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According to reports, Oklahoma City is 16% lower than the national average. The average home price in Oklahoma is about $185,171 but that is subject to change and house prices have been climbing rapidly. When you consider that the average home price in the United States is $428,700 you realize just how affordable Oklahoma is. It literally costs half the price to buy a home in Oklahoma than it does in the United States as a whole. In addition to this, the average rent in Oklahoma is much cheaper than the rest of the United States too. While the average rent in the United States has recently hit a record high of $1,400, in Oklahoma’s largest and most popular city, Oklahoma City, rent clocks in at just a little over $905 depending on where you live. Please check with local real estate agencies and online for the latest. We would also suggest you search Oklahoma cost of living using the internet for the latest stats.
Child Care for PCS/Retirement - The Air Force Aid Society will pay up to 20 hours of child care (per child) in our licensed Family Child Care homes on-base or in Air Force affiliated homes off-base. Families with PCS orders may use the program within 60 days of the family's departure from or arrival at the base and retirement families may use the program within 60 days of family's departure from the base. Eligible Air Force families can take advantage of this program by bringing a copy of the PCS or retirement orders to the Military & Family Readiness Center at 6001 Arnold St. If eligible, a voucher and a list of child care providers will be provided. All other branches of service may use the Expanded Child Care Program, oversight of this program is provided by the Family Child Care Office, 405-734-7190 or DSN 312-334-7190. Expanded Child Care Program will pay for 20 hours of child care, per child, within 60 days of arrival or departure from Tinker. For more information and to determine required documentation, please contact our FCC Office at the number listed above.
Defense Service Network Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense. Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included.
The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center is the largest of 3 ALCs in the Air Force Materiel Command and provides depot maintenance, product support, services and supply chain management, as well as information support for 31 weapon systems, 10 commands, 93 Air Force bases and 46 foreign nations. The 72d Air Base Wing provides full spectrum installation support to Team Tinker and expeditionary combat capability for the warfighter. Tinker also has two tenant ACC units and hosts 2 Air Force Reserve Wings as well as many Navy personnel. The 552 ACW is responsible to the commander of Air Combat Command for the operations, maintenance, logistics, training, and combat support of E-7 AWACS aircraft in support of combatant commanders. You will be provided a more complete briefing during pre-arrival and Right Start, the base newcomers program.
Beginning in July 1941, a massive construction project on the new Midwest Air Depot began south of Southeast 29th Street. The depot received a new name, the Oklahoma City Air depot and the installation was officially activated. In October 1942, it was named Tinker Field to honor an Oklahoma native, Maj Gen Clarence L. Tinker, who had lost his life leading bombers on a long-range strike against Wake Island. Immediately after the war, the depot acquired the Douglas plant, now Bldg. 3001, and received a new name: Oklahoma City Air Materiel Area - OCAMA. In 1974, OCAMA became the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center - OC-ALC. On July 1, 1976, the 552nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing was relocated to Tinker with its 33 operational E-3 airplanes. The wing was re-designated as the 552nd Air Control Wing October 1, 1991. Tinker and OC-ALC began the decade of the '90s by assisting in Operation Desert Shield and, in 1991,in Operation Desert Storm and we continue to deploy assets to many regional conflicts. The Navy and Air Force made history on May 29, 1992 when the Naval Strategic Communications Wing ONE relocated to Tinker AFB. Today, Tinker's economic impact on Oklahoma is more than $2 billion every year. For more history see Tinker AFB's homepage.
The population of Oklahoma increases each year with a population growth rate of 0.52% (20,800). Oklahoma population 2023: 4,021,753. The total surface area measures 69,898 square miles, the state has a relatively low population density, ranking it 35th in country. Tinker is in the central and most populated portion of the state.
Cities that are in close proximity to Tinker AFB include: (As of 2023)
Oklahoma City population 1,018,000
Midwest City, population 57,509
Del City, population 21,163
Choctaw, population 13,904
Moore, population 69,614
Norman, population 129,663
Edmond, population 96,555
Shawnee, 34,641
Yukon, 32,466
Mustang, 23,062
The population of Tinker AFB is about 30,000 on workdays. This includes active duty members, family members, reservist, and civilian workers. However, we serve over 94,000 including the retiree and veteran population.
Tinker Air Force Base and the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center are located in the "Heart of Oklahoma", Oklahoma City (Oklahoma County), just five miles from downtown Oklahoma City (OKC). The OKC Metro area is very military-friendly and the cost of living is reasonable. Please call the Military & Family Readiness Center (M&FRC) at 405-739-2747 for more information on things to do in the area.
Tinker AFB is located in Midwest City, Oklahoma. The location is five miles east of OKC and is south of I-40 and to the East of I-35. You will see many signs on both I-40 & I-35 for Tinker AFB. The main gate is located just south of I-40 at Air Depot Blvd.
Will Rogers World Airport
Will Rogers is the closest and largest commercial airport to Tinker AFB. If you are arriving by plane, it is best to arrange for your sponsor to meet you upon arrival.
Driving directions from Will Rogers to Tinker AFB
Tinker AFB is approximately 20 miles east of Will Rogers World Airport. Here's the most direct interstate route: As you exit the airport you will be going north on South Meridian Avenue. Take the I-44 exit (right turn onto 152 E (Airport Rd) to Downtown/Interstate 44), then get into the left hand lane and take I-44E/Interstate 40/Tulsa/Downtown exit (simply be in the left lane) and merge onto I-44. After approximately 3 miles you will take exit 120B (right hand lane) for Interstate I-40 East toward Ft Smith. You will go for approximately 10 miles and take exit 157B Air Depot Blvd, turn right and you are at the Tinker AFB 24-hour gate. Please make sure you have the proper credentials before driving up to one our gates.
Location
Tinker AFB is only 15 minutes away from Downtown Oklahoma City and all the attractions it includes. Tinker is approximately 2 hours southwest of Tulsa, Oklahoma and approximately 3 hours North of Dallas/Ft Worth on I-35. There are numerous online maps and apps that can provide driving directions to Tinker AFB.
There is no Tinker AFB Base Operator. Please use the electronic phone book.