Naval Station Guantanamo Bay

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.

The information below is subject to change, please contact the appropriate entity for updated information.

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.

Car repair and maintenance is available, but parts are very limited. Also, repair facilities are limited and lack the proper equipment for models 1999 and newer. Only unleaded 87-octane gas and diesel fuel is sold here.

Navy Federal Credit Union has an office conveniently located in the NEX atrium. This NFCU is a non-cash facility. However, members may obtain cash using bank checks at the NEX Customer Service. Community bank is also located in the NEX atrium and is a cash banking facility. There are 2 ATM's located in the NEX atrium and 1 ATM located inside the Marine Hill Mini Mart.

Mail takes 1-4 weeks to be transported between the installation and the Continental U.S. Mailing fragile items is risky.

All Permanent Change of Station (PCS) transportation for military, DoD employees, contractors and dependents is via military aircraft from Jacksonville, FL.

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay is the forward, ready, and irreplaceable U.S. sea power platform in the Caribbean. We host and enable all branches of the U.S. military, plus several interagency and international partner organizations. We also provide an exceptional quality of life for our residents: Benefits for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay servicemembers, civilian employees, and their families include no-cost housing and utilities, plus access to most amenities and conveniences you would find on other military installations, including a Commissary, Navy Exchange, furniture store, gas station, hospital, dry cleaners, bowling alley, library, and sports complex. We have a combined school for pre-K through 12th grade, as well as a Child Development Center, Youth and Teen Center.

If accepting an accompanied tour, pets (with some restrictions) may accompany employees, and employees may ship most household goods and a personal vehicle to NSGB at no costs to themselves.

Other benefits include:

• Family housing comes with major appliances
• Access to on-base Department of Defense school and activity centers for teens and youth
• Employment opportunities for accompanying family members
• Very short commutes from housing to work sites, and free public transportation
• Cell phone (T-Mobile ONLY) and Internet service with speeds comparable to Continental U.S. locations
• One Funded Environmental and Morale Trip every two years based on eligibility, and two Unfunded Space Available trips per year, based on eligibility
• Weekly flights to the U.S. and Jamaica, both ‘Space Available’ military flights and chartered flights
• Free or inexpensive recreation like scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, bowling, boating, and beach activities
• Free 24-hour Fitness Center
• Free nightly movie showings (first-run movies included).

Living and working at NSGB is not, however, for everyone. There is no access to the rest of Cuba, and transiting on and off base via air only may be difficult at certain times, and getting a seat on a particular flight is not always guaranteed. The weather is hot or warm all year long, with little change in seasons. While there is an on-base hospital, those with medical conditions requiring frequent visits or treatment may not find their particular services available. Mail and package delivery also takes longer than at Continental United States locations. Security considerations can impact photography and other hobbies. And, owing to the location and challenges of delivery, grocery, dining, and shopping activities are fewer than those found in larger and less isolated places.

Life at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay offers adventure, challenge, and opportunity unequaled in any other locale.