Looking for advice on the following AFBs. Which do you like/dislike?

2016-04-07T05:14:57-04:00

Charleston, Peterson, Elmendorf, Robins, Wright-Pat, Langley, Scott, McChord
Seymour-Johnson, Hanscom, Offutt, McConnell, Tinker, Eglin, Lakenheath
Hickham, Nellis, Yokota, Aviano, Grand Forks, Keesler, Vandenburg, Edwards

Response by TSgt David L. made Apr 7 at 2016 5:29 AM

2016-04-07T05:29:22-04:00

-Eglin kicks ass. Tons of things to do. The BEACHs!! Travel. Vandenburg is about the same way. Plenty of sights and sounds.
-Peterson is again, tons of travel and sights. Outdoors and the assorted activities.
-Wright-Patterson is OK, but a headquarters base, for what that's worth. I guess the area is good. We only spent two weeks there. The Air Force Museum is great though you can only see it so many times.
-I don't have a dog in the fight on the rest of them.
Good luck.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2016 7:04 AM

2016-04-07T07:04:46-04:00

Of these, I have only been to Nellis, Yokota, and Keesler. In the case of Eglin, I was actually at nearby Hurlburt Field. Of these 4, I hands down would recommend Yokota and Hurlburt Field/Eglin would be the next choice. I personally enjoy overseas travel because of the educational aspects of it all. Any opportunity to go be permanently stationed in a foreign country is one I would automatically take if offered, even if not so glamorous.

Response by MSgt Michael Bischoff made Apr 7 at 2016 7:42 AM

2016-04-07T07:42:06-04:00

I can recommend, Elmmendorf, Eglin/Hurlburt, Aviano, and Yokota (close to Tokyo). Did not like Seymour Johnson.
When I was stationed at UpperHeyford England, we called Lakenheath RAF Disneyland (not because of an amusement park was close). That was a long time ago; however.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2016 12:42 PM

2016-04-07T12:42:53-04:00

Charleston--nice; Peterson--nice; Robins--no thank you; Wright-Pat--yes; McChord--YES!; McConnell--ew, no; Tinker--he$$ no; Eglin--yes, please!; Lakenheath--i'll take two; Hickam--it's okay, I wouldn't turn it down; Nellis--not bad; Keesler--no thank you. Those are all the places I have been to TDY, PCS'd, or just randomly visited. :D

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2016 12:48 PM

2016-04-07T12:48:50-04:00

Hi, MSgt Kern.

Eglin was like any other AFB really, but the area around it rocked! Ft. Walton Beach was an awesome place to live. Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field was right down the street, along with AF Reserve 919 Special Operations Wing.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Apr 7 at 2016 12:56 PM

2016-04-07T12:56:57-04:00

I've been at Scott and Keesler for an extended time as well as visited Grand Forks a couple times as it's less than an hour from my home in ND. I'll give some details here but feel free if you have any questions that I don't answer to shoot me a PM.

Grand Forks: I've only been there in visiting but in general the base is small and quiet. Not a lot has been going on there for a while. They have a drone mission but not much else, in fact it's almost always on the BRAC lists when the AF is looking for bases to close. Overall the base doesn't have a whole lot to offer but the local area isn't bad. Yes it's ND but as a North Dakotan from that part of the state I can tell you there is things to do if you look. Hunting and fishing are wildly popular, with hunting though it's best to try and get to know locals as much of the land will be posted. Grand Forks specifically is home to UND who are known most for hockey, the Ralph Engelstad Arena is actually one of the nicest I can say I've ever been in. Grand Forks also has plenty of shopping. Your standards like Wal Mart, Target, Best Buy, etc. but it also has a nice mall with a really nice Scheel's plus there's a good Cabela's across the border in east Grand Forks if you're an outdoors person. Canada isn't far north if you want to go out of country. Minnesota to the east with plenty of lakes for fishing, hunting, and Minneapolis can make a good weekend trip. Fargo is an hour or so south and has the NDSU football games and Redhawks Baseball which are popular. And then you've got Devil's Lake to the west which is good fishing. Overall if you get out there's plenty to do.

Keesler: I was only stationed there for tech school but the base and area aren't too bad. It's mainly AETC so be ready for tech schoolers to be the majority population. Otherwise you sit on the coast. The Biloxi beach and water aren't the prettiest but it's kind of nice. Casinos are popular in Biloxi too and there's plenty of good restaurants and things around to do. You are also within short driving distance of New Orleans in Louisiana and Pensacola in Florida if you want to make trips elsewhere.

Scott: Scott has something for just about anyone. The base itself doesn't have a really big flying mission however it is home to two MAJCOMs so there's a ton of people on the base and a lot of high level personnel at that. The base is fairly nice with a great BX and commissary for most of your needs in those regards. In the local area you have plenty of decent sized towns to the west with most other shopping needs and plenty of things to do as far as bars/clubs and food. If you like the big city then St Louis is only a stones throw away to the west. Chicago is up to the north and Indianapolis to the east. They're both longer drives but close enough to make weekend trips too without much hassle.

Overall because I am an ND native Grand Forks would be my preferred base but considering all else Scott is probably truly the best out of those three anyway just because of how much there is to do in the local area alone let alone if you're willing to drive for some of the other stuff.

Again, I am open to questions on any of those three if you have any. No guarantees I will have all the answers but I could probably get answers if needed.

Response by Maj Matt Hylton made Apr 7 at 2016 1:26 PM

2016-04-07T13:26:30-04:00

I can give you feedback on where I've been stationed or TDY:

Hanscom - I liked it, but obviously expensive since it is right outside Boston. Traffic is a beast if you live off base, but if you choose to live off base, it's better to pick closer to Boston b/c you will have a reverse commute from everyone else. TONS of stuff to do obviously since you are right beside Boston, (bars, restaurants, pro sports event, historic district). Great skiing and outdoor activities in NH & VT and Cape Cod is right there for the short summer that it's warm enough to swim in that cold water.

Elmendorf - I went TDY there several times while I was stationed at Eielson. I loved it up there. Anchorage is the biggest city in AK, so that is a good thing about it, but you are also right at the gateway for everything else that is outdoor activities in AK. Fishing in the bay, hunting at Kenai or up state, a few hours from Denali National Park, etc. If you are an outdoors person - this is a great assignment. If I could go back to AK for an assignment, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

Peterson - Co. Springs is definitely a military friendly city (with the exception of the random hippie you'll run into). You're across town from the Academy and right there for the outdoor activities available in CO.

Vandenburg - I spent a couple months there for Space 100 training. It has the good and bad things about California going for it. It's expensive but it is away from the major cities (less traffic). It's by the coast and has great weather most of the year. You're close enough to LA that you can do day trips down there easy for things like Disney, Lakers games, etc. You'll get the occasional "Don't Nuke the Whales" protestors at the gates.

Can't comment much on the other ones as I've either not been there or the TDY was so quick I can't give much details.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2016 2:25 PM

2016-04-07T14:25:22-04:00

Was sent to Offutt in 1969. Now I live in Iowa, just 15 miles form the base. Chose to move to Iowa for Tax reasons.

Must have liked the area since that is where we retired.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Apr 7 at 2016 7:55 PM

2016-04-07T19:55:10-04:00

I have a special place in my view of McConnell, because I was born there. After 20 years in the Army, I returned to Wichita and live on the other side of town. Plus I have relatives nearby.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 9 at 2016 3:43 PM

2016-04-09T15:43:22-04:00

Wright Patterson is Great if you like History. The Museum Rocks. If you like Small Town Illinois, Scott is Great, My First Memories are from Lebanon Ill at the end of the Runway and not a bad place to catch a Hop. Scott is not far from St Louis if you like St Louis. McChord is the best place on the Earth to catch a Hop. Lakenheath is great, good services, Excellent Hospital out in the Country of England got real tired of hearing F-111 Afterburners after a month. Hickam is Wonderful my First Tour of Duty was down the street at CINCPACFLT, Bit too many People crowded onto the Island of Oahu though. I like Yakota too except the Rooms are really small, Don't sneeze you'll shoot yourself out your window.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2016 12:32 PM

2016-04-19T12:32:27-04:00

Scott it is! Thanks to all who responded.