The military base serves as the host for the 6th Air Refueling Wing. While there are numerous overseas locations worth considering for singles, this list focuses on bases in the United States. For service members who love to travel, youll be happy to know youre only 1 mile away from Miami International Airport. 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. Kadena, Japan. The primary duties of this station include supporting the Alaska National Guard with its key mission of monitoring security and operation of the Missile Defense Site. Each branch has a variety of billets they must fill, so keep in mind you wont necessarily get your first choice. When youre stationed in a stunning location like Hawaii, get outdoors as much as possible. Learn more here and be sure to check out more great stories on our homepage. In addition to vacation days, known as leave, Air Force members also get a variety of paid holidays and family leave days. As a service member, theres a good chance youre going to move around a lot. For a complete directory of U.S. and overseas military installations, visit the Department of Defense Military OneSource network. Being that its Los Angeles, and very close to LAX airport, its a fairly pricey area especially if you choose to live off post. Compared to the other bases on this list, Hanscom is in an area with good schools and low crime. Tyndall Air Force Base. 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? The unassuming military base in small-town Illinois is a "hidden gem" based . Perhaps you parked in the By 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. Some residents have taken to calling the area Smell Segundo. The main issue, however, is really the money. One review did happen to indicate that there is government housing, but there is usually a one to two-year wait. Image: Wikimedia.org. Joint Base San Antonio. If that is not enough, consider that Elmendorf-Richardson has its own ski area. 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. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. What I am seeing from the majority of reviews indicates that Ramstein is very unsanitary. The commissary isn't great and the types of food are limited. 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. One review stated that the school system is out of date (but I am unsure as to what that means). This time, though, we wanted to know where they absolutely HATED being sent. RAF Lakenheath is located in Suffolk County in East Anglia. Enjoy one of our high quality American, State . Holloman AFB is between White Sands National Park and Lincoln National Forest. One review compared it to Hawaii but without the crowds. Base pay starts at $1,650 per month and will increase to $1,785 per month after four months. Fort Polk resides in Louisiana where the hot summers and mosquito problems can make the area unpleasant. 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. However, I enjoy the prospect of increasing my odds of being stationed somewhere deemed suitable. 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. There are 2,744 people assigned to Columbus, including 1,447 military service members, 598 contractors, and 472 civil servants. (tied) Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, formerly Bolling Air Force Base, ends up in our bottom five primarily due to the Washington area's abysmal traffic year after year, ranked the worst in the country and high cost of housing. The coastal military base provides that Florida weather with plenty of charm. Do warm days and sunny skies year-round sound appealing? RAF Mildenhall. We then assigned each category a score on a 10-point scale. While the state is usually not the top choice for many military families youll find a welcoming community with plenty of support. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. A nearby town or city with fun things to do. The base is one of the oldest bases in the nation, and a portion of the homes on base are historic homes. Related Article Top 15 Military Schools For Boys And Girls. Therefore, its plausible that you will get to spend time at Nellis and ideally when you are young and single. A enlisted thinktank brought to you by Task & Purpose. 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. Correction: The original version of this article inadvertently reversed the order of the towns and ranked Fayetteville #1 instead of #10. Fort Bragg | Flickr/Dvidshub, badass psychedelic funhouses/art collectives, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. You will learn to hate this slice of northeastern sensibility located in the mystical hills of Jefferson, New York. If you love the great outdoors and dont mind a little rain, Naval Base Kitsap is one of the prettiest places to be stationed. Yes, some bases may be better for certain demographics, so prior to having to pick your dream list, do a bit of research. For those who are vegetarian, Godspeed. 6. Wichita, KA. 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. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. When you fill out your "dream sheet," you are forced to list 10 stateside bases as well as 10 overseas bases. Updated Nov 24, 2021 10:41 AM EST, Editors note: This article was originally published in March 2016. 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? Travel comes easy as you can reach Japan and Korea in a few short hours. This versatility has earned Delta Force a reputation as one of the top 10 elite special operations units in the US Military, and it is considered a highly classified Tier 1 unit. Published Jun 5, 2018 7:48 PM EDT. Eglin Air Force Base also consistently ranks among the top 10 Air Force bases in the United States so you cant go wrong with all its offerings. Why it's not great: The base with the most misleading name, Fort Bliss is located in the border town of El Paso, Texas. Any time you want to participate in any outdoor activity, you can pretty much guarantee the weather will be ideal to spend time outside. It is in Burlington County, New Jersey which might not sound all that terrific for young couples but keep in mind its proximity to New York City and Philadelphia. Unlike many other military bases, this one has a great cost of living its actually 18% lower than the U.S. national average. We converted the statistics so lower crime rates would result in higher scores for bases. Regardless of how tough our soldiers are, no one should feel completely discounted at their military base. Pikes Peak, among the many 14ers in the state of Colorado, is right in your backyard. Located just outside Abilene, Texas, Dyess Air Force base was voted the worst among Task & Purpose readers. The nonprofit group America's Promise Alliance, which was founded by Colin Powell, has listed Bedford as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People five times. The military facility is in the Fort Walton and Destin area with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. This is a USAF KC-130 Tanker refueling 2 F-35's. 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. Task & Purpose polled more than 1,000 of its readers on the worst military installations in terms of living. The IAF has ordered 689 aircraft in which there will be Su-57 (144), Tejas Mk.1 (99), Rafale (35), Su-30MKI (8), and other helicopters and aircraft. 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. Holloman AFB is deserving even if Luke AFB and MacDill AFB also need to get considered on this list. Not like you typically have a choice, but this list might help anyway. Located in St. Clair County, Illinois, Scott Air Force Base tops the list of the best Air Force Bases in the U.S. overall. Outdoor activities are also abundant given all the natural features in the area. Some are devoid of entertainment, run by unfit staff, have horrible food, or offer horrible amenities. After McChord Air Force Base joined Fort Lewis in 2010, the military base has become one of the most sought after for both branches, especially singles. The number remains high and far above any other country in the world despite closing down hundreds of bases recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Landscaping and repainting the parking lots was one of many projects for the Dorm Transformation process. Russian Air Force - 3,863. "It's hard to find anything that'll fit, and there isn't much selection" at the exchange, Do said. 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! Related: What Is Accrued . It also may drain your bank account. When you arent working, swing by MWR to snag clearance tickets to Miami Dolphins games and other attractions like concerts, shows, and sports events in Miami. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Check out online forums like Reddit for open discussions. 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. Sometimes you end up drawing the short straw when it comes to military assignment locations. You also wont be far from beautiful natural attractions like the Florida Keys and the Everglades. On base, youll find everything from medical care to housing to take care of your daily needs, and off base youll discover a world rich in music, French culture, and history that cant be found elsewhere.