Naval Station Guantanamo Bay

Branch: U.S. Navy
Location: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Installation Type: Naval Station
Status: Active

Overview

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO, pronounced “Gitmo”) is located on a 45-square-mile lease at the southeastern tip of Cuba on Guantanamo Bay. The United States has maintained a presence at Guantanamo Bay since 1898 (Spanish-American War) and has leased the base from Cuba continuously since 1903. GTMO is the oldest U.S. naval base overseas and the only military installation in a country with which the United States does not have diplomatic relations. The base serves as a joint military installation supporting operational and logistical activities for the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility, and has been the location of the Joint Task Force Guantanamo detention operations since 2002.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Support U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and SOUTHCOM area of responsibility; conduct Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) detention operations; provide logistics hub for Caribbean operations; support counter-narcotics operations.
Major Units: U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NAVSTA GTMO); Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) for detention operations; Coast Guard Group Guantanamo Bay; U.S. Marine Corps Security Force Company
Tenant Units: JTF-GTMO detention facility staff; various intelligence community elements; SOUTHCOM support elements; Customs and Border Protection

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Guantanamo City (Cuba, population approximately 200,000) – approximately 25 km from the base (but separated by fencing and no access); Santiago de Cuba – approximately 85 km west; Kingston, Jamaica – approximately 160 km south; Havana, Cuba – approximately 850 km west
Nearest Commercial Airport: No commercial airport on base; military airlift only (C-130, charter flights); José Martí International Airport in Havana (HAV) is on Cuban territory with no connection to the base; Miami International Airport (MIA) – approximately 1,100 km north (accessible by charter/military flight, approximately 2 hours)
Gate Access: Controlled military installation; CAC/military ID required; all access by official military orders and approved visitor authorization; the base is surrounded by a fence separating it from Cuban territory; no civilian public access; access only by air

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 6,000 (including rotational JTF-GTMO mission forces)
Family Members: Approximately 2,500 (command-sponsored)
Civilian Employees: Approximately 1,500
Total Installation Population: Approximately 10,000

Key Facilities

Medical: Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay – full-service hospital; comprehensive care for the isolated community; emergency, primary, dental, and specialty care; medical evacuation to CONUS or South Florida for complex cases; the isolation makes Naval Hospital GTMO an important complete care facility
Commissary: Yes – commissary on base; critically important given complete isolation; all supplies are imported by air or ship
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Navy Exchange (NEX) and facilities; the NEX is one of the primary retail options given the location
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; outdoor pools; beaches on Guantanamo Bay (clear warm Caribbean water, good snorkeling); golf course (oldest golf course outside the United States, reportedly established 1940s); bowling; auto skills; fishing and water sports; iguana population (Cuban rock iguanas) is notable; unique isolated Caribbean environment
Schools: DoDEA Guantanamo Bay Elementary School; DoDEA Guantanamo Bay High School – DoDEA serves all military children; small school sizes create close community atmosphere
Childcare: Child Development Center on base; limited capacity; register early; isolation means no off-base alternatives
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care; limited; no off-base veterinary alternatives
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office on base; appointment-based; unique legal environment given Cuba lease context and JTF-GTMO mission

Housing

On-Post Housing: Government quarters on base; all housing is government-provided; no off-post housing exists; family housing neighborhoods in multiple areas; condition varies from historic to recently renovated
Average Wait Time: Not applicable in standard sense – all housing is on-base; assign upon arrival; some wait for desired housing type
Off-Post Housing: Not applicable – no off-post community; the base is completely isolated from surrounding Cuban territory; all personnel live on base
OHA Rate Reference: Not applicable – all housing is government-provided at GTMO

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining command; NAVSTA GTMO sponsorship program; GTMO assignment is unique and requires mental preparation for isolation
In-Processing: NAVSTA GTMO in-processing; typically 2-3 days; security briefings; base orientation; JTF-GTMO mission-related briefings for related personnel
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Fleet and Family Support Center; enrollment required; EFMP screening mandatory before GTMO orders given isolation; Naval Hospital GTMO provides some specialist care; complex cases require medevac to South Florida or CONUS; EFMP approval is difficult for complex medical needs given isolation

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Tropical maritime; warm year-round (average high 88F/31C in July-August; average low 68F/20C in January); high humidity; dry season December-April; rainy season May-November; hurricane risk exists (Guantanamo Bay is somewhat sheltered but storm impacts possible); Caribbean sea breezes
Cost of Living: Low personal expenses; housing and utilities provided; all food and consumer goods imported so on-base commissary and exchange are essential; no off-base commerce available; personnel often feel financial benefit from the isolation (low expenditure opportunity); special pays may apply
Nearby Attractions: Caribbean beaches and water activities on Guantanamo Bay (snorkeling, kayaking, swimming in clear warm water); unique wildlife (Cuban iguanas, tropical birds); iguana encounters throughout the base; historical sites (windmill cemetery, WWII-era structures); fishing in Guantanamo Bay; golf on the historic course; diving; the isolation itself creates a unique bonding experience within the community; no off-base tourism possible given the Cuban territory surrounding the base
Spouse Employment: Very limited; on-base employment through NEX, commissary, DoDEA, Naval Hospital, and contractor positions; isolation significantly limits employment options; remote work is technically possible but internet connectivity has historically been limited; GTMO is primarily a sacrifice assignment for employment-focused spouses; FFSC assists; the community is tight-knit and supportive

OCONUS-Specific Information

SOFA: No SOFA applies in the traditional sense; the U.S. leases the territory from Cuba under the 1903 Cuban-American Treaty of Relations (signed at $2,000/year in gold); Cuba considers the U.S. presence illegal and has refused all lease payments since 1960; the lease is perpetual unless both parties agree to terminate or the U.S. abandons the base; U.S. federal law applies on base
Host Nation Rules: No interaction with Cuba or Cuban territory is authorized; the base is completely separated from Cuba by a fence and minefield (historical, now largely cleared); contact with Cuban nationals outside authorized channels is prohibited; base is functionally a self-contained U.S. territory
Curfew: No formal curfew; unit-level policies apply; base is isolated and secure; nightlife is limited to on-base venues
Ration Card / Customs: Standard U.S. rules; all goods imported to base; no local economy; no duty concerns for base shopping
Vehicle Registration: All vehicles registered on base through NAVSTA GTMO; no off-base driving possible; base roads only; small community, most destinations walkable or short drive
Language and Culture: English is the language on base; Spanish is spoken by some Cuban-American contractors; culturally a self-contained American community with Caribbean environmental character; unique and somewhat surreal combination of American suburban community atmosphere in a tropical Caribbean environment with no interaction with surrounding country
Currency and Banking: U.S. Dollar (USD); on-base banking available; credit cards work at exchange and commissary; no external commerce possible
Travel Restrictions: All movement off base is prohibited (surrounded by Cuban territory); all personnel depart/arrive by military air only; leave travel to Florida (2 hours by charter/military flight) or other CONUS/Caribbean destinations; internet-based communication with family is the primary off-base connection
Mail: FPO AE address assigned; all mail delivered by military airlift; packages may take longer than standard FPO delivery given flight frequency; Amazon and major retailers ship to FPO AE addresses
Pets: Pets authorized with base approval; all pets must arrive by military airlift; health certificates and standard documentation required; limited veterinary services; quarantine facility may be required for some animals; limited outdoor space compared to CONUS; the unique Caribbean wildlife (iguanas, tropical birds) creates interesting pet interactions; base approval required before bringing pets on orders

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrse/installations/nsguantanamobay.html; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/naval-station-guantanamo-bay; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GuantanamoBayNaval_Station