Posted on Nov 29, 2014
How does Quality of Life differ from each branch of the service?
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Have you ever been to a deployed location or visited a sister service base and felt that they were treated better or had better resources than your branch?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
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My family and I have stayed at a few AF bases across the US while PSCing back and forth. The accommodations were always top notch. Army lodging isn't bad, but in my experience, that AF has it hands down. The Navy Exchange in Hawaii is the best exchange I have ever seen. I guess each has its own set of pros and cons.
On a lighter note, I dug up this old picture and thought I would toss it in here.
On a lighter note, I dug up this old picture and thought I would toss it in here.
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Felt? KNOW! I have been on at least one base for each service. I know for a fact that QOL on an Air Force base is 1000% better than QOL on a ship and at least 200% better than QOL living on a Navy base, especially for the enlisted side.
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AF QOL is the best hands down. That said, the best DFAC I ever ate at was on ARCENT.
QOL is the reason all my Military family members (Army, Marine, and Navy) told me to go Blue!
QOL is the reason all my Military family members (Army, Marine, and Navy) told me to go Blue!
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SMSgt (Join to see)
I have been in the AF 16 years and have never once had steak and lobster at a DFAC. I was in the Marines for 6 years and would have steak and lobster at least once a year.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
I don't eat lobster, but every DFAC I have been to has it at least once a quarter and when I was deployed, it was once a month.
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CMSgt James Nolan
As a Marine, on Okinawa, I used to go to the Kadena AFB chow hall every chance I had, the food there was like a 5 star restaurant compared to the crap the Corps fed us. I would eat from the street vendors outside of Camp Schwab before that chow hall....
And the nice ladies knew I appreciated it, because I said please and thank you...they heaped the food on the tray! Was awesome
And the nice ladies knew I appreciated it, because I said please and thank you...they heaped the food on the tray! Was awesome
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SMSgt (Join to see)
1st Sgt Nolan, Lol! The food isn't that bad c'mon! One of the cool things that started happening after I got out of the corps was the chow hall started serving Metrix and other healthy alternative protein drinks, which I thought was a great idea to help Marines maintain a healthy life style.
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Air Force + Tents = LMAO!! We always kid the AF about QOL but they got it good. You've got to respect and appreciate the fact that the majority of their mission and personnel are geared towards putting planes in the sky and not ground pounding for real estate like the Army and Marines, controlling the seas like the Navy or securing the beach front property like the Coast Guard. Now The Navy and Coast Guard - how they do their jobs in the confined spaces of ships and hot swapping bunks, I'll never know.
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SMSgt (Join to see)
Trust me I did a tour on a ship when I was in the Corps and working on the ship really sucked! Not the reason I went from green to blue though. I wanted to get my Masters degree and our ops tempo was very high and there was no such animal as online schooling at the time.
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SMSgt (Join to see),
All I know is that every Air Force gym I've been to has been outstanding! Huge variety of equipment, all the latest technology, so much cardio equipment that there's never a line, classes galore, and everything sparkling clean. Even their gym in Manas beat the Army one I returned home to.
Of course, we all know that the reason their gyms stay so nice is that they never use them, but that's none of my business. (kidding)
All I know is that every Air Force gym I've been to has been outstanding! Huge variety of equipment, all the latest technology, so much cardio equipment that there's never a line, classes galore, and everything sparkling clean. Even their gym in Manas beat the Army one I returned home to.
Of course, we all know that the reason their gyms stay so nice is that they never use them, but that's none of my business. (kidding)
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I felt like I was at a fine dining establishment when I ate at Ramstein AFB back in 1990 sometime
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SSgt (Join to see)
I hear plenty of Army troops prefer the DFAC on the McChord side compared to the facilities on Fort Lewis.
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1SG (Join to see)
I do my weekends up there, but have not tried the AFB DFACs yet. I've never had a reason to be on that side. I should pay a visit..where is one? I may look into it next weekend.
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My Air Force serving cousin MSgt Ricky Johnson (not on RP), gets some kind of housing allowance when deployed with the Army. His QOL is certainly better. I should have listened to him.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
I have heard of that (never seen it) where AF members get extra money for substandard quarters when with the other services. I think this is one of those urban legends.
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SFC (Join to see)
TSgt Joshua Copeland , I am not sure either way. However, it doesn't change the fact that he was right.
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CMSgt James Nolan
I have never heard of getting additional money for being on an Army base. Throwing a flag on that one! He probably told you that to get you fired up.
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Walk into any chow hall (galley, DFAC, etc) and tell me that you can't see the difference!
I don't have any envy towards the other services (OK, maybe with the fitness centers), but there is a tremendous difference on base with housing, chow, services, recreation facilities... the list goes on.
I don't mind not being cooped up in a boat for months on end, though. Out in the field, I think the Army has it pretty good in comparison to the other services.
I don't have any envy towards the other services (OK, maybe with the fitness centers), but there is a tremendous difference on base with housing, chow, services, recreation facilities... the list goes on.
I don't mind not being cooped up in a boat for months on end, though. Out in the field, I think the Army has it pretty good in comparison to the other services.
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SMSgt (Join to see)
I have been to a few really nice bases that have some awesome amenities and most were sister services. Camp Pendleton, CA has beach houses that you can rent for a cool $35-40 a night. Ft. Leonardwood, MO has one of the best gym facilities I have ever been to. 32nd Street Naval Station has a very nice NEX. I see a lot of differences with sister service equipment though. I feel like personal equipment like flak vests, holsters should be standardized throughout the services though.
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As USAF stationed on a Naval AIr Station (Keflavik, Iceland), the Navy always thanked us for being there, because their quality of life and overall base structure and cleanliness standards were higher than at a non-shared base. I was overseas most of my career, but the AF bases seemed to be nicer than any or the Army Posts I spent time at also.
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I believe this even happens within branches. Walking into a maintenance shop and seeing how they have it and then walking into an STS building and seeing how they are treated, you would be shocked that they are the same branch, although not the same mission.
We all know as AF members that we have it better than most, it just astounds me at the gap that exists.
We all know as AF members that we have it better than most, it just astounds me at the gap that exists.
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Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn
My opinion:
1. USAF bases - they build the creature comforts first, then ask Congress to appropriate funds for an airstrip
2. USN bases - it has to be better than deployment at sea!
3. Army bases - proud to pamper their personnel more than the Marine Corps ever would!
4. USMC - We call our bases "camps" for a reason! If you wanted creature comforts, you should've joined the Chair Force! ;-)
1. USAF bases - they build the creature comforts first, then ask Congress to appropriate funds for an airstrip
2. USN bases - it has to be better than deployment at sea!
3. Army bases - proud to pamper their personnel more than the Marine Corps ever would!
4. USMC - We call our bases "camps" for a reason! If you wanted creature comforts, you should've joined the Chair Force! ;-)
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First assignment was Fort Polk, La. Been to Sam Houston and Benning on training visits and currently assigned to a Marine Base. I believe every base has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Fort Polk:
-Housing is ancient. They are trying to modernize but it is paintstakingly slow.
-Not sure how the rest of the military does but the housing has an outside company to come in and do the yard work. They will do the front yard perfectly and destroy the back because the don't care. My dog would not relieve herself in the yard because of it (she would go on the patio).
-They did have a water splash park installed and awesome playground where kids of all ages would benefit.
-Right after my deployment, they opened a go-kart/mini-golf course.
Marine Base:
-Housing is HOUSING. At most, it is a duplex.
-We are required to maintain the backyard ourselves. The rest is up to the yard crew.
-Because it is such a small base, there is not much to do. The trade off is that there is plenty in town to do.
Fort Polk:
-Housing is ancient. They are trying to modernize but it is paintstakingly slow.
-Not sure how the rest of the military does but the housing has an outside company to come in and do the yard work. They will do the front yard perfectly and destroy the back because the don't care. My dog would not relieve herself in the yard because of it (she would go on the patio).
-They did have a water splash park installed and awesome playground where kids of all ages would benefit.
-Right after my deployment, they opened a go-kart/mini-golf course.
Marine Base:
-Housing is HOUSING. At most, it is a duplex.
-We are required to maintain the backyard ourselves. The rest is up to the yard crew.
-Because it is such a small base, there is not much to do. The trade off is that there is plenty in town to do.
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