Vance Air Force Base

“The 71st Flying Training Wing conducts undergraduate pilot training for qualified United States military officers and also international officers”, according to the Vance MilitaryINSTALLATIONS page. The Vance overview places the base in Garfield County on the south side of Enid, Oklahoma, approximately 95 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, 115 miles west of Tulsa and 123 miles south of Wichita, Kansas.

The base history dates to 1941, when it was founded as Air Corps Basic Flying School, Enid. On July 9, 1949, it was renamed for a local World War II hero and Medal of Honor winner, Lt. Col. Leon Robert Vance, Jr., and “Vance AFB has produced over 38,000 pilots since 1941.”

Plan meals and a room before you arrive

“Dining: There are no dining facilities located on Vance Air Force Base. Newcomers should plan their arrivals accordingly”, the installation page says. The Crosswinds Club and Falcon’s Nest Bowling Alley offer dining options.

“There is no longer on-base lodging available at Vance Air Force Base; however, Vance Recreational Lodging is an on-base option.” It offers five suite hotel rooms, per the check-in page. You can also book an off-base hotel without a nonavailability letter; confirm the hotel charges the government rate or less, which the page gives as $110 per night for Enid in 2026, and turn in your lodging receipt to Finance for reimbursement.

Check-in: pilot training or permanent party

Pilot training students go first to Building 690, Room 34, for in-processing checklists, and should read the Vance Welcome Packet ahead of time. Permanent party members coordinate travel with their sponsor and in-process through their commander’s support staff for a unit checklist; if no sponsor has contacted you, use the gaining unit’s CSS contact information in the installation guide to request one.

All active-duty members must contact TriWest at 888-874-9378 to update coverage and enroll themselves and their dependents to the Vance clinic. Finance in Building 500 is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon; the check-in page recommends filing your travel voucher before starting house-hunting PTDY.

If you will be on TDY en route and are moving your family to Enid first, tell the Military and Family Readiness Center at 580-213-6213, which will connect your spouse with your squadron’s key support liaison.

Housing

If you plan to rent off base, report to the Housing Referral Office no later than your first duty day, in case any home finders are on the “off limits” list (580-213-7438). Housing Referral offers counseling, utility deposit waivers and landlord dispute resolution, per the housing page, and its advice is “Do not sign a lease until Housing Referral reviews it”.

“If you are an unaccompanied first-duty station officer or enlisted, you will be required to live in a base dorm unless the dorms are full.” Do not reserve a house through privatized housing before talking with the dorm manager (officers 580-213-5410, enlisted 580-213-7212).

On-base family housing is handled by the Family Housing Office at The Landings, 4405 Lehr Street (888-366-1238). The pet shipping page names Hunt Housing for on-base residents, with 2 pets allowed (580-441-7058). Off base, as listed in October 2026, the overview puts the monthly rent of a 3-bed/2-bath home at $1100 to $1300 before utilities and tells families to come prepared for first month’s rent, a security deposit equal to one month’s rent and $500 or more for a pet deposit.

Medical care: no emergency care on base

“Although no inpatient or emergency care is available at Vance AFB, there are the two civilian hospitals downtown that provide a full range of services.” Those are Bass Integris Hospital and St Mary’s Mercy Hospital, both network facilities, per the health care page. The 71st Medical Group clinic sees active-duty members, their dependents, retirees and retiree dependents by appointment, and the base has one pharmacy, in the clinic.

Schools: Enid Public Schools

“No DoDDS schools.” The education page says “Most preschool and elementary-age children living on base attend Eisenhower Elementary School which is located inside the base gate but belongs to Enid Public Schools.” Chisholm, a separate district in North Enid, does not offer transportation. School Liaison: 580-213-6285.

Emergency help

The Air & Space Forces Aid Society offers interest-free loans and grants for needs such as basic living expenses, emergency travel and moving expenses (580-213-6330), per the emergency assistance page. Hand-carry your PCS orders with all amendments and your official birth, marriage, divorce, adoption or death certificates.

Before you arrive

Line up lodging and meals before your arrival day, enroll with TriWest, check with the dorm manager before signing anything if this is your first duty station, and have Housing Referral review any lease.