Welcome to Vance Air Force Base and Enid, America!
Yes, it’s a small town in what can seem like the middle of nowhere, Oklahoma, but I promise you it’s better than you may have heard! Vance and Enid are truly a family. The small size makes it easier to get connected and involved in the community! It’s also really easy to get out of town and enjoy Oklahoma City or Tulsa. Being a part of the pilot training community is exciting and inspiring! The base does a great job of hosting events and making sure families are cared for. Whether this is your first base or your last, chances are you’ll leave feeling Vance Proud!
Things to know about Vance Air Force Base
I’m from a small town, so I’ve always appreciated having a tight-knit community. Enid is such a friendly place and loves having the base as part of the community. I’ve really enjoyed the downtown area and being able to walk between restaurants for drinks and appetizers. It’s easy to feel like a local when everyone makes you feel at home with greetings and random conversations. The weather (storms/tornado potential) can seem scary at first, but there are a lot of precautions put in place. Locals even think the area is “blessed” and stays out of the line of really dangerous storms!
Shelley
I’m from the East Coast, so driving to Enid was the first time I had driven in the Midwest, let alone lived in the Midwest. Being an anxious over-preparer, I reached out to people at Vance before moving to ask a million questions. I kept getting the same answer – “the community is unmatched”. Two years later, I now know what that means. It looks like spouses show up for one another to celebrate milestones while your SO is at IFT or on cross-countries, cooking meals to take care of those who welcomed a new baby to their family, rooting for each other at drop night, and so much more. Lean into the culture and community and go the extra mile to find ways to enjoy your time here- you will get out of this assignment what you are willing to invest. More likely than not, you’ll leave # VANCEPROUD.
Kristen
Looking for more specific recommendations from the WAF community on topics like best neighborhoods, favorite restaurants, or doctor recommendations – join the conversation in our private Facebook group of incredible WAFs!
In an effort to better serve every WAF across all branches, and with the help of some amazing other WAFs, we’ve curated branch specific Facebook groups. You can find your branch’s group by joining the general WAF Facebook page and then clicking “visit group”.
