US Air Force

I know they talk a big game that the base is close knit and they take care of each other; not true. In fact, it's just the opposite. In the short time I've been here (less than a year) I've seen four airman talk about or imply suicide. If your one of the lucky many and have anything to do with the flight line be prepared to work long hours and have them change what time your working. To be more accurate you will be working 12's for at least two weeks a month with on average two weekends off per month unless you have the duty. Don't be surprised when you go 5 to 6 weeks with no days off (it will happen; this is a fact). When not on 12's normal shifts are 9 to 10 hours long. Those that have children to raise and are enrolled in the CDC have to pay more during the times you are on 12's unless you choose some program they have where you let your child go with some stranger and you pick up your child from their house after your done with work (this is free) but sounds risky.

The base motto is "Only the Best Come North." Those that have been stationed there know the secret motto is "That's the way it's always been done." You will see the motto as you come on base threw the "Magic City Gate" along with the DUI calendar which I've only see hit the low double digits twice then it goes back to zero. Obviously, drinking is a problem on this base. Further down the road is the shopette/class six. It's of average size. Further down is the BX which is about a medium/small size. They have the normal stuff like the clothing store, hair cut place, gamestop. For the food court they have Taco Bell, Charley's subs, Anthony's pizza and I think they are putting a popeyes chicken in there sometime soon. The housing on base is quite nice; fairly large homes for a military base. However, it is quite limited so you may have to move downtown. They have parks on base but I really never see anyone at them which could be related to the ticks and mosquito problem this state has. Don't walk in any tall grass unless you want your legs to be peppered with ticks. After July the ticks seem to go away. As for the mosquito's out here they are really bad. I don't care if you came from the Florida everglades; this place is worse. And if your thinking just put some bug spray on and call it good your mistaken. I've been bitten while wearing 100% deet. However, it does keep some at bay.

So sure as some will hear "if you like fishing and hunting you'll like Minot." First, only if you get the time off to do things like that then I'm sure you've found something you like about the area. But then again you can pretty much do all that stuff in all the other states. Other's will say "go snowmobiling." Sure, if you like being out in -45 degree weather; knock yourself out. Same goes for ice fishing. Do you really want to be in a tent with a bunch of dudes fishing a hole in the ice drinking beer? I'll drink beer back at my place, eat fish sticks and watch the game and call that fishing instead.

Downtown Minot... Yes not a whole lot there. Every year that have the state fair in Minot. I went, I saw, and it's just like any fair really. It's something to do for a day. They do however get decent bands to play at the fair. They have a zoo downtown that I hear is pretty good. I've yet to see it for myself though. The food towntown is pretty good; at least the local restaurants. There is a lack of chain restaurants. And if sushi is your thing; forget about it. There are places that serve it but it's no good. The biggest attractions seem to be Wal-Mart and the Mall. The mall is a med/small size with the only theater in town. Minot can choose which movies can play in town. So if they believe that a movie is too gorish or whatever; they will not play it here. Another quirk is they don't have beer in gas stations. You have to go to a liquor store to get it. On Sundays most places are closed except for food/grocery stores. Wal-Mart opens at 12 noon on Sunday.

As for the local community, I get the feeling they don't like the military that much. Don't get me wrong obviously not everyone likes/dislikes the military but as a whole the community does not care for the military. If you go downtown in uniform don't expect anyone to come up to you and thank you for serving; it probably wont happen. It's never happened to me or my co-workers in the time I've been here and I live downtown, I see cilvilans in my uniform on a daily basis. A lot of the business offer a military discount but I've been told by the workers that they don't offer it unless we ask for it first. So the establishment ie Hardees, KFC, etc. supports the military however the business owners really don't like giving the discount (I hope this makes sense on what I'm trying to converse here). This is a touchy subject for most north dakotians because they think they are the most friendliest people on the planet and they have a lot of pride in their heritage. You can see this in a lot of post where people are talking trash about north dakota. I'm a realist; it is what it is.

Moving on, another cool aspect is most places here offer free wi-fi. ATT coverage is not the greatest because most coverage is edge however the wi-fi makes up for it kinda. Don't get rid of your iphone just yet; see if you can deal with it first. Another thing some may hear is that the crime is low. I say it's about right for a town it's size. I think there is about 36K people here. They have murders, rapes, thefts and other petty crime just like other places do. The town is smaller so of course they wont have as much as a bigger city but all that bad stuff happens here too. Another thing you may here is "it's a great place to raise a family." I wouldn't know; I refused to bring my family here. Some would say that's a pretty dumb choice. I beg to differ they are much better off where they are. There are more oportunities available to them away from here. Do I suffer without them? Everyday. I'm not the only dummy that has made this sacrifice. I have a lot of co-workers that are married with children that chose not to bring them out here. And it would be a choice I would make again even easier after being here.

All and all I consider this place a remote assignment but unfortunately the Air Force does not see it that way. You're stationed in the states and you have it so much better than the guy in Uzbekistan. Which no doubt your going to be here a long time. I would trade with that guy in a heartbeat. Yes it is true that it is very hard to get orders out of here. I've seen orders cancelled on a lot of people. I've even seen them refuse to allow someone who was accepted to the AF Acadamy to go.

Just remember and hold these words close to your heart; there is no such thing as a bad assignment. And of course the all famous words; you make what you want of it.