The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. And it's hot, too. 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. The absolute worst is/was Eareckson Air Station, AKA The Rock, located on Shemya Island, a tiny island (under 12 square miles) at the ass end of the Aleutian chain. Nearby Northern Virginia's schools are popularly known as among the best in the country, and some live up to that reputation. Among those most contaminated are Vandenberg, Naval Weapons Air Station China Lake, Travis Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Alameda, and Edwards Air Force Base. Despite the higher cost of living on island, many will say it is their favorite place to live. (tied) McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. It also maintains dedicated strategic-level bombers, CAS . Luke AFB is a major training facility for the military branch and has excellent amenities. While many enjoy the mission of the installation (bombers and missiles), many dislike the location being in such a remote area without a bigger city nearby. Consequently, narrowing down a list of hundreds of overseas USAF bases is not a simple matter. Barrancas Beach is a private stretch of waterfront located on base. 8, Fort Hood's Killeen, Texas, edged out Shreveport, Louisiana, with Barksdale Air Force Base at No. The weather is tropical yet really pleasant in the winters if youre not a fan of the cold or snow. Unlike many other military bases, this one has a great cost of living its actually 18% lower than the U.S. national average. 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. The base is rural yet only about an hour from London as well as other countries in the area like Scotland. 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. "I also know that a lot of enlisted members have a second job to support their families.". 8. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. In other words, Fayetteville is the awkward neighborhood kid surrounded by cooler, more beautiful neighbors in every direction (yes, even Myrtle Beach. All rights reserved. Best reason to be . 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. It is easy to see why they are considered some of the best Air Force bases for families in the nation. What would you add to this? This base is an area that encompasses the live, work, play mentality and helps military families achieve a work-life balance. Greece. 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. She and other mothers and fathers emphasize the value of comfort and safety on base. Privacy Policy The United Kingdom Air Force is ranked 6 in the 10 best air forces in the world and is the world's oldest air force. Life here is charming, but it can be dicey at times. Off base, youll find nearby volcanoes to hike, waterfalls to swim in, and beach shores to surf along. Base Operations at Scott AFB, Ill. Photo by Karen Petitt Air Force Image. Florida 3. Fort Carson, Colorado. "That's more money I can spend on my daughter now, on after-school events," Vargas said. MacDill Air Force Base sits just four miles outside of Tampa, and for families looking to live near the sun and surf, it seems ideal. 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. Many people join the military to travel and see the world which is most desirable for active-duty members that are single. Many stationed here have used the opportunity to find cheap flights to explore Australia, Korea, Thailand, and other Asian locations. Share with us in the comments below! Brighten up your posts with a perfect niece quote or caption. Because everything is bigger in Texas, the post has the largest on-base bowling alley, fitness center, and Post Exchange (PX) in the whole Army. Again, the desert climate and dry heat make the location undesirable, and despite the name, there are no palm trees. Delta Air Lines; Southwest Airlines; United Airlines; The historic Army base is one of the largest in the world with 50,000 active-duty soldiers calling it home. "It's easier sometimes to ask a friend to get you something when they are TDY.". 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. 3. MacDill AFB is another prime location for the single crowd. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Eareckson sits 1200 miles from Anchorage Alaska but only 200 miles from Russia. To compile our ranking of 68 Air Force bases, we collected and analyzed hundreds of pieces of information. Find out about these awesome picks. Here are the five worst Air Force installations where you can be stationed, according to their responses. best Clark Air Base 1980-1985 and 1989-1991 sad to see it close. And Do said the Basic Allowance for Housing in the Columbus area he gets $807 a month is far too low for airmen to live on. Joint Base San Antonio is in the suburb of Lackland, Texas. Contact Us The base is considered a community within a community by many of its adoring members. (tied) Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. So if youre unimpressed by Louisiana, at least you can benefit from some military-issued, updated hospitality. Home of multiple installations for various service branches (Ft. Eustis, Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, Langley AFB, Norfolk, Little Creek, Dam Neck, Fort Story), the Hampton roads is one of the favorite locations for service members. Dyess Air Force Base A static Curtiss P-40E Warhawk is displayed outside of the. The Panama Canal also falls under the protection of this base. Bring giggles and glee with these hilarious April Fools' Day jokes! Mississippi 8. Learn more about Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort here. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. Scores for the most important categories schools, cost of living, housing and commissaries were tripled. "It's more of a celebration," Pizarro said. While optempo might be high with sea duty and European rotations, with all the various installations located there you could maneuver into a local PCS to extend your time. 9. 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. If you love it, perhaps youll be lucky enough to get extended there. 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? If you love the water, youll love it here. Whether youre on or off base, youll find activities to fulfill your need to explore the great outdoors in this mountainous terrain. Learn more about Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans here. Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam (Closed 1972) Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, (Closed 1971, Reopened 1972-1974) Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam (Closed 1973) Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam (Closed 1970) U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand, (Closed 1976)**. 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. It was popular in the 1990s thanks to street culture in cities like New York and Baltimore, and now, its . The Cheyenne Mountain Shooting Complex (CMSC) is a 400-acre site near the base thats open daily for practice, including trap and skeet shooting. The Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are also within reason. Life at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, is hard to beat. Again, the desert climate and dry heat make the location undesirable, and despite the name, there are no palm trees. 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. Whether you love Antebellum architecture or visiting historic sites, you arent far from old-style charm when youre stationed at Beaufort. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Some 1,300 families call this place home and speak highly of its strong sense of community. When it comes to available healthcare, the medical center is one of the best in the military. One of the many pros to Air Force employment is affordable living costs. The next most important categories crime, health care facilities, commute times and exchanges were doubled in value. Think those odd ball assignments like being at a National Guard post (hey Camp Shelby), recruiting, or those one-off assignment locations. Smog in New Delhi on October 20, 2021. 10 Worst Cities 1. Know the Pros & Cons, The transportation industry is a broad mark segment that involves moving freight and/or people from one place to another. (We also plied them for their military packing pro-tips. But he estimated food and housing expenses there were easily three to four times as much as in the Scott area. Learn more here and be sure to check out more great stories on our homepage. The commissary isn't great and the types of food are limited. 8. The climate is superb and military families making camp at the base rave about their kids' educational opportunities. Best area perk? Luke Air Force Base has an excellent location west of Glendale and the greater Phoenix metro area. Outdoor activities are also abundant given all the natural features in the area. 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. We converted the statistics so lower crime rates would result in higher scores for bases. 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme. Keep in mind its very competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but savor the opportunity if it presents itself. While the state is usually not the top choice for many military families youll find a welcoming community with plenty of support. While the costs of living in Alaska can be relatively high, Air Force families find it reasonable, much in part to the commissary and shopping found on the base. 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. 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. Most of these assignments do not yield your normal military installation and community, and everything is on the economy. At a mere 44 miles long, it can be easy to get island fever here if you arent actively seeking adventure while stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. And since that Canadian border is only 30 minutes away, youre never in short supply of maple syrup.Surprise silver lining: The way to survive Fort Drum is to bundle up, get outside, and start adding ice to the front of all your favorite activities: ice fishing, ice climbing, ice walking, ice dining. . Best area perk? Air Force 1 07 White. 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. It also may drain your bank account. 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