You save money by shopping at the BX, and just about anything you can think of can be bought there. These facilities can range from well-equipped convenience stores to major department stores or even shopping malls selling everything from food to appliances, clothes and hardware and gas for your car. At the same time, most Air Force bases tend to attract a crowd of civilian shopping facilities nearby that also cater to Air Force personnel with good merchandise and good prices. Services might range from financial management to smoking cessation classes, from parenting classes to family counseling, career enhancement to queries on new bases. Most bases have diverse recreational facilities - auto hobby shop, movie theater, library, fitness center, bowling lanes, arts and crafts center, tennis courts, athletic fields, picnic areas, and other facilities.
Many bases have golf courses, aero clubs, riding clubs, and shooting ranges.
Some bases even have their own marina. Bases also sponsor intramural and varsity sports teams in many sports like football, basketball, softball, bowling, and other sports. Imagine living an hour from London or Venice. Imagine your base owns a beach on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida. Imagine you are living a short ride from Mt McKinley, Mt Rushmore or the beaches of Hawaii.