Mission: As the premier southern-most deep-water U.S. Naval Base in the Western Hemisphere, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay strives to provide state-of-the-art self-sustaining infrastructure, while supporting unified, inter-agency joint operations, and training. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay provides a high quality of life for all personnel onboard the Installation and preserves the Installation’s sensitive environmental, historic, and cultural resources.

Vision: Naval Station Guantanamo Bay ensures the warfighter’s ability to operate forward and attain the highest levels of readiness.

Located in the Oriente Province on the southeast corner of Cuba, the base is about 400 air miles from Miami, Fla. The installation is the oldest overseas U.S. Naval base and is the only base located in a country with which the U.S. does not maintain diplomatic relations. Guantanamo Bay’s strategic location and topographic properties have made it a valued possession of maritime powers since the 15th century. Christopher Columbus landed at the Bay on his second voyage to the Americas, and it was later contested by the empires of England, France, and Spain.

In 1898, the Bay was taken by U.S. forces and their Cuban allies for use as a forward-operating base in their effort to wrest Spanish control of the island. In 1903 the United States leased 45 square miles of land and water at Guantanamo Bay, from the newly-independent Cuban government, to be used for fleet sustainment by the growing US Navy.

A 1934 treaty reaffirming the lease granted Cuba and her trading partners free access through the Bay, modified the lease payment from $2,000 in gold coins per year to the 1934 equivalent value of $4,085 U.S. dollars, and added a requirement that termination of the lease requires the consent of both the U.S. and Cuban governments, or the U.S. abandonment of the base property.

Base relations with Cuba remained stable and did not significantly change until the Cuban Revolution in the late 1950s, with United States and Cuban relations steadily declining as Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro aligned with the Soviet Union. The United States severed diplomatic ties with Cuba in 1961, and in 1964 Castro cut off water and supply avenues to the base: since then, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay has been self-sufficient, with its own power and water sources.

During its long history the base’s activities have at times included fleet training, ship repair, refueling and resupply, migrant operations, regional humanitarian relief and disaster assistance, search and rescue support, and detention operations. Today it remains the forward, ready, and irreplaceable U.S. sea power platform in the Caribbean, giving decision makers unique options across the range of military and interagency operations.

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay serves about 6,000 Joint Services personnel, Department of Defense civilians, family members, contract personnel, local and foreign national employees.

6,100.

We serve approximately 6,100 Joint Services personnel, Department of Defense civilians, family members, contract personnel, local and foreign national employees.

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) is in the southeast of Cuba and has an excellent climate, a relatively short rainy season, and beaches with swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and boating opportunities.

The Leeward side houses all flight operations and the Windward side houses the larger portion of the base operations including the housing units, limited temporary lodging,  PreK-12th grade DODEA school, Child & Youth Centers, the NEX/Commissary (NEXMART) complex, and Fleet and Family Support Center. It also houses the major share of the recreation facilities, contractor sites, the Naval Hospital, and most other services.

The general cost of living reflects conditions in the Continental U.S. There are no private commercial stores available.

Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba uses the American dollar therefore there is no currency exchange requirements or availability. The base does not have a Welcome Center or USO.

This is an overseas location and there are no driving directions for arriving personnel and their families.

All transportation for military, DoD employees, dependents, contractors and victors is via military aircraft from Jacksonville, FL.

All non-active duty personnel must have a current passport to get on NSGB. You must obtain passports (for the entire family), before arriving. If your passport is within a year of the expiration date, it is highly recommended that you renew it prior to PCSing to NSGB, as there are limited local resources to facilitate that process. Visitors will need an "Area Clearance" before they can be granted entry to NSGB. This must be completed, signed, and approved at NSGB before you can board the plane.

Bus and car rentals are available in Guantanamo Bay. The bus route provides transportation to the downtown area, medical facilities, housing and the ferry landing. The Ferry provides transportation between the Windward and Leeward sides of the installation. Ask sponsor for a copy of updated Welcome Aboard Guide or check the Naval Station base roller for current bus and ferry schedules.