Living on a military base - especially overseas - and living within the civilian side of the US economy are two very different things. After my dad retired and my family moved off-base, I realized that the norms I had grown so accustomed to were not very common in the civilian world. I would mention aspects of base-life to my friends, and they would be surprised to hear the differences I that I had gotten used to. So, here are five unique aspects of living/going to school on-base overseas.
Shopping
Military bases have the option of shopping at the Commissary and PX. The Commissary is a grocery store that gives you a taste of home, with tons of American foods you can buy. The PX is like a one-stop shop for anything else you may want to purchase, including clothes, electronics, and outdoor furniture. It even has a food court!
Living in the United States, there are many options when it comes to buying your typical groceries and necessities both on and off base. However, on an overseas military base, there is limited access to the items you usually shop for, with the Commissary and PX being some of the only stores where you can find American products for a reasonable price. These stores may seem simple, but they usually have all you need.
Needing ID
Another thing I have learned about being on a military base is to always keep my military ID with me. In civilian life, keeping your driver's license on you is important, for example, but if you forget it one day, it's not necessarily the end of the world. However, having your military ID at all times is crucial because, especially as you get older, you need it to access base. You will also need to scan your ID if you want to buy anything at the PX or Commissary. Now that my dad is retired, I still keep the habit of always remembering to keep my IDs with me, even if I hardly use them.
Everything Nearby
One perk about military bases is how accessible everything is. Most everywhere you need to go is within walking or biking distance. As my family and I transitioned away from on-base life, I really took for granted how easy it was to get around and not need a car for everything. It was very convenient to get out of school, walk to the food court for a snack, and get to sports practice all within a practical amount of time.
Connectedness
A very common military kid experience is coming home and telling your parents about a friend you made, to hear the classic: “Hey, I work with their dad/mom!” Since all the kids going to school on base are military-connected in some way, a majority of their parents work together!
Another surreal thing that many military kids have experienced is seeing somebody at their new school and recognizing them from a previous duty station. It’s a really interesting yet strange feeling to see somebody you used to know and see how they’ve changed and grown up. This is especially profound, because growing up as a military kid, you can sometimes lack those long-term friendships. So, it is nice to be able to rekindle a relation that you never would have thought would come back!
Openness to Newcomers
Another thing I noticed going to school on a military base versus going to school outside of one is people’s openness to newcomers. I noticed that people on a military base are very welcoming. On-base, it is different, because almost all of the other students have dealt with being new at some point, so most students know what you are going through. Many of them will make an effort to talk to you and get to know you, and people go out of their way to help you find your place and fit in. There are also a lot of activities for new students to help them integrate into their new duty station, and because of this, a tight community forms that is unique to that of a military base.
All in all, being a military kid on base offers a diverse set of unique experiences. Although very different from my current life in the in the US following my dad's retirement, growing up on various bases overseas had such a positive effect on me, and I am so grateful for the military child life!
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