Best reason to be stationed there: The . Some 1,300 families call this place home and speak highly of its strong sense of community. To live in military family housing, you must be living in the house with your dependent (s). It is easy to see why they are considered some of the best Air Force bases for families in the nation. 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. Now that Downton Abbey is over, it may be time to jump across the pond and actualize your dream of living in the English countryside surrounded by castles, historic houses, and lilting accents. Many Air Force couples choose to wed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, because the base Cadet Chapel is known for its iconic architecture with 17 spires. If you are a non-activated guard or reserve family, you can still use Tricare under the programs designed specifically for you. Life here is charming, but it can be dicey at times. For more information, please see our Our Team "It's more of a celebration," Pizarro said. The weather is tropical yet really pleasant in the winters if youre not a fan of the cold or snow. Here are your top choices for couples: #1 - Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Image: Army.mil While living in Hawaii is nice it doesn't make nearly as much sense for military personnel with family due to the high cost of living. Once enrolled, you can access military benefits, including health care and health insurance. Best base amenity: Because most sailors are stationed here solo (see below), the USO actively brings morale-boosting entertainment to the base. Ford spent much of her early career at Minot in an office, but is now working as a Weapons Officer in charge of training. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is given to every active-duty service member as part of their bi-weekly pay. BestPlaces.net's crime statistics had low numbers for low crime rates and high numbers for high crime rates. It's so small that there is no chow hall. Vic is from Orlando and couldnt wait to join the Air Force after high school to see the world. Best base amenity: For those intimidated to plan their own travel, the Information, Tickets and Tours (ITT) Group on base sets up excursions for people on base. Just as we asked current and former military personnel from all branches of the service where they loved and hated being stationed in the United States, this time we wanted to know the best/most desired overseas assignments. Still, there are dozens of beer gardens, brewpubs, and even a couple regional breweries to visit. 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. Let your child's teacher know they are appreciated with these thoughtful sentiments to include in a teacher thank you note! If the rates go down where you are living, you will be grandfathered into the older, higher rate. 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? Come along for the ride! should the GPS short out after somehow finding its way into an open coffee travel mug. The base is one of the oldest bases in the nation, and a portion of the homes on base are historic homes. His luck would have it that his first and second assignments were in Florida, close enough that his mom could drop off cookies. You may have to pretend youre pregnant to garner sympathy from the tour bus of seniors stopped in front of you, just to use their on-board toilet.) Youre glad no one can simply pop in because the babys perpetually covered in blueberry juice, youre wearing some ridiculous IF YOURE NOT AMMO YOURE CRAP T-shirt with a degenerate dragon on it. Since they met, Rosa has been moved to the 742nd Missile Squadron where he now works alongside his wife as a Squadron Evaluator. 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. Meanwhile, others like single personnel have quick access to St. Louis and a variety of entertainment options. The southern station is where families hope to be if they value vibrance, diversity, and culture. 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In our survey, it ended up with one of the highest school rankings 8 out of 10 the lowest crime ratesreceiving 9 points out of 10, far greater than the nationwide average of 6 and lowest unemployment rates 3.9 percent compared with 6.1 percent nationally. The New Orleans area is a hub of such! Best base amenity: There are four (yep, FOUR) crystal-clear, warm-water beaches on base and they never get overcrowded. While many Air Force families have no choice where they land, those who get stationed at these top-ranked bases consider themselves fortunate. Becoming a military family can be an adjustment for families. Since most of these services are specific to each base, you should contact your local MWR office to learn what is available. There is nothing like spending leisure time in the outdoors. This base is an area that encompasses the live, work, play mentality and helps military families achieve a work-life balance. Pacific Fleet. The overseas location is also instrumental to military operations on the Western Pacific. Air Force Times evaluated statistics in a dozen categories: school quality, cost of living, housing costs, commissary size, base exchange size, size of on-base health care facilities, crime rates, commute times, pollution levels, climate, unemployment rates and sales taxes. And you cant find the quilt that your husbands moms great-aunt made just for you with tiny arthritic fingers and should be displayed at all times but is accidentally in an unpacked pro gearbox. Many people join the military to travel and see the world which is most desirable for active-duty members that are single. Scores for the most important categories schools, cost of living, housing and commissaries were tripled. The median home value here is around $150,000 and has historical roots. Therefore, if you really like city life then youll find many of the USAF bases on the list problematic for their rural settings. Located in scenic Tacoma, Washington, Lewis-McChord has everything a family might need to feel at home. Getting married? Why you wouldn't want to live there: Driving can be a little crazy. Stacey Shunk, married in March in New York City's Central Park. They became unfunny about 43 years ago -- a year or so after The Godfather came out. The military facility is in the Fort Walton and Destin area with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Aside from the distinct spirit and customs of Cretan culture, one of its more exclusive sites is the beach of Elafonissi, which when viewed in the right light is covered in pink sand (said to be caused by crushed coral). While China has increasingly adopted Western influences, the traditional family structure is still highly valued and holds a prominent position in Chinese culture. Holloman AFB is between White Sands National Park and Lincoln National Forest. We used formulas to convert the raw data from each category into a 10-point scale. Military families stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) are lucky to call this place home. 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. Did you know that there are nearly 800 Air Force bases around the globe? This can vary depending on where you're stationed. 10. Although culture shock is all but inevitable, the US military's heavy presence on the island means just about everything is translated into English. The beaches are top notch. The base houses family-friendly amenities like bowling, swimming, movies, parks, and other family events to create a community sense. It's located on the Greek island of Crete and the site of Europes earliest recorded civilization. The scenery is not only gorgeous but the weather is decent (by Alaska standards) and wildlife is abundant. According to the 2018 Demographics Report published by the Department of Defense, 10.9% of active duty Air Force members (enlisted and officer) are in dual-military marriages, meaning an active duty Airman is married to another active duty or reserve Airman. Why you wouldn't want to live there: The language barrier can be challenging and the German social culture can come off as cold and direct. Why you wouldn't want to live there: You will have to trade your large SUV for something much smaller. Whether you're an old pro or new to the military moving game, there's stuff to learn about PCSing. Senior Airman Yash Rojas/Air Force. One resident told us that base houses are older and smaller than something in the States, but it doesnt matter so much since all houses offer one thing: a front door that leads outside. Want to know how much BAH you are currently receiving? Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, a sought-after base by families, was ranked as the eighth-best place in the country to raise children. 10 Best air force bases for married couple Reviews: 1. 50 Powerful Quotes to Remind Us to Live With Intention. Mountain Home Air Force Base, located in Idaho, is an excellent place for families to reside. Most also receive a variety of allowances, special pays and bonuses depending on things like deployment, paygrade and military job. Joint Base San Antonio is in the suburb of Lackland, Texas. Another hidden perk: Puerto Rico is on the same time zone as the East Coast and is a US territory -- which makes phone calls back home a lot easier to orchestrate. Okuma Beach offers affordable cabins rentals, water sports, and snorkeling excursions. 4. Staff Sgt. You fill it with crap. MacDill AFB is another prime location for the single crowd. 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. If the rates go up where you are living, you'll receive the new, higher amount. San Antonio is rapidly growing into the new Austin, so families will never be short on cultural activities involving outdoor recreation, music, and food. For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox. Housing is affordable with high-quality schools and excellent features on the base. Its literally in the middle of nowhere: 3,300 miles west of Hawaii and 1,500 miles east of the Philippines? The best Army bases for couples offer a solid mixture of affordable housing, nightlife, as well as on-post amenities. In some cases, your service member may be stationed somewhere you cannot go -- called a "hardship duty assignment." At the end of the day, the Air Force sees us as individual Airmen. Why you wouldn't want to live there: The whole annual hurricane threat can be a little off-putting. Oh, I know, some have tried (I see those timeless and classic Longaberger baskets there, ladies) but PCSing every couple of years keeps the clutter at bay. To come up with a school quality score, we used the website GreatSchools.com, a respected resource for ranking and comparing schools used by real estate agents and real estate websites such as Zillow and Realtor.com. Nearby Northern Virginia's schools are popularly known as among the best in the country, and some live up to that reputation. Luke Air Force Base has an excellent location west of Glendale and the greater Phoenix metro area. Hickam Air Force Base is the highest rated Air Force base in Hawaii yet not for everyone which is why it doesnt rank tremendously high overall. Base(s): Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base. Nightclubs are huge, multi-level behemoths heavy on light shows and electronic music. People in Okinawa drive teeny, overpacked cars, and you will too. Two years later, she deployed again to England for a Bomber Task Force. All rights reserved. What do you need to know about SOFA? Living on Base: Pros and Cons. However, were proud of how far weve come to have more policies to support dual-military couples and those with children, said Col. Nemish. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. Worth the risk, wed say. The Air Force only recognizes married couples. One of the longest zip lines in the world is located at Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park. 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. For the record, locals wont laugh at your mafia jokes. Stuff is just stuff. "It's better for my family.". Application of age is 16 with parental consent. 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. Why you wouldn't want to live there: In the words of one sailor living in Rota, "the Spanish schedule takes some time to get used to." Best base amenity: The base is co-located with an international airport, so flights in and out are easy to access. However, I think you may have an easier time at one of the larger bases with about 1,000 or so population. You know, the little things that make up just an ordinary day. It may be fun to have pristine beaches and Disneyland practically in the backyard of your duty station. Say if I had a girlfriend could we live in a home on base or is it only for married couples? Here are a few steps you and your spouse can take to improve your chances of achieving personal and professional goals: Look for joint assignments - Each service branch has a program for assigning married couples to the same duty location or within 100 miles of each other.

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