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DUTY STATION COMPARISON

FE Warren AFB vs Natick Soldier Center

Air Force, WY vs Army, MA

The Intel

FE Warren AFB: "Guarding Nukes in Wyoming's Wind Tunnel Since 1867." Natick Soldier Center: "The Army's MRE Kitchen and Gear Lab (Near Boston)." The inter-service rivalry starts at the gate and ends at the bar. Actually, it never ends.

Honest version: FE Warren AFB — Minuteman III ICBMs, No state income tax in Wyoming, but Cheyenne is windy and cold. Natick Soldier Center — Soldier equipment research, Boston 20 miles away, but Extremely high cost of living. You'll spend more of your actual life in Cheyenne, WY or Natick, MA than on any range. That's worth weighing. FE Warren AFB lets you pocket BAH like a financial genius. Natick Soldier Center has your spouse checking Zillow, then your LES, then their options. In that order. FE Warren AFB's forecast: Cold windy winters, mild summers, high altitude. Natick Soldier Center's: Cold snowy winters, warm humid summers, beautiful fall. Pack for both. Complain about both. That's the tradition.

Different branches, different installations, same realization at end of tour: the duty station didn't define you — but it sure left fingerprints.

FE Warren AFB
Air Force — WY
Cold windy winters, mild summers, high altitude
“Guarding Nukes in Wyoming's Wind Tunnel Since 1867”
Natick Soldier Center
Army — MA
Cold snowy winters, warm humid summers, beautiful fall
“The Army's MRE Kitchen and Gear Lab (Near Boston)”
Climate
FE Warren AFBCold windy winters, mild summers, high altitude
Natick Soldier CenterCold snowy winters, warm humid summers, beautiful fall
Cost of Living
FE Warren AFBLow
Natick Soldier CenterHigh
Nearest City
FE Warren AFBCheyenne, WY (5 min)
Natick Soldier CenterNatick, MA (5 min)
Nearest Airport
FE Warren AFBDenver International (DEN) — 1 hr 45 min. Cheyenne Regional (CYS) — 5 min (extremely limited).
Natick Soldier CenterBoston Logan (BOS) — 30 min
Housing
FE Warren AFBPrivatized by Balfour Beatty on base with short waitlists. Off-base in Cheyenne is affordable — $1,000-$1,400 for a 3BR. No state income tax in Wyoming is a major financial perk.
Natick Soldier CenterNo on-post housing. Off-post in Natick, Framingham, Wellesley — $2,200-$3,500/3BR. Boston suburbs expensive.
Spouse Employment
FE Warren AFBLimited in Cheyenne. State government is the largest employer. Healthcare and education available. No income tax is a financial win. Remote work is common. Some spouses commute to the Fort Collins/Loveland, CO area.
Natick Soldier CenterOutstanding. Boston metro — biotech, healthcare, tech, universities. One of the strongest job markets in the country.
Medical
FE Warren AFBFE Warren AFB Clinic (90th Medical Group) — clinic only. Cheyenne Regional Medical Center handles civilian needs. Denver (1.5 hrs) for complex or specialized care.
Natick Soldier CenterNo military medical. Brigham and Women's and Mass General (Boston) are world-class.
Gate Commute
FE Warren AFBMain gate off Randall Avenue — minimal delays. Cheyenne is small. Missile alert facilities are spread across the Wyoming/Nebraska/Colorado tristate area — alert duty drives are long and lonely.
Natick Soldier CenterTiny post, no gate delays. Mass Pike (I-90) and Route 9 are main routes. Boston traffic notorious.

Pros & Cons

FE Warren AFB
PROS
  • +No state income tax in Wyoming
  • +Denver 90 min away
  • +Frontier Days rodeo
CONS
  • -Cheyenne is windy and cold
  • -Missile field alert duty is isolating
  • -Limited city amenities
Natick Soldier Center
PROS
  • +Boston 20 miles away
  • +New England charm
  • +World-class universities nearby
CONS
  • -Extremely high cost of living
  • -Tiny military community
  • -Boston traffic

Known For

FE Warren AFB
Minuteman III ICBMs90th Missile WingNuclear deterrence
Natick Soldier Center
Soldier equipment researchCombat Feeding DirectorateMRE development

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