perhaps youll be lucky enough to get extended there. Whether youre on or off base, youll find activities to fulfill your need to explore the great outdoors in this mountainous terrain. Do you enjoy the indoors or outdoors more? The one that turned Matt Damon into a bad guy? 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. 10 Worst States for Military Veterans and Retirees for 2022: 1. A list of the best Air Force bases for families can be helpful to family-oriented service members that know the importance of landing their loved ones in a solid place. Service members also have the choice of journeying north to Alburqurqe and many destinations in Colorado for extended leave vacations. But Westervelt said if someone really wants an off-base home, her office can usually find something for them within 20 or 30 minutes of Hanscom. 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. Related Article Top 15 Military Schools For Boys And Girls. Life here is charming, but it can be dicey at times. 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. It is easy to see why they are considered some of the best Air Force bases for families in the nation. Beaufort was also named as the Souths Best Small Town by Southern Living Magazine. It could be because of how close it was to family, the location around the installation or based on what the work hours were for the service member. There is nothing like spending leisure time in the outdoors. 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. 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. The military facility is in the Fort Walton and Destin area with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Washington 6. The massive base serves 20,000 American service members and families so youll never feel alone. 6. 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. The 2021 IQAir report ranked India among the countries with the . There are about 26,000 US military . Florida 3. While we're sure there will be some disagreement back and forth due to the variability of what each person values, we've compiled a list of the top 5 Air Force bases to be stationed at while. Here, the commissary is one of the very best and most extensive in the country. Junior sailors, geographical bachelors, and families can all find base housing here, too. 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. You know, if youre into that kinda thing when you arent defending the country.Surprise silver lining: Surrounding Jacksonville are some truly charming historic and seaside towns, including New Bern, Swansboro, and the Emerald Isle. Any time you want to participate in any outdoor activity, you can pretty much guarantee the weather will be ideal to spend time outside. Want to keep your sharp shooter status? Virginia 2. - Largest air force in Asia, and is better known for comprising some of the deadliest self-reliance combat aircrafts. All Rights Reserved. I was lucky worst place I ever went was Lajes and it was OK It's a military. If Age is Just a Number, Can the Military Remember Were Still Here. Housing near Lakenheath is among the best with plenty of new and trendy options. 10 Worst Cities 1. When it comes to available healthcare, the medical center is one of the best in the military. 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? As far as Navy bases in Florida go, its tough to beat that. Though Air Force bases are considered to be some of the best installations among all the services, the branch still has a number that fall below par. McGuire Air Force Base, on the other hand, is very close to NYC, Philadelphia, and New Jersey for nightlife. 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. BestPlaces.net's crime statistics had low numbers for low crime rates and high numbers for high crime rates. Despite the higher cost of living on island, many will say it is their favorite place to live. "I'm realizing more and more that it is just a black hole for enlisted members," Do said. Required fields are marked *. #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. Check out these fun and useful St. Patrick's Day crafts for folks of all ages! Whats your dream duty station and why? As with virtually every other town on this list, Lemoore is almost indiscernible on a map. 2. You're in a tropical paradise with great weather and. Military families have options when it comes to housing whether its the affordable midsize city of Fayetteville or the richer suburb of Southern Pines. Low housing costs and phenomenal support from the local community makes Luke AFB an ideal place for military families. Having an open mind and a willingness to explore on and off base will make your duty station experience all the better. By Link Copied! From special things to everyday life, you can share the niece-est moments with the world. Bring giggles and glee with these hilarious April Fools' Day jokes! Located in Miami-Dade County, get an introduction to the melting pot that is nearby Miamis culture. Youre never far from outdoor island adventures here. The weather is tropical yet really pleasant in the winters if youre not a fan of the cold or snow. Do said Columbus' exchange is horrible, and he usually goes to Wal-Mart instead. 7. In the summertime, you can even hit the beach on the shores of Lake Ontario for some exciting ice swimming!!! Eareckson sits 1200 miles from Anchorage Alaska but only 200 miles from Russia. If you find yourself stationed on the beautiful island of Oahu, consider yourself among the lucky few who get this coveted duty station. Sarah Sicard Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. Special Report: The top 5 best bases for airmen. All rights reserved. Outdoor activities are also abundant given all the natural features in the area. Eglin Air Force Base is another excellent choice for military couples. One soldier put it this way, If God had to give the Earth an enema, he would attach the hose to Fort Polk. Yeesh. The MTFs awarded . Find out about these awesome picks. Despite the astronomical costs of living in L.A., BAH rates are surprisingly low. Best area perk? California 9. 8 Best U.S. Military Bases for Families | Extra Space Storage Reserve a self storage unit today and get up to 20% off! Along with having the great wilderness as your backyard (more on that, below), its a great assignment for military families. 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. And these were their picks for the Best Military Towns in America -- some truly beautiful parts of the country. Contact Us For those who are vegetarian, Godspeed. 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