I'm not a veteran so I hope this is ok. My "kid" brother (23yo now) is PCSing from Misawa AFB in Japan to Offutt AFB (Nebraska) at the end of the month, with his wife and 1 year old. He's a mechanic and usually works on pump systems; refuelers, de-icers, and fire trucks.

I'm looking for any information on the base and area that I might not find on the usual online sources. What's the area like? What's there to do? What can I do to help him prepare, or to prepare for him? Etc Any info at all will be greatly appreciated.

They will be living in (off base) base housing as he explained it. I'll be going out there a few days after they arrive to help them get settled and moved in. It'll be the first time I've seen him in three years (since he deployed to Japan). We're all super happy to have him back stateside.



Thanks for any info/input and thank you for your service. If this is inappropriate for the forum, mods, I won't be insulted if you delete this.

Area's nice, though parts of Omaha are REALLY sketchy.  

The Henry Doorly Zoo is a world-class facility that competes with the San Diego Zoo for attendance. There's an outstanding children's museum downtown, the Storm Chasers is a minor league baseball team (used to be the Golden Spikes, and before that the Royals, they're a farm team for Kansas City), and the College World Series happens there every year.  

The base is a great base (helps having a four-star and a bunch of 1-2 stars on it), last I heard the child development center is outstanding, and base housing is nice. They're going to live in the town of Bellevue, just south of Omaha.  Pretty well developed, they've got a huge shopping center just north of base housing.  Bellevue schools are also much better than Omaha's.  

Uncle Ernie's is one of the best BBQ places I've ever been to, and there's an OUTSTANDING Mexican place called Nettie's you need to go to. (And I've lived in TX and CA).  

I was stationed there for three years (1998-2001), with two boys (4 and 7 when we got there), and we loved it there.  Considered retiring there, that's how good it was.

I know a lot may have changed in 15 years, but my friends who still live there say it's gotten bigger (and the sketchy areas have gotten sketchier), but for the most part it's still pretty awesome.

My brother has been stationed at Offal Airforce Base for most of his 18+ years in. He's currently there now (last 2 years until retirement). He seems to like the Town of Bellevue. As others have said, there are certain parts of Omaha that are sketchy. Overall it's a pretty nice area. I've visited my brother a few times there. The smell coming from the stock yards and butchers can be very pleasant on base during the summer.

Thank you, guys! This is exactly the kind of information I'm after.

I know im a bit late, but I live in the area.  Hit me up if he needs more info or some help.

Thanks for the offer @darkpaladin1 !

And it's never to late for more info.

Been there a few times and knew people stationed there.  Bellevue is a nice place to live.  Famous Dave's bbq and Stella's (hamburger joint) are some good eats.

The Offutt gym is in a converted hangar, and I believe they used to build B-29s there, including Bockscar.  

That is very cool. Fun fact: my wife's grandfather is the restoration specialist on "Jacks Hack", the most historically accurate B-29 restoration in the world. It's touted as the only time correct, basically original, B-29 left. It doesn't fly because the old engines and equipment don't pass FAA regs anymore, so I'm told. I'll have to ask him about it, he knows all things B-29.

He was in Korea as a crew chief and retired at the start of the first invasion of Iraq. He restored Jacks Hack as a volunteer, refusing pay for the last 20+ years. He's a national treasure, IMO.

It can be found at the New England Air Museum at Bradley Field.

Yes they did, the plaque stating that is by the front entrance.

HUGE gym--has an almost 1/2 mile running track inside that goes around the racquetball courts, the three full-size basketball courts, the cardio machines, AND the indoor soccer field.  The pool and weight room are both outside the track, though.  

Downside is it's heated in the wintertime, but not air conditioned in the summer.

Actually, I just realized, given this is ARF, we haven't covered the important stuff.  Unfortunately, when I was there, the only decent range in the area was the Eastern Nebraska Gun Club.  Awesome range, can go out to 600 yards, has a separate 300, 100, 50, and 25 yd ranges, plus a trap/skeet range and I think an archery range.  Downside is it was 45 minutes away from my house in Bellevue (we lived about a mile north of base housing).  

The Old Fontenelle Gun Shop used to be one of those old-school places with stuff stacked in corners waist-high--not really junk, just...stuff, most of it cool. Best collection of odds, ends and trivia in a gun store I've ever seen, before or since.  Don't know if it's still there.

And there was a pretty decent pawn/gun shop just out the Bellevue (back/east) gate, Bud's I think it was.

Add to the list of ranges (ENGC is the only large outdoor one I know of) I know of and/or have been to (in alphabetical order; not necessarily by preference).
-Bullet Hole (also sells firearms)
-Inner 10 (also sells firearms)
-Tactical 88 (range and extensive training)
-Take Aim (range only)

Stellas 1++++. Old Market area in Omaha is nice.

Actually, the bomber plant was on the other side of the runway - called Building D back when I was there, Martin Bomber Building now. The fitness center is in former maintenance hangar, built post war.

Been a while since I've been there, but there was lots to do for families, and for single folk. If you're a baseball fan, don't miss out on the College Wolrd Series. Just don't try to park anywhere near it.

zegermanznew

Boy this brings back some fond memories.  I was stationed there for three years 1968 - 1971.

I wish I could give you some new info about the base but much has changed.

I was with the 55th Strategic  Reconnaissance Wing working on the RC135.

I hope your brother hunts!!  The pheasant hunting is out standing as is the waterfowl hunting.

I was on the rifle team while there but I've heard it's been disbanded. To bad as it was a good time.

I'm sure your brother will enjoy the area.

EBR

I worked on the restoration of the B-29 “Doc” that recently returned to flying status. I worked on it in 2000-01 when it was brought back to Wichita in pieces to restore.

It takes and incredible about of skill and hard work to restore one of these old birds. I was laid off after 9/11 and moved away from Wichita, I was back there in 2013 and was able to tour Doc not long before they did the engine runs prior to getting her back in the Air.