Edwards AFB

Kathy - posted on 07/01/2011

it is dry, I grew up at George AFB. No humidity what so ever. When we moved to Ohio, I had a hard time adjusting to snow, rain, and humidity. but as a AF wife you know how to adjust.

Becky - posted on 07/01/2011

Please join the Edwards AFB page on here :)

Becky - posted on 07/01/2011

Please join the Edwards AFB page on here :)

Barbara - posted on 05/19/2010

I grew on Edwards from 7-12 grade and met and married my husband there where he was serving his first tour. The base has gone through a lot of changes. The nearest town is 30 minutes, Rosamond is very small. Lancaster/Palmdale is about 45/60 minutes away. Like everyone said it is extremely hot, dry and arid. It is a big adjustment, but as with most military moves you can find good aspects if you look. I live in the DC area and when I still had family in CA, I enjoyed drying out in CA and getting away from the humidy on this coast. I have friends who teach in the middle school in Rosamond and if you have any specific questions please feel free to ask. Although my son was born on Edwards, I believe they now have you drive to Palmdale/Lancaster for care. Good luck.

Nora - posted on 05/18/2010

Hi, I do not know how long you have been in the Military. I was in for 20 years and was lucky enough to get stationed at a lot of bases. I am from Chicago and my first base was George AFB also in the Mojave desert not too far from Edwards AFB. Since you will arrive in December bring coats and warm weather clothes. The High Desert in the winter is windy and cold. Learn to enjoy what that area has. The night sky on a moonless night is unbaleaveable. But enjoy it in the summer. After George AFB I was lucky enough to get Okinawa. Green grass, green trees, blue ocean. For you it will be in the reverse. Brown grass, brown sand and lots of Josua trees. You will find every base has good points and bad. Make new friends , explore the new area, find new fun and strange things to do. It will take you 3 months to get re-aclimated to being back in the state in in a new base. No base is perfect so try to ignore the bad parts and have fun with the new Consider it an adventure. Soon you will have new orders and a new place to explore. Have fun seeing the world.

Sandy - posted on 05/15/2010

Rebekah is pretty much right about the AV. My family is from Lancaster. I grew up on Okinawa and visited Lancaster regularly as a child. From what I understand, Quartz Hill is the nicest part of that valley to live in, Lancaster and Palmdale are about the same except in population. The prison has brought in a different element of populace to the area since it was built. However, Edwards AB has a long and respected history.

Lancaster is at least one hour away from an actual city with a large population. It's two hours from Los Angeles and the Disneyland area, and three to four hours from the mountains. Southern California is a car and driver culture though. You must be able to drive a reliable car preferably with working air conditioning. It's hot like Okinawa, but suffocatingly dry at times in the desert.

Best of luck to you all. Unless you're a vegetarian, I highly recommend In N Out Burger fries. There's an In N Out Burger in both Lancaster and Palmdale. :)

Mary - posted on 05/14/2010

I love edwards! of course I was born in the desert and my Grandpa used to work there, they and most of my moms side of the family have lived in Rosamond for as long as I can remember, so I kind of have a biased opinion about it. Living in the desert can take a bit of getting used to if you are not used to it but just remember that each base you go to is what you make of it. If you are determined to be miserable then you will be.

Amber - posted on 05/14/2010

i agree

Amber - posted on 05/14/2010

its in the mojave desert. good luck. I lived right outside it and let me tell you if you get another duty station TAKE IT!

Katy - posted on 05/13/2010

Well, there is a clinic on base which in my opinion, has not been helpful to the least bit. It is hard to get appointment much of the time and the doctors have not been adequate for me at least. You need to get referrals and the nearest hospital is nearly an hour away. I am truly sorry about the miscarriages... that must be so hard...)-=

BTW, off base housing...the nearest town is called Rosamond, some people do choose to live there. It is kind of a reckless and dangerous area though, my recommendation would be Palmdale but that is a bit of a drive. The on base housing is quite nice though, very comfortable one and two story houses.

Emily - posted on 05/13/2010

Thanks for all the info everyone. I have another question now though. I just had my 3rd miscarriage in less than 12 months and I'm feeling pretty down. I'm wondering about the medical care on Edwards and/or around Edwards. The doctors are great to me here but haven't been able to figure out why I continue to have miscarriages at the same point in my pregnancies. So if any of you have any info about the hospitals and doctors in the area that would be great.
Emily
Oh and my husband is wondering about off base housing...does anyone live off base?

Katy - posted on 05/12/2010

Hey I live at Edwards, I will send you a message. (-=

Rebekah - posted on 05/10/2010

I grew up in the Antelope valley which is where Edwards is located. You're in for a major culture shock. It is very hot, very dry, and often very windy. It is however the only place in the united states where you will see a joshua tree; they also grow in the african desert and israel. You will be glad to be delivering in December so that your huge months wont be in the summer. In north carolina it is very green, the mojave desert is equally brown. Find the beauty in the brown. The ocean is cold on the west coast but wonderfull. It is a bit scary to drive the cali freeways but you get used to it, and there's much to drive to. Palmdale is the closest city to you and it is pretty nice and has a decent mall. Be sure to get a double double at in and out burgers! You can only get them in cali. Oh and buy the fruit from the field workers that sell them on the street corners it's the freshest you'll find as it literally came straight from the field. Disney land is 3 hours away and worth the trip. Sea world is closer and free for soldiers and up to 5 family members. Okay, now I miss home. :) Hope this helps.

Anastasia - posted on 05/07/2010

I went to google earth to kind of get a grasp on what Edwards will be like and it is very remote. There is Walmart and stuff not too far away, and the base looks huge. Very much a desert though. I look forward to meeting someone who has kids, it will make everything that much easier. Especially because you daughter is close to my sons age!

Emily - posted on 05/05/2010

Ana
It would be great to "kinda" know someone when we get there. When I moved here I had been emailing a friend of a friend who already lived over here. She helped me out with stuff when I was new to the island and we have stayed good friends for about 4 years now.

Anastasia - posted on 05/05/2010

Hi, this probably won't help much because I know nothing about Edwards AFB. However, we are pcsing there from Spangdahlem Germany. Before Germany we lived in Michigan our whole life. I have an almost 3 year old son and a 9 month old little girl. So looks like we will be doing this together we will probably be getting there late October early November. At least this way we both will (kinda) know someone else there!
Ana

Robyn - posted on 05/04/2010

It is in the high desert in California so it is arid and dry and very hot durring the summer (my husband grew up not far from it). California is different from the east coast as far as distances in driving, but really you can go from skiing to the beach in less than a day's drive. I haven't been to Edwards for a couple of years (we used to go when they would land the space shuttle there) but I know they have a website with a newcomers guide and base info that might help you.