Whether you love Antebellum architecture or visiting historic sites, you arent far from old-style charm when youre stationed at Beaufort. | The Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are also within reason. The military facility is in the Fort Walton and Destin area with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. There are just under 60 active U.S. Air Force bases in the country. Some military families go so far as to live in New Hampshire and commute to work. Driving along the roads, dont be surprised if you see herds of moose or elk wandering along the side of the road. If thats not enough to get you excited about this duty station, just remember youre living in one of the top-rated cities along Floridas coastline. People's Liberation Army Air Force ( China) - 1991. Alaska Airlines. While most residents acknowledge that it has nice, temperate weather, there isnt much else said about it. From misplaced nuclear weapons to security forces . But the area's high cost of living and housing prices partly because it is about a 25-mile drive from Boston landed Hanscom in the bottom five. Twentynine Palms, California, sounds like a nice place to take a cheap family vacation. The overseas location is also instrumental to military operations on the Western Pacific. He was also one of the first enlisted members in the Air Force to experience working with near real time satellite imagery. 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. Base: Fort Irwin National Training CenterUnlucky call sign: A string of expletives that we cannot repeatWhy it's not great: Fort Irwin is the vast desert training area for the Army, a severe and remote landscape that could easily double as the Mad Max set. Most families report that the base is a black hole that you never leave. Kadena, Japan. If you can't fit in smaller sized clothing, you will be forced to order online. If that is not enough, consider that Elmendorf-Richardson has its own ski area. Depends on your AFSC honestly, generally speaking, Andersen AFB, Hickam AFB, Yokota AB, anywhere in England, and Germany is the best (Ramstein is the most American place in Germany) Avoid Ghedi, incerlick, and Eielson. However, the area of Bedford, Massachusetts, is extremely expensive. For those who are vegetarian, Godspeed. Here's what they say for 2022. Compared to the other bases on this list, Hanscom is in an area with good schools and low crime. Were sorry, Fayetteville -- you didnt deserve that. Altus started out as a scrapyard for World War II aircraft. 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! A ROKAF T-50 at the Singapore Air Show. 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. Base: Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine PalmsUnlucky call sign: 29 Stumps or The StumpsWhy it's not great: Marines call The Stumps the place for the best training and arguably the worst social life. You can find her riding her Vespa around San Diego, on Facebook and Instagram at @bekahdifelice, or on her blog bekahdifelice.com. Best area perk? A few months back we asked current and former military personnel where in the US they most enjoyed being stationed, and why. Sperling's Best Places also provided data it collected on the size and type of on-base commissaries, exchanges and health care facilities, and rankings on a 10-point scale. Plus, its located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, so the mountain views dont get much better from a military installation than Fort Carson. Creating a list of the best Air Force bases in the nation is not an easy task. Locals are friendly to soldiers serving in the USAF 18th Wing, 353rd Special Operations Group, and other units. But now it's just a scrapyard for your hopes and dreams of being stationed in California. Delta Air Lines. Barrancas Beach is a private stretch of waterfront located on base. 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. Sometimes you end up drawing the short straw when it comes to military assignment locations. Ft Greely, AK - 4 hours . Grand Forks Air Force Base is a hidden gem in North Dakota. Best area perk? There are no schools on base. Holloman AFB is deserving even if Luke AFB and MacDill AFB also need to get considered on this list. ", 3. The commissary isnt great and the types of food are limited. While the state is usually not the top choice for many military families youll find a welcoming community with plenty of support. The average commute in the Washington area is roughly half an hour, and hits nearly 40 minutes in the area right around Bolling well longer than the average 25-minute commute nationwide. Its competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but worth giving it a shot. Learn more about Naval Air Station Pensacola here. When you fill out your "dream sheet," you are forced to list 10 stateside bases as well as 10 overseas bases. On-base housing is privatized here and is open to active-duty families, DoD civilians, and active duty bachelors. It has all the usual complaints of a remote base town with one notable difference: it is regularly ranked among the nations worst for air pollution.Most common escape: We could talk about the nearby cities of Visalia or Fresno, but who cares about that when the most beautiful place on earth is literally in your backyard? If you love it, perhaps youll be lucky enough to get extended there. Key West the very last Key on the string is the dream station for anyone who loves warm weather and blue coastal waters and is one of the nicest military bases in Florida. The weather is tropical and can become very humid in the summer. Melanye Martinez. Of all the branches of the military, the Air Force always had really nice bases including Minot. It is a great place if your spouse does not want to work. Pacific Fleet. The military base has multiple things going for it as mentioned above. RAF Lakenheath. Housing on post often has long waitlists and living off base means more crime. The U.S.'s northern fortress of military strategic solitude, Minot Air Force Base, has long been a prime destination for career-ending mishaps. Low housing costs and phenomenal support from the local community makes Luke AFB an ideal place for military families. Here are the five worst Air Force installations where you can be stationed, according to their responses. Egyptian Air Force - 1,062. Best Military Bases for Outdoor Enthusiasts 1. The base often runs out of supplies at the PX and has been considered not family-friendly. 6. If youre bored around base, catch a flick at the theater, take a walk along a trail, or check out Afterburners, a rec facility with 36 TVs, pool tables, and an outdoor tiki bar. Located some 80 miles away from London and much closer to Cambridge (some 25 miles) this area features towns with populations up to 10,000 and there are many things to do in the local area. Though the weather isnt terrific its still a fantastic place to get stationed if you have to go outside the United States. For the most part, you will have to live off base and may feel that Italian houses are not up to par with Western style housing. Meanwhile, others like single personnel have quick access to St. Louis and a variety of entertainment options. Off base? Since there's no chow hall, he tries to find healthy foods off base. Now that Halliburton has closed its Minot facility, jobs arent as plentiful and rent prices are steadily decreasing. 5. Families love living here for many reasons, including affordable housing. 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. Families also benefit from no state income or sales tax in the Anchorage area. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. 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. Keep in mind its very competitive to get stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but savor the opportunity if it presents itself. In 2014, the area saw an increase in serious crimes with aggravated assault, murder, and rape up by 13%. 10. Schriever AFB is among several USAF bases in the Colorado Springs metropolitan. Fort Lewis is easily one of the best Army bases in the United States. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Craig spent many years on active duty service in the Air Force stationed in such places as Okinawa, Japan and SAC Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. There is nothing like spending leisure time in the outdoors. RAF Lakenheath is located in Suffolk County in East Anglia. While relocating to Las Vegas is maybe a good or bad thing its impossible to resist the urge for young singles of the USAF. Best area perk? The constant rainfall makes the entire region green and lush year-round. McGuire Air Force Base, on the other hand, is very close to NYC, Philadelphia, and New Jersey for nightlife. The remote base is on the little island of Guam in the middle of nowhere on the Pacific. "It's more of a celebration," Pizarro said. What are the best Air Force bases in the United States? Base: Minot Air Force BaseUnlucky call sign: Why Not Minot? It seems like a rhetorical question, but: Freezins the reason.Why it's not great: Remember the ice planet in Intersteller? 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. Find out about these awesome picks. Along with having the great wilderness as your backyard (more on that, below), its a great assignment for military families. Each branch has a variety of billets they must fill, so keep in mind you wont necessarily get your first choice. (Army) Ok, now we're talking it's an outdoorsman's paradise. 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. Langley Air Force Base - Virginia. This is a large base that does not have a lot of Westernized shopping. 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. 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? Wright-Patterson AFB just makes the cut among many other competing military bases for top honors. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. Global Firepower tracks total air service strength for each national power taken into consideration for the annual GFP ranking. Florida. 1. Of course, not all categories are equally important to service members. Located in the southern part of Colorado Springs, this mountainous area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. One soldier put it this way, If God had to give the Earth an enema, he would attach the hose to Fort Polk. Yeesh. Finally, we added up the scores and stacked the bases. Thankfully, many of the USAF bases in the United States have quick access to the outdoors and are in rural locations. The military site hosts the Royal Air Force but also supports U.S. personnel including the 48th Fighter Wing. MacDill Air Force Base. The base is rural yet only about an hour from London as well as other countries in the area like Scotland. Want to keep your sharp shooter status? In addition to vacation days, known as leave, Air Force members also get a variety of paid holidays and family leave days. Ranking the premier Air Force bases in the United States is not an easy task as there are several worthy of top honors. (tied) Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. 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. Related: Five worst Navy bases where you can be stationed . (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller). Yes, some bases may be better for certain demographics, so prior to having to pick your dream list, do a bit of research. Related Article Air Force Bases in Florida. Base: Fort PolkUnlucky call sign: Fort PukeWhy it's not great: The Army has some pretty terrible duty locations, but they were more unanimous than any other branch of the service on which post qualified as THE WORST. Single life has its advantages and disadvantages. The base is small and it only takes about 45 minutes to travel from the north side of the island to the south. Your email address will not be published. This made us wonder which military towns in the US are the safest and which aren't as secure for military personnel and civilians. Beaufort was also named as the Souths Best Small Town by Southern Living Magazine. And an Arlington, Virginia, house hits a punishing median cost of $583,400 well over triple the $170,100 median home cost nationwide. (tied) McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Royal air force. BestPlaces.net's cost of living score for nearbyEl Segundo, California, is 218, more than double the nationwide average of 100.