There are tons of perks to being near NOLA, but it isn't for every family. When youre stationed in a stunning location like Hawaii, get outdoors as much as possible. Still, Scott makes the transition easier with its affordable housing options, low crime rate, top-notch hospital, and on-base amenities like a mini-mall and shopping center. The unique wildlife that calls Alaska home. "It's better for my family.". This map is available up to 18x24 inches @ 300 ppi. Nellis Air Force Base is right outside North Las Vegas need we say more? The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. By Armee de lAir Get Customized Quotes Single life has its advantages and disadvantages. Grand Forks AFB continuously ranks among the top 10 USAF bases in the United States. 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. Again, the desert climate and dry heat make the location undesirable, and despite the name, there are no palm trees. If you love the water, youll love it here. The year-round sunny weather. DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- On Nov. 24, 2021 the news outlet Task and Purpose re-released a commentary written by Sarah Sicard titled, "5 Air Force Bases You Want to Avoid" originally published in March of 2016. "I also know that a lot of enlisted members have a second job to support their families.". 20 Reasons to Join the Military (and 7 reasons not to), Your email address will not be published. Look at what matters most to you, and then research if those amenities and interests are present in the duty station location. Related Article List of Air Force Bases in the US. Your email address will not be published. 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. And the schools are middling, with average ranking of 5 within 10 miles. Low housing costs and phenomenal support from the local community makes Luke AFB an ideal place for military families. Luke Air Force Base has an excellent location west of Glendale and the greater Phoenix metro area. Compliance, Terms of Use | Advertise | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Compliance. While they may seem cool and different, and might make for good family time, it can be a struggle if you are not ready to live the civilian life. 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. With forty nearby museums to choose from, families will never tire of learning and exploring. Edwards. Its cheaper to live in the place you never wanted to! To compile our ranking of 68 Air Force bases, we collected and analyzed hundreds of pieces of information. And an Arlington, Virginia, house hits a punishing median cost of $583,400 well over triple the $170,100 median home cost nationwide. Know the Pros & Cons, The transportation industry is a broad mark segment that involves moving freight and/or people from one place to another. Contact Us Being a military family isn't easy and often comes with plenty of hardships, but the work that these great people do is crucial. Hanscom has a total workforce of 5,828, including 922 active duty service members and 92 reservists. When you view any duty station as your new home, youll be able to better embrace the local culture and unique base aspects. Best area perk? Oregon 5. Located in the southern part of Colorado Springs, this mountainous area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Wherever you may find yourself on this planet, take time to enjoy the local culture, scenery, and to enjoy the adventures that you will have. New Mexico is underrated when it comes to its outdoors. The only downside mentioned has been the possibility of hurricanes. 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. 3. 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)**. Being that its the only active-duty base in the Northeast, housing on post is limited, forcing service members and their families to live elsewhere. There is nothing like spending leisure time in the outdoors. There are no schools on base. Some residents have taken to calling the area Smell Segundo. The main issue, however, is really the money. The median home cost there is a whopping $766,000. 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. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. These are the highest ranking Air Force bases for couples: Do you really need an excuse to live in Hawaii? Want to keep your sharp shooter status? "You might be leaving, but you're always part of the community. And with Vegas, Palms Springs, Lake Havasu, Big Bear, and Los Angeles all within a two- to three-hour drive, there really are lot of places to get away. Shopping here means no sales taxes for military families! But he estimated food and housing expenses there were easily three to four times as much as in the Scott area. New Hampshire 6. Therefore, its plausible that you will get to spend time at Nellis and ideally when you are young and single. If you find yourself stationed on the beautiful island of Oahu, consider yourself among the lucky few who get this coveted duty station. Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, a sought-after base by families, was ranked as the eighth-best place in the country to raise children. Whether you take a trolley tour or explore on foot, the minute you step off Naval Air Station Key West, youll be greeted by colorful old Florida culture that cant be missed. Related Article Top 15 Military Schools For Boys And Girls. The general crime rate in New Orleans is high, at 66 per 1,000, and Louisiana schools generally rank low compared to other areas in the nation. Best area perk? Housing on post often has long waitlists and living off base means more crime. The current version has been updated to reflect the change. While McConnell has a large commissary, its small medical clinic and disappointing base exchange also hurt the base's ranking. Smog in New Delhi on October 20, 2021. 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. The military facility is in the Fort Walton and Destin area with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Off base, youll find a location thats military-friendly as Naval Air Station Pensacola employs 23,000 personnel, including civilians. Many will claim it is a paradise and a great place to live for a few years. Submit an Article Some of the 15 installations below are standbys and some may be in jeopardy. Whether youre on or off base, youll find activities to fulfill your need to explore the great outdoors in this mountainous terrain. Its also open seven days a week, so youre able to relax on this piece of paradise on your days off. Some military families go so far as to live in New Hampshire and commute to work. Schriever AFB is among several USAF bases in the Colorado Springs metropolitan. 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. Grandparents can make amazing babysitters, but there are some things to keep in mind. Keep in mind its very competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but savor the opportunity if it presents itself. You can find her riding her Vespa around San Diego, on Facebook and Instagram at @bekahdifelice, or on her blog bekahdifelice.com. New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) may have successfully conducted a daring air raid against terrorist camps in Pakistan's Balakot in February, but when it comes to a key metric, the . 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. Learn more about Naval Air Station Pensacola here. In the article, Dyess AFB was listed at the top of the page as the worst base in the United States Air Force. Despite the higher cost of living on island, many will say it is their favorite place to live. If you are on the east coast, you might have the opportunity to even see a space launch. Meanwhile, others like single personnel have quick access to St. Louis and a variety of entertainment options. 4. Pikes Peak, among the many 14ers in the state of Colorado, is right in your backyard. Orlando is also within a long days drive from MacDill Air Force Base. Kadena Air Base is another location in Asia to get lost in along with Guam. Combining Fort Sam Houston the Lackland and Randolph Air Force Bases, Joint Base San Antonio is home to some of the best and brightest service members in the country, including the 5th Army, 25th Air Force and 37th Training Wing. Compared to Pakistan Air Force's 2.5 pilots per aircraft, the IAF is at a ratio of 1.5. Terms of Use Wright-Patterson AFB just makes the cut among many other competing military bases for top honors. 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. 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. The remote base is on the little island of Guam in the middle of nowhere on the Pacific. The Best And Worst Airlines in America in 2021. All rights reserved. Those living on base have many housing options to choose from, ranging from small duplexes to lakeside, four-bedroom abodes. As the Home of the Rugged Professional, this base is perfect for adventurous service members who dont mind the cold. Learn more about Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort here. The medical care facilities here are superb, and the base offers excellent childcare options for working families. Additionally, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland offers its own mall on the base and several other amenities. However, the area of Bedford, Massachusetts, is extremely expensive. When it comes to available healthcare, the medical center is one of the best in the military. 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. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. Okinawa, Japan is a favorite. Also worth mentioning: Freedom Crossing, the first-ever, on-base, open-air shopping center offers tons of restaurants and shops. 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. Advertise Only downside mentioned has been the higher cost of living and the housing market. Fort Polk resides in Louisiana where the hot summers and mosquito problems can make the area unpleasant. JBLM and the surrounding community places great importance on family life and community. The optempo is not too bad, family time can be enjoyed, a beach is a short drive away, and there is always Disney! We then assigned each category a score on a 10-point scale. To enjoy all that the area has to offer, dress accordingly on and off base to explore the best parts of this beautiful region. Best Air Force Bases Overseas Here are some of the best bases you will find overseas. Fort Bragg is home to the 82nd Airborne Division, Spec Ops Forces, and PsyOps. Military families working and living in San Antonio find that they have very little to complain about, other than the heat! Thankfully, many of the USAF bases in the United States have quick access to the outdoors and are in rural locations. While living on post is extremely safe the base is home to the Defense Intelligence Agency living off post is a different story. The base, located near Dayton, Ohio, has everything that growing families need to make their living experience comfortable and enjoyable. The basic allowance for housing to an Airman with dependents hovers around $2,000 a month. Nellis AFB features more military schools and squadrons than any other Air Force base in the country. Theres skiing at Dry Hill, tubing at Maple Ridge Snow Park, and plenty to explore in the Adirondack Mountains. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. From an amazing median home cost of just over 57K near Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, to having access to major league sports teams in every field at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, there's some amazing bases across the country that have a lot to offer. The southern station is where families hope to be if they value vibrance, diversity, and culture. However, what helps Guam is that its a territory of the United States with English as the predominant language. There are just under 60 active U.S. Air Force bases in the country. You can rent a van from FSS for a few hundred a week, all road tolls paid. Housing costs near Lackland are some of the most affordable in the county, and those choosing to work on the base and live nearby will find endless options to put roots down in. Check out our list of the best Air Force bases to live on for couples, singles, and families. Team Little Rock Airmen help landscape the dormitory parking lot for Dorm Transform at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas July 17, 2020. 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. There are about 26,000 US military . 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? Craig currently resides in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and runs his own business. "It's hard to find anything that'll fit, and there isn't much selection" at the exchange, Do said. The base is one of the oldest bases in the nation, and a portion of the homes on base are historic homes. The best Finger Lakes wineries excel at creating high-quality, cool-climate wines utilizing native variet, Is Transportation a Good Career Path? The next most important categories crime, health care facilities, commute times and exchanges were doubled in value. As the only active-duty military base in New England, spokesman Justin Oakes said, Hanscom hosts many civilians and service members from other branches of the military, which also leads to a high occupancy rate on base. 34 April Fools' Jokes That Are Fool of Fun. What someone that serves the military and is single wants is drastically different from a service member with a wife and kids. Best area perk? Washington DC. Compared to the other bases on this list, Hanscom is in an area with good schools and low crime. "It's more of a celebration," Pizarro said. Vermont 2. So, if you are into warm weather, sunshine, and free time, there is nothing here for you. Alaska 7. 10. 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. Scott Air Force Base, located in St. Clair County, Illinois, is a top spot for growing military families and single folk alike. Located in scenic Tacoma, Washington, Lewis-McChord has everything a family might need to feel at home. The UK Royal air force is also referred to as the Royal Air Force and it boasts of over 890 aircraft and a large number of workers, making it Europe's largest air force. If that is not enough, consider that Elmendorf-Richardson has its own ski area. 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