In this article, I’m going to be talking about the top five overseas bases to be stationed at in the Air Force. So if you’re interested, be sure to read the whole article
Also, if you think that I’m totally wrong with my picks, comment down below what would be your top five and why. That way, we create a bit of a forum, and it helps other people out who come to this article looking for what the top five overseas bases are. Your opinions are definitely appreciated in the comment section.
Also, my wife and I each wrote an article on our top jobs in the Air Force, plus our top five stateside bases. So if you’re interested in those, those will be linked in the description down below.
Osan Air Force Base (South Korea)
Coming in at my number five pick, I’m going to have to say Osan Air Force Base in South Korea. Now, there are actually two bases in South Korea. Osan is the larger of the two.
It’s also closer to Seoul, which is the capital of South Korea.
Unaccompanied Tours in South Korea
One of the biggest unfortunate things about going to South Korea in the Air Force is that it is typically an unaccompanied tour, which means if you’re married or married with kids, typically the Air Force is not going to let you bring them with you. So you’re going to have to do a year unaccompanied, which means without your family.
It’s kind of like a deployment, but with a lot more freedoms because it’s like a typical normal duty station. You just can’t have your family there.
Single Service Members’ Experience
Now, I know there are ways around this, and if you have any information on that, feel free to comment down below. But if you are a single person in the military, meaning you don’t have a relationship going, or at least you’re not married and you’re just dating somebody, going to South Korea might be an awesome opportunity.
I’m sure if you’re currently in the military, you know somebody that’s been stationed there as well, and they’ve had some wild stories, and so you kind of just feel like you’re missing out. You want to know what that whole experience is like being stationed in South Korea, and that’s why it made it onto my list.
Perks of South Korea
Also, I heard the Internet there is ridiculously fast, so that would be super awesome. For things like making YouTube videos and doing stuff online, having really fast Internet is really helpful. Now, you’re probably interested in joining the Air Force or the military in general, or you’re currently in service then this is something to consider.
RAF Mildenhall (United Kingdom)
Now, the fourth best place to be stationed in the Air Force while you’re overseas, at least in my opinion, is Mildenhall Air Force Base in the United Kingdom.
Now, there is another base in the United Kingdom called Lakenheath Air Force Base, which is literally right across the street. Mildenhall is a much smaller base, so I think just morale in general is higher. People are going to feel closer on that base compared to Lakenheath.
When operations get bigger, and there are a lot of people and moving parts, I feel like morale can take a hit. So overall, Mildenhall is the better choice if you’re going to be stationed in the United Kingdom.
The Downsides of Mildenhall
Unfortunately, I’ve heard from a lot of people stationed in the United Kingdom that the weather there is absolutely awful. It’s always overcast, always rainy, and it never gets super hot.
The Perks of Europe
However, I would enjoy the ability to fly anywhere in Europe for under $50 and just travel. The ability to explore different cultures and have unique experiences is so easily accessible and close that you can’t go wrong being stationed anywhere in Europe.
That’s why the United Kingdom, Mildenhall Air Force Base, is my number four choice.
Spangdahlem Air Base (Germany)
Number three is going to be Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany.
If you want to get stationed overseas, Germany is possibly one of the most popular places that people in the military want to get stationed.
Why Spangdahlem Over Ramstein?
Most people would say Ramstein because it’s the base that most people know. Ramstein is a huge base, and it’s a major hub for a lot of our military. However, from what I’ve heard, Ramstein is always busy, and the working tempo there is pretty fast.
At Spangdahlem, the tempo is much slower, which helps increase morale. So not only do you get to be stationed in Germany, but you also aren’t getting worked like crazy.
Life at Spangdahlem
I’ve also heard that Spangdahlem is more rural compared to Ramstein. But with Europe being so small, you don’t really have to worry about being in the middle of nowhere because you can just drive a few hours and be in a completely different country.
Yokota Air Base (Japan)
Number two is Yokota Air Base in Japan.
Now, I was actually stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, for three years as my first duty station. If I had to pick a base in Japan to get stationed at, I would actually pick Yokota over Kadena.
Why Yokota Over Kadena?
Yokota is only about an hour away from Tokyo, which is the largest city in the world. Being within an hour of Tokyo means that you can access it any weekend you want, as long as you’re not working.
And being the largest city in the world, there is so much to do.
And you don’t have to worry about traffic because everybody uses the metro. The metro system in Japan, especially in Tokyo, is amazing.
When you go to Japan, you will be mind-blown about how the system works. That alone is like a tourist attraction. Using the metro in Tokyo is such a fun, cool experience, and everybody there is so nice.
Sightseeing and Culture in Japan
Also, you’re in mainland Japan, so if you want to travel and see Mount Fuji or a bunch of other things, there are tons of castle ruins. You’re going to have a lot of opportunities to go sightseeing.
There is a lot of culture and history in Japan, which makes it an incredible place to be stationed.
Aviano Air Base (Italy)
My number one overseas Air Force base, if I could choose, would be Aviano, Italy.
It was actually my number one pick when I went through basic training and put it on my dream sheet. The biggest reason I’m putting this on the list is because it’s in Europe, and you can travel so easily to all the other countries.
Why Aviano?
Aviano Air Force Base in Italy is going to be the warmest location that you could be stationed at in Europe.
I’m a huge fan of warm weather—not a fan of the cold—and I do not like winter. So, if there’s an opportunity to be in Europe and at a warmer location, I’m going to take it.
Unfortunately, it’s up to the Air Force where you get stationed, so you don’t really get that much of a say. But it shouldn’t stop you from at least trying to put it on your dream sheet if it’s somewhere you want to go.
Living in Italy
The history, the culture, the art—it almost seems like you’d be living on a vacation. I feel like just driving around in general would be gorgeous, seeing all of the architecture.
Not to mention that Rome is in Italy, and I think Rome would be such an awesome place to visit outside of the peak seasons. If you’re close enough to Rome, you could drive there on a weekend and go back multiple times. You wouldn’t have to cram everything into your trip all at once.
Why Aviano is My Top Pick
That’s why it’s my number one. There is so much history in that area, and I think living there allows you to explore it without feeling overwhelmed or trying to consume it all within a five- or ten-day period.
Final Thoughts: Share Your Opinions
Now, that was my list of my top five overseas Air Force bases.
If you guys disagree, please comment down below and tell me why you think I’m wrong. I think by you commenting and contradicting what I’m saying, it gives people a more clear picture of what to expect.
Your comments can add more info than just what I’m sharing because mine is going to be very one-sided. The more opinions we can get about different bases, the more informed people will be in the comment section.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to give it a thumbs up. Also, check out our other related articles:
- Top five stateside bases (McKenna and I each did our own)
- Top five Air Force jobs