Military Accommodations

• Oklahoma hosts six military facilities. Tinker Air Force Base, the largest military presence in Oklahoma, is located on the east side of the greater Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The base boasts a complete selection of military accommodations: commissary, base exchange, housing, library, billeting, mall, officer and enlisted clubs and military offices that the retiree needs to conduct personal business.
  
  

Jobs

• Oklahoma enjoys one of the largest federal employee workforces in the United States. According to the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, Oklahoma's ratio of government employment to private sector employment is the fifth highest in the nation. Tinker Air Force Base employs 26,000 military and civilian personnel. The FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City ranks second in the nation, behind Washington, D.C., in employment concentration in the Department of Transportation. Most federal and state agencies offer preference to retired military personnel for position vacancies.
  
  

Veteran's Homes

• According to My Army Benefits, Oklahoma is among the top two states with the number of Veterans Centers that provide intermediate to skilled nursing care and domiciliary care for its wartime and retired veterans. Oklahoma offers seven veterans centers with a total of over 1,400 available beds. Many of the facilities are located on spacious acreages and operate like private communities.
  
  

Tax Benefits

• If you are retired from the military and are a resident of the state of Oklahoma, you are exempt from paying state income taxes up to the first $10,000 of retirement pay that was issued in your name. The Oklahoma Tax Commission also offers specialized motor vehicle license plates to active duty or retired members of the military. There are over 50 different plates, which represent each branch of the military and recognize distinguished awards.
  
  

Education

• Retired military personell who are Oklahoma residents with a high school diploma or equivalent can apply for a grant through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant pays up to 50 percent of tuition costs for eligible veterans. The regent's Web site lists eligibility qualifications.