Not sure if you are aware, but Joshua Tree/29 Palms had a rush on STRs in the past decade, with people in LA buying old desert homestead cabins and fixing them up to rent out as weekend party spots. So a lot of the homes you'll see for sale out there will be houses like that that people are getting rid of. I'm not sure exactly where the market is going with those but wouldn't be surprised if they are on sale due to oversupply.

If I were in your position I might consider buying a small house in downtown 29 Palms on the logic that the military base is always going to be there, the tourist market will probably stay solvent with people always wanting to get out of LA for the weekends, and the fact that real estate in California never seems to get too much cheaper. I'd only do that if I were going to be at the base for at least two years, and if the property I found to buy was in decent condition and easily rentable to military families later on.