Military Families in Yuma ( trip , housing, crime)

[Zoria]

I'd love to hear from some people/families who have been stationed at MCAS Yuma. I'm reading what's posted on this forum, and am starting to get a little scared. Please someone tell me the air station isn't as bad as what everyone here is saying. Isn't their security on base?? We would be living on base. I have little ones (preschoolers) and am worried now.

[sfw1979]

Originally Posted by Zoria

I'd love to hear from some people/families who have been stationed at MCAS Yuma. I'm reading what's posted on this forum, and am starting to get a little scared. Please someone tell me the air station isn't as bad as what everyone here is saying. Isn't their security on base?? We would be living on base. I have little ones (preschoolers) and am worried now.

Zoria,

Are you worried about security because people say Yuma is unsafe? It is not that bad. Yuma is a great little town to raise a family in. I would rather rent a house with a pool vs live on the base but it depends what your getting for BAH though. We are military and lived in Yuma for three years. And it's not as bad as people say. If you can afford to buy a boat then I would since going to the river is a lot of fun! San Diego is 2 hours away, Disneyland is about 5 hr drive. There are great parks in Yuma for the little ones and swimming is of course big in the summer. The only advice I have is rent a pool home, you will not regret it. check out CinCHouse - Home


Good lucK!

[sfw1979]

awwww...I just saw the Beware of Yuma thread...it's not that bad..really! Yuma has a lot to offer. The summers are miserable but boy do the winters make up for that! No ice, no snow! Sunny and 70's most of the winter.

[redwingfan1]

Zoria,
I agree with Sfw1979,
I am not military, but i am a mom that just relocated from Michigan last June. I have a 12, 9 and 5 year old. I have to tell you, I have never seen a city that has so many "family" oriented activities as Yuma. Last weekend, they had a family day at one of the parks, and everything was free. I don't feel afraid at all. Other than practicing common sense with regards to my childrens' safety, this city has much, much less crime than Detroit or Ann Arbor. Don't let all the "nay-saying" scare you! And, we LOVE our military families! So, relax, and welcome to Yuma from another new resident, and thanks for you and your family's service, from a grateful American......RWF1

[Dangerous Dave]

Um, yeah, less crime than Detroit. Big accomplishment there.

Short answer: Yuma sucks. The short winters don't make up for the long, hot summers.

Boating? In Colorado Creek? What a joke. The water is ankle deep in most places... at least you won't need life vests. I grounded my canoe on a sandbar....

Good luck getting base housing. It's generally full because enlisted folks can't afford to pay for the electricity to keep their houses at 85 degrees out in town. And unless things have changed since I was in, the entire command treats the Marines like they're grade schoolers. MWR is run by a bunch of old ladies.

There is the bright side... the commissary is generally empty because Walmart is a better deal. The main exchange is generally empty too.... because the selection stinks. Probably because the same old ladies that run the MWR are also the buyers for the PX.

Sucky base, sucky town.

[JetSet]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Boating? In Colorado Creek? What a joke. The water is ankle deep in most places... at least you won't need life vests. I grounded my canoe on a sandbar....

The Colorado River through Yuma is basically what gets delivered to Mexico. You need to take a 15 minute trip upstream to get to the "river". Have you ever been to the MCAS recreation area at Martinez Lake? The lower river above Imperial Dam is paradise.

Here is a video I made of a river trip last summer.
YouTube - Quiet Sunday on the Colorado River

[Dangerous Dave]

Originally Posted by JetSet

The Colorado River through Yuma is basically what gets delivered to Mexico. You need to take a 15 minute trip upstream to get to the "river". Have you ever been to the MCAS recreation area at Martinez Lake? The lower river above Imperial Dam is paradise.

Here is a video I made of a river trip last summer.
YouTube - Quiet Sunday on the Colorado River

Sorry, that thing is still full of sand bars. If you want to see what an actual river looks like, try the Columbia.