Moving To Alaska .. Need Some Help

[Arcticthaw]

I looked at her post, and unless something was deleted or my computer filtered it, I don't see where she mentions wich branch of the service they are affiliated with. We will just have to see if she posts.

[User 2]

....check her location.

Sheppard AFB Texas

[Arcticthaw]

DUH!!!!

Been a long week.

[User 2]

Happy Holi-duh......

[siamiam]

Originally Posted by User 2

Wainwright isn't an Air Force base....

It's either Eielson or Elmendorf she's talking about.

She must not trust the transfer orientation info they'd give her at Sheppard AFB in Texas....

Wainwright is a Village, FT Wainwright is a Army post ive got a friend in the Airforce who is stationed on Ft Wainwright. when he was Iraq last year he was also assigned to work with the army

oh and dont Forget about Clear AFB too

[RayinAK]

Fort Wainwright is located right in Fairbanks, at one end of Airport Way.
All she has to do is to Google "Fort Wainwright, Alaska" to get to the official web page, but she can get there from this page:
Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

It's a big place, and what she does not have right on post, will be available right out the gate

The Official page may give her specific information:
• Home

Probably ACS provides any ISP services she may need, telephone, cell phone, etc., but I believe that there are telephone companies right on post. The PX is small, but Fort Wainwright is surrounded by Fairbanks, malls, car dealers, etc. The commissary is big, and the hospital is huge (a brand new hospital). Lots of outdoors activities, and when not too cold she should be able to downhill ski right on post. and so forth.

[Lou Gehrig]

We just spent 3 years at Ft. Wainwright (July 04-May 07.) Loved somethings and hated somethings. If the OP is going to Eielson, here are some tips...

North Pole is the town closest to the AFB. There are a lot of decent homes in that area, especially off of and around Badger Road that might be worth looking into. Where to live is really dependent on the Airmans/Officer's BAH.

In my three years there, I never visited the Eielson PX or Commissary. I've heard they are nicer than Wainwright's. The advantage to using the PX/Commissary is price. EVERYTHING is cheaper there versus Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer or Safeway. Most items in Alsaka are 10-20% more expensive than in the lower 48. One of the major drawbacks to that area is the lack of shopping. While we were there, an Old Navy opened and that was huge news for the town. They got their Wal-Mart in 2003 or 2004. There is a Gottschalks department store but it's not that big. If you can't find it in town (which will happen) you'll have to pay to get it shipped in. And shipping can get expensive on items mailed to Alaska.

The extreme cold of the area is a bit daunting but overall, you adapt and either learn to enjoy it or you start counting days until it warms up. You don't get true all day darkness in the winter but it's close. Maybe 2 hours of the sun eeking up over horizon. But the dusk light is around for another 90-120 minutes.

You will be 7-9 hours by car from Anchorage, depending on season. It's only an hour by air but it's not cheap enough to make the trip that often. You are 4-5 hours from Seattle by air and most likely you will connect through Anchorage to do that. Driving out will take 3-5 days to get to Seattle. I drove out in May, spent 9-10 hours a day on the road and it took me just over 4 days to do it.

You are STUCK in the middle of nowhere for the most part. There is a lot of outdoor activity: Hunting, fishing, hiking, camping. If you like the outdoors, this is a great place to live.

On a clear day, I could walk out my front door and see Mt. McKinley. That's awesome. We saw the Northern Lights from our porch each winter on many different occasions each year. A moose lived just across the river from us and we'd catch him browsing around our house.

The people of Alaska are very friendly. I grew up in the South and I told friends that Alaska was the farthest north southern state. We liked it but I doubt we'll be back. We have two small children and those winter months being stuck inside was kind of hard to do. We ended up at Ft. Lewis and live just north of there outside Tacoma. Different strokes for different folks but Alaska is everything you've heard about and more.

[Forgetmenots& Roses]

If she means Elmendorf they have built new housing for married couples. I've been in one of my friend's houses whose husband was a sergeant and it was nice. Had a nice patio and backyard, and upstairs and two bathrooms.

The local cable in Anchorage is GCI and they sometimes have package deals with phone, cable, internet, and cellphone.

The schools? They are okay,not as great as Oregon schools.


Winters are long here from Oct-May so I'd get some warm clothes: boots, hats, mittens.
Winterize your car and get snow tires.

The cost of food is sky high but on base I'm sure there is a commissary.

There are Walmart's, Costco's, Sam's Club, and lots of shopping malls, movie theatres, etc. Northway mall has alot of hoodlums and some gang activity.

There is alot of alcoholism in Alaska, domestic violence, and 1,000 registered sex offenders in Anchorage. I wouldn't go out alone at night especially if you are pretty, thin, and young. Men are perverts in this state believe me.

Ft Rich? Not sure but it's more out of town.