Branch: U.S. Coast Guard
Location: Staten Island, New York
Installation Type: Coast Guard Sector
Status: Active

Overview

Coast Guard Sector New York is located on Staten Island in New York Harbor, in the St. George neighborhood near the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Sector New York is responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection in one of the world’s busiest ports – the Port of New York and New Jersey, which handles approximately 5 million TEUs (container units) annually. The installation is one of the Coast Guard’s most operationally intense and consequential sectors, with responsibilities including ports and waterways security, search and rescue in the busy waters of the Hudson River, New York Harbor, Long Island Sound, and offshore Atlantic, law enforcement, and environmental response.

Mission & Units

  • Primary Mission: Conduct maritime safety, security, search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental response in the Port of New York and New Jersey and surrounding waters; oversee one of the world’s largest and most complex maritime commerce hubs.
  • Major Units: Coast Guard Sector New York (headquarters); Marine Safety Unit New York (port safety and security); multiple Response Boat-Medium and Patrol Boat stations throughout the New York/New Jersey waterway system; Aids to Navigation Team New York
  • Tenant Units: Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod (aviation support for NY area, separate); Coast Guard Station New York; various component stations (Eaton’s Neck, Sandy Hook, Fire Island, Shark River Inlet, New Haven, Rockaway, etc.)

Location & Access

  • Nearest Major City: Staten Island, NY (population approximately 475,000) – within Staten Island; Manhattan (New York City) – approximately 5 miles north via Staten Island Ferry; Newark, NJ – approximately 8 miles west; Brooklyn – approximately 3 miles north via Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
  • Nearest Commercial Airport: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – approximately 10 miles west; John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – approximately 15 miles northeast; LaGuardia Airport (LGA) – approximately 20 miles north
  • Gate Access: Main gate; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; Port of New York security protocols apply

Population

  • Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 700
  • Family Members: Approximately 800
  • Civilian Employees: Approximately 200
  • Total Installation Population: Approximately 1,700

Key Facilities

  • Medical: Coast Guard Clinic; primary care; specialty referrals to Staten Island University Hospital or NYC’s world-class medical centers (NYU Langone, NY-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai); NYC area medical care is among the best in the world
  • Commissary: Limited on-base commissary; NYC metro extensive commercial options; significant cost savings possible through commissary use given NYC’s high cost of living
  • Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Coast Guard Exchange; limited; Staten Island and NYC commercial options extensive
  • Fitness & Recreation: Fitness center on base; Staten Island has parks and waterfront recreation; NYC provides world-class cultural and entertainment options; Staten Island Greenbelt (2,800 acres of forest and trails); ferry access to Manhattan
  • Schools: New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) District 31 serves Staten Island military families; no DoDEA schools; Staten Island schools are considered among the better NYC borough schools; specific neighborhood school quality varies; Staten Island is generally considered the most suburban and family-friendly of the five boroughs
  • Childcare: Limited on-base childcare; NYC has extensive private childcare options at very high cost; register early
  • Veterinary Services: Local Staten Island and NYC area veterinarians widely available
  • Legal Assistance / JAG: Coast Guard JAG support available; appointment-based

Housing

  • On-Post Housing: Very limited government quarters; most Coast Guard personnel live off-base given the urban location
  • Average Wait Time: Off-base BAH housing is standard for NYC assignment
  • Off-Post Housing: Staten Island (St. George, Tompkinsville, Stapleton, Tottenville areas) is the primary community; some personnel commute from New Jersey (Perth Amboy, Linden, Elizabeth); average rent approximately $2,500-$3,500/month for 3-bedroom home on Staten Island (more affordable than Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens); NYC is one of the most expensive housing markets in the United States; BAH is very high but housing costs are challenging; New York state does not exempt military pay from state income tax for NY state residents
  • BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); New York City BAH is among the highest in the Coast Guard

PCS & Newcomer Info

  • Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; Sector New York sponsorship programs; NYC assignment has a steep learning curve for the urban environment
  • In-Processing: Sector New York in-processing; typically 2-3 days; Port of New York security orientation
  • EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Work-Life Staff; enrollment required; NYC area provides the best specialist access in the country including all major academic medical centers and specialized children’s hospitals

Local Area & Quality of Life

  • Climate: Humid continental; hot humid summers (average high 85F/29C in July); cold winters (average low 26F/-3C in January); significant snowfall possible December through March; Nor’easters; spring and fall are outstanding; Atlantic Ocean moderates extremes somewhat
  • Cost of Living: Very high; New York City metro is consistently among the most expensive areas in the United States; housing, food, transportation, and services all well above national average; BAH is very high but living costs remain challenging; New York state income tax is significant for NY state tax domiciles
  • Nearby Attractions: New York City (one of the world’s greatest cities) – Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Broadway, countless museums (many free), world-class restaurants, diverse cultural neighborhoods; Statue of Liberty (visible from Sector NY and accessible by ferry from St. George); Ellis Island; Staten Island Greenbelt and parks; Coney Island (15 miles); New Jersey Shore beaches (Sandy Hook, Point Pleasant, Asbury Park, 30-45 miles); Long Island beaches (Jones Beach, Fire Island, Montauk, 30-80 miles); Hudson Valley wine country (60 miles); New England accessible on weekends
  • Spouse Employment: NYC metro offers the most diverse and extensive employment market in the United States; virtually every industry sector has a major presence; healthcare (NYC Health + Hospitals, Memorial Sloan Kettering, NYU Langone, Mount Sinai), finance (Wall Street, banking, insurance), media and entertainment, technology, government, education (Columbia, NYU, CUNY), and retail; one of the best employment markets for military spouses nationally; Work-Life assists; Staten Island has more accessible local employment than Manhattan for practical purposes

Contact & Resources

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Atlantic-Area/District-1/Sector-New-York/; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/coast-guard-sector-new-york; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnitedStatesCoastGuardSectorNewYork, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law

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