Most folks assume we are only assigned to or live on Navy bases. That is wrong. My sailor has had assignments at the Army, NATO, and now Air Force/Space Force installations. Each branch has its own quirks and things that have stuck out.

Navy bases stretch along the waterfront. Think piers and shipping docks. In our experience, Navy installations tend to be closer to urban areas, making access to surrounding communities more convenient. They have a Navy Exchange (NEX) or discount department store similar to Walmart or Target. Sailors have to pass a physical readiness test (PRT) that includes doing planks, push-ups, and either a run, row, bike, or swim. There are roughly 29 golf courses associated with Navy bases. The base has a place to buy only alcohol, referred to as a package store. Sailors work various shifts depending on need and mission.

Army posts–not bases–focus on space for land equipment like tanks and tactical trucks, as well as housing. We often found Army posts required more driving to reach nearby towns and amenities compared to our Navy experiences. My sailor’s Army time was around the Special Operations Command. He had access to a functional medicine-related doctor and utilized specialized equipment like a body analysis machine. My primary care doctor ordered tests without me having to ask, like Vitamin D. This is rare because I always have to ask for this as I have had trouble with a deficiency. The Army Combat Fitness Test or ACFT is composed of a deadlift, power throw, push-up, plank, run, and a sprint-drag-carry. There are about 54 golf courses around Army posts. The department store on base is a PX or Post Exchange, and we bought alcohol at an Express.

NATO calls them camps–not bases. The first big noticeable difference is the hours of operation. My sailor worked a 9 AM to 5 PM job, which was unheard of. He worked with all branches of services from several different countries. NATO has contracts with a local grocery store for services. The clinic on camp was equipped with doctors from all countries. One thing that shocked me while my sailor was assigned to NATO was the answer “No.” The U.S. military scrambles to figure things out. NATO personnel tell you no that is not possible or that is not happening. It is a more relaxed environment.

Air Force and Space Force bases feel different too. Like our Army experience, we found that reaching towns near Air Force and Space Force bases typically required a longer drive than at Navy installations. They had a Family Day around the holidays. Not typical for the military lifestyle. However, effective this month, the Air Force put out a directive that family days are going away. You buy alcohol at a Class Six store on base. There are unique opportunities as a base theater provides movies on the weekends, and there is a specific gaming building that is new to us. The commissary or grocery store sells organic and more natural-based products like almond butter, almond flour, nutritional yeast, flaxseed, etc. The physical standards are also different. Some Guardians use fitness trackers to measure their activity and do not have to take a PT test. There are roughly 50 golf courses around Air Force bases.

What quirks have you spotted across military branches? I would love to hear your perspective.

Originally published on LinkedIn on April 14, 2025. [Read it here]