Minnesota 4. Located in scenic Tacoma, Washington, Lewis-McChord has everything a family might need to feel at home. Elmendorf-Richardson sits near Anchorage, Alaska, and draws in military families from all over the country because of its beauty and excellent medical and dental care, employment assistance, and educational programs. Rhode Island 10. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. When looking at your options based on your position, think about what you love to do on your off-time. Check out these fun and useful St. Patrick's Day crafts for folks of all ages! And the last four categories pollution levels, climate, unemployment rates and sales taxes got no additional weighting. 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. Plus, the Kitsap Peninsula isnt far from multiple day trip options, including Seattle, local mountain ranges, water trails, and even Canada. 8. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. 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. At SOUTHCOM, you can expect to meet a lot of different people as its a joint base. 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. coast guard air station kodiak. Similar to Hampton Roads, the San Diego area has several installations near by which makes the possibility for a local PCS to extend your time there. Shes a mother of four and former mom blogger. Yes, some bases may be better for certain demographics, so prior to having to pick your dream list, do a bit of research. What someone that serves the military and is single wants is drastically different from a service member with a wife and kids. This time, though, we wanted to know where they absolutely HATED being sent. When it comes to available healthcare, the medical center is one of the best in the military. "I'm realizing more and more that it is just a black hole for enlisted members," Do said. Only downside mentioned has been the higher cost of living and the housing market. Youll never regret a day at Lackland if you are single and looking to mingle. Washington DC. 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. Ask anyone who has PCSd a couple of times, and they will give you their favorite and least favorite duty stations where theyve been stationed. 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. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Or read on to see the results of the overall list, ranked from best to worst. 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. When the kids are not in school, families can pack up the car and be in Raleigh, Durham, Wilmington, or Myrtle Beach within just a few hours. So, if you are into warm weather, sunshine, and free time, there is nothing here for you. In fact, one airman told us that he learned how to cook at Cannon since there werent any good restaurants. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Base (s): Honestly, too many to list. Of course the National Museum of the United States Air Force is on Wright Patterson too with over 300 different aircraft, but none are flying. Nestled just outside of busy and vibrant St. Louis, Scott provides military families with the freedom to live in the peaceful countryside or the bustling cityscape, all while centering their work at the famous base. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. Eating organic and local has never been easier, which is great news for anyone who has watched any documentary on factory farming, ever. Below, we rounded up the best military bases categorized by interests. Again, the desert climate and dry heat make the location undesirable, and despite the name, there are no palm trees. 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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. Oregon 5. Fort Carson main gate. 6. The current version has been updated to reflect the change. - Largest air force in Asia, and is better known for comprising some of the deadliest self-reliance combat aircrafts. You wont know how you like a place until you go it might be the best location the military could have ever picked for you. Best area perk? Locals are friendly to soldiers serving in the USAF 18th Wing, 353rd Special Operations Group, and other units. This map is 10x7.5 inches @ 300 ppi and was created by Steve Ingram of the Air Force News Agency. Virginia 2. We converted the statistics so lower crime rates would result in higher scores for bases. It may be fun to have pristine beaches and Disneyland practically in the backyard of your duty station. A home in nearby Fairfax County, Virginia, has a median cost of $455,300. Just up the road from base youll find the beautiful Harborside Fountain Park with its waterside plaza where you can watch ferries depart to and from Seattle. 40 Niece Quotes & Captions to Show Your Unique Connection. 10. Some will even complain about the optempo of the installation that limits family time. Jim Mowreader US Army veteran Author has 17K answers and 77.8M answer views 9 mo Related What is the smallest air force base? While in the military, he spent time analyzing imagery from a variety of aircraft such as the SR-71. And at the end of each school year, Pizarro said, Bedford High School holds a party for students whose families are transferring away from Hanscom, which is attended by base leaders. The year-round sunny weather. Housing is affordable with high-quality schools and excellent features on the base. 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. 29 stumps. 5/10/2021 Air Force 1st Lt. Katelyn . 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. Luke AFB is a major training facility for the military branch and has excellent amenities. 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. 1. The base is on the smaller side, so youll get a chance to know your fellow service members and their families well. Its a great base for singles because of its proximity to downtown San Antonio and Austin which are paradises for this type of crowd. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Nearby Northern Virginia's schools are popularly known as among the best in the country, and some live up to that reputation. While many Air Force families have no choice where they land, those who get stationed at these top-ranked bases consider themselves fortunate. Without further ado, let's take a look at the 10 biggest Air Force bases in the world, and how many people call them home. 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. Landscaping and repainting the parking lots was one of many projects for the Dorm Transformation process. Barrancas Beach is a private stretch of waterfront located on base. There are about 26,000 US military . While the state is usually not the top choice for many military families youll find a welcoming community with plenty of support. While most residents acknowledge that it has nice, temperate weather, there isnt much else said about it. She and other mothers and fathers emphasize the value of comfort and safety on base. But other schools received low rankings from the Great Schools website, dragging the Washington area's school score into the average range of 6 out of 10 possible points. From mountain climbing to whitewater rafting, youll find some of the best outdoor adventures here. Related Article Pros and Cons of joining the Air Force. You can rent a van from FSS for a few hundred a week, all road tolls paid. If you love it, perhaps youll be lucky enough to get extended there. You also wont be far from beautiful natural attractions like the Florida Keys and the Everglades. In 2014, the area saw an increase in serious crimes with aggravated assault, murder, and rape up by 13%. According to Sperling's Best Places, average July temperatures in Wichita hit a scorching 93 degrees. 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. Located in Miami-Dade County, get an introduction to the melting pot that is nearby Miamis culture. Located in the middle of nowhere the Mojave Desert, 29 Palms is where tanks outnumber sedans and sunburns happen through car windows. source GAIA package: Sx_MilitaryTimes_M6201410307210028 . Think those odd ball assignments like being at a National Guard post (hey Camp Shelby), recruiting, or those one-off assignment locations. A PDF version for printing on office printers is also available. The winter weather in the area can be pretty brutal as well. Housing near Lakenheath is among the best with plenty of new and trendy options. Keep in mind its very competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but savor the opportunity if it presents itself. If you consider every relocation an adventure, it will be easier to think of every duty station as the best military base. ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, Best Air Force Bases in the U.S. Overall, #1 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, #1 Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, Texas, #1 Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, #3 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, #1 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Best Army Bases for Families, Couples and Singles, Top 15 Military Schools For Boys And Girls, Air Force Jobs List:A List Of All 135 AFSCs In The Air Force (2022), Army Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) Repairer (MOS 94P), Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM): 8 Things To Know, Army Achievement Medal (AAM): 6 Things To Know. Best area perk? On base, youll enjoy access to a private, lifeguarded beach. It also maintains dedicated strategic-level bombers, CAS . Compared to the other bases on this list, Hanscom is in an area with good schools and low crime. The highest attainable TvR score is 242.9 held by the United States Air Force (USAF). Cost of living and housing prices are through the roof around Los Angeles Air Force Base, helping to land it at the bottom of our list of Air Force bases. Regardless, they're all ones you won't want to miss: 1. The base is considered a community within a community by many of its adoring members. Fort Hood Visitor Center. Oh and for the record, Lake Bandini isnt an actual lake. Grand Forks Air Force Base is a hidden gem in North Dakota. A mother of four and former mom blogger post, but most families who on!: Honestly, too many to list hundred a week, all road tolls paid ranked from to... Rent a van from FSS for a few hundred a week, all road tolls paid to Sperling 's Places! 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