PCS to the Eglin Area: What No One Tells You — A Military Spouse’s Honest Guide to Crestview

By: Kendra Sheikho — Military Spouse of 20 Years, Realtor, Mom, and Panhandle Local Since 2012

If you’re a military family heading to the Eglin AFB area — Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, Guard or Reserve — welcome. And if you’re a military spouse bracing for yet another PCS, especially to a brand-new state, duty station, or pace of life, I see you. After 20 years as a military spouse, raising kids through deployments, trainings, late-night fears, and endless transitions, I can tell you: PCS’ing is never just a move. It’s chaos, hope, adrenaline, paperwork, emotions, late night runs for more wine and Target runs all rolled into one.

And if Crestview is on your radar… let me take your hand for a minute as someone who has lived this life, done the PCS shuffle more times than I want to count, raised three kids through the military lifestyle, and built a whole life here in the Panhandle.

This isn’t the “official” guide.
This is the real one.

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When We First Landed in Crestview… Everything Changed

Back in 2012, after years of snow, isolation, and deployments from Fort Drum, New York, we bought our first home right here in the Panhandle. That closing day was HUGE — our first real “we’re planting roots” moment after so much movement.

But it wasn’t just a new address. Crestview is where:

• I solo-parented during trainings and deployments
• Our children grew up
• We refilled our cups after hard years
• We found a community that held us

Crestview is a military town without trying to be one. It’s a place where neighbors wave on their front porches, where your barista learns your order, and where kids still play ball at the park until the streetlights flick on.

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 The School Journey That Shaped Our Family

If you’re PCS’ing with kids, let me tell you — schools’ matter. And Crestview’s were more than just classrooms for us; they were lifelines.

South Side Primary School

My daughter started in VPK here, and my son — who is autistic — attended VPK-D for three years. This school wasn’t just a school. It was a stepping stone for him. His teacher changed the course of his life. They believed in him, supported him, and gave him a foundation I’ll forever be grateful for.

Bob Sikes Elementary

All three kids attended Bob Sikes — the kind of place where teachers know families by name and stability matters.

Davidson Middle School

Yep, all three went here too. Military families know that middle school is a big transition stage, and Davidson gave our kids the environment and structure they needed.

Crestview High School

One child graduated from CHS.
Two are still there — in 10th grade and 12th grade.

And let me add this, because it matters:
Crestview High School is home to one of the best marching bands around — The Big Red Machine.
If you’ve ever heard them at a Friday night game, you know exactly what I mean. The pride, the energy, the community… it’s something special.

Being a Crestview High parent means you know this community. You show up to games, performances, and events, and suddenly… you realize you’re part of something solid.

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Twin Hills Park: Where Our Family Lived Life Between Deployments

Crestview has one spot that every local military family ends up at sooner or later — Twin Hills Park.

This place has held so many chapters of our story:

• Soccer practices
• T-ball games
• Watching ducks with the kids
• Picnics during training cycles
• Cooling off with big gulps of sweet tea
• Now? Pickleball and beach volleyball
• Releasing stress after long days
• Celebrating homecomings
• Grieving the hard aftermath of deployments

Twin Hills isn’t just a park.
It’s where military families exhale.

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 Our Favorite Local Spots (aka: Your New Comfort Places)

 Starbucks

My forever go-to — through early-morning school drop-offs, deployment days, and real-estate chaos.

 Azteca

My family’s spot. Comfort food, celebration food, PCS-survival food — 2 for 1 Margarita’s all of it.

 The Wild Olive

Best food in Crestview. Period.

 Publix on the North End

Military families LOVE their Publix. This one just feels like home.

 Old Time Antiques & More (Main Street)

A hidden gem that reminds you Crestview still holds that small-town charm.

 And yes… Crestview feels small-town, even though it’s not really small.

That’s what makes it special.

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 So… Why Do So Many Military Families Choose Crestview?

Because Crestview is the perfect blend of:

• affordable homes
• great schools
• manageable commutes to Eglin, Hurlburt, Duke, and 7th Group
• space to breathe
• parks and family activities
• strong community
• the “small-town heart, big-town convenience” vibe

If you need a larger home, a fenced yard, space for kids or pets, or even a place to decompress after deployments… Crestview has it.

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 The Truth About PCS’ing to the Panhandle

Every PCS is different, but here’s what no one tells you:

Yes, it’s overwhelming.

New schools, new routines, new traffic patterns, new everything.

 Yes, you will miss where you came from.

Even if you’re excited.

 Yes, the transition out of the military is HARD.

Even if you’re “ready.”

But Crestview gives you breathing room.

It gives your kids stability.
It gives your spouse space to adjust.
And it gives YOU community.

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 If You’re PCSing Here, You’re Not Alone

Whether you’re coming to:

• Eglin AFB
• Hurlburt Field
• Duke Field
• 7th Special Forces Group
• NAS Pensacola
• Whiting Field
• Or anywhere along the Gulf Coast

You’ve got a community waiting.

And you’ve got someone who understands every late-night meltdown, every deployment fear, every PCS box, every IEP meeting, every “I’ve got this… I think?” moment.

I’ve lived it.
I’m still living it.
And I’m here to help — whether you need a house, a school insight, or just someone to say:

“You’re doing better than you think.”

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 Let’s Connect

If you’re preparing for a PCS, a retirement move, or trying to figure out which neighborhood fits your season of life, I’m here — as a Realtor, but more importantly, a military spouse of 20 years who understands.

 Kendra Sheikho
Coldwell Banker Realty – Northwest Florida
Military Relocation Specialist
 Crestview | Niceville | 30A | Miramar Beach | Freeport
 kendrasheikho.com

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