Naval Air Station Sigonella

Branch: U.S. Navy
Location: Catania, Sicily, Italy
Installation Type: Naval Air Station
Status: Active

Overview

Naval Air Station Sigonella is located near Catania on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, approximately 15 kilometers west of Catania and in the shadow of Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano. Known as the “Hub of the Med,” NAS Sigonella is the most strategically important U.S. military installation in the Mediterranean region, providing critical logistics, maintenance, and operational support for all U.S. and NATO naval forces operating in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Southern Europe/North Africa. The installation was founded in 1959 and includes two sites: NAS I (the airfield) and NAS II (main support facility, approximately 8 km from NAS I).

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Provide logistics hub, maintenance, and operational support for U.S. and NATO maritime patrol aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and naval forces in the Mediterranean; serve as the primary hub for all Navy logistics and maintenance in the region.
Major Units: Commander, Task Force 67 (CTF-67, maritime patrol and reconnaissance); VP squadrons (P-8A Poseidon, rotational deployment); VP-XX detachments; EP-3E Aries and MQ-4C Triton elements; Commander, Naval Forces Europe/Africa support
Tenant Units: Joint Logistics Support Force; Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Europe-Africa; Navy Expeditionary Combat Command elements; various NATO forces

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Catania (population approximately 300,000) – approximately 15 km east; Palermo – approximately 210 km west; Rome – approximately 900 km north; Malta – approximately 200 km south
Nearest Commercial Airport: Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) – approximately 10 km from NAS II; Catania airport is also used for military operations at times
Gate Access: NAS I main gate; NAS II main gate; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; Italian/NATO access protocols apply; joint base with Italian Navy (Marina Militare)

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 4,500
Family Members: Approximately 5,500
Civilian Employees: Approximately 1,500
Total Installation Population: Approximately 11,500

Key Facilities

Medical: Naval Health Clinic Sigonella – primary care, dental, behavioral health; specialty referrals to Italian hospitals in Catania (Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, one of Sicily’s major hospitals) or Naples for complex cases; military medical evacuation capability for critical cases
Commissary: Yes – commissary at NAS II; important for American food products
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Navy Exchange (NEX) and facilities at NAS II
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; outdoor pools; golf course; bowling; auto skills; Sicily offers extraordinary Mediterranean culture, beaches, archaeology, and cuisine; Mount Etna hiking tours; Taormina resort town; Greek temples; Sicilian cuisine is exceptional
Schools: DoDEA Sigonella Elementary School; DoDEA Sigonella Middle/High School – on or adjacent to base; DoDEA serves all military children; smaller school than some bases but close community
Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists possible; register early; Italian childcare (asilo nido) also available
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care; Italian veterinarians also available; EU pet import rules apply for incoming pets
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office; appointment-based; NATO SOFA and Italian law matters through JAG

Housing

On-Post Housing: Government quarters at NAS II primarily; family housing; condition generally good; limited on-base inventory
Average Wait Time: Variable; economy housing in Italian communities is common and popular
Off-Post Housing: Misterbianco, Mascalucia, Valverde, Tremestieri Etneo, and other Catania metro communities popular with military families; OHA applies; Italian housing varies in quality; older buildings may have maintenance quirks; living in an Italian community provides rich cultural immersion; some families live in Catania proper or coastal towns; bilingual real estate assistance available through housing office
OHA Rate Reference: Check current OHA rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); Sigonella OHA reflects Catania/Sicily rental costs

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining command; NAS Sigonella sponsorship program; Sicily assignment is highly sought-after; newcomer orientation includes Sicily cultural guide
In-Processing: NAS Sigonella in-processing; typically 3-5 days; Italy/NATO SOFA briefings; vehicle registration; ration card; medical enrollment
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Fleet and Family Support Center; enrollment required; EFMP screening critical before Sicily orders; Catania provides moderate specialist access; Naples has better military medical support; Rome/mainland Italy for complex cases

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Mediterranean; hot dry summers (average high 88F/31C in July; occasional heat waves above 100F/38C); mild wet winters (average low 43F/6C in January); mild and sunny most of the year; Scirocco (hot African wind) possible in summer; Mount Etna occasionally affects air quality with ash
Cost of Living: Low; Sicily is one of the most affordable parts of Italy; European Mediterranean lifestyle at low cost; excellent local food, wine, and produce at very reasonable prices; exchange and commissary reduce costs further; OHA typically adequate
Nearby Attractions: Mount Etna (Europe’s most active volcano, adjacent to base, hiking and skiing possible); Taormina (15 km, world-famous cliff-top resort town); Valley of the Temples at Agrigento (100 km, UNESCO, among the world’s best-preserved Greek temples); Syracuse (60 km, ancient Greek city, UNESCO archaeological site); Palermo (210 km, Norman-Arab-Byzantine architecture, UNESCO); Baroque hilltop towns of Val di Noto (UNESCO, 70 km); Etna wines (some of Europe’s most interesting natural wines); Sicily beaches and sailing; Malta (200 km, overnight ferry or 45-min flight); Rome (1 hour by air)
Spouse Employment: On-base employment through NAF, AAFES/NEX, commissary, DoDEA, and contractor positions; Italian employment requires Italian language and EU work authorization; remote work common; English tutoring and teaching popular; A&FRC / FFSC assists; Sigonella has a reputation for strong community support for spouses

OCONUS-Specific Information

SOFA: NATO Status of Forces Agreement (NATO SOFA) and Italian Bilateral Infrastructure Agreement govern U.S. personnel in Italy; Italy is a NATO founding member; covers legal jurisdiction, customs, taxes, vehicle registration, and criminal matters
Host Nation Rules: Italian laws apply off-base; Italian culture values family, food, and lifestyle; traffic can be chaotic in Italian style; Italian recycling/waste rules vary by municipality; noise and parking can be issues; Sicilian hospitality is warm and genuine; respect for local customs is important
Curfew: No formal SOFA curfew in Italy; unit-level liberty policies may apply; Italy has no adult curfew; Sicilian social life is late-night by American standards
Ration Card / Customs: NATO ration card for tax-free purchases; Italian customs and EU customs rules apply; limits on alcohol, tobacco, and electronics; duty-free purchases tracked
Vehicle Registration: SOFA vehicles may use U.S. plates with Italian tax exemption or register with Italian tax-free plates; Italian mandatory insurance required; Italian driver’s license or SOFA license for extended stays; Italian traffic is more chaotic than American; mandatory Italian/EU driver training recommended; Italian roads range from excellent autostrade to narrow village streets
Language and Culture: Italian is the official language; Sicilian dialect is distinct from standard Italian; English spoken at tourist areas and near base; learning Italian greatly enriches the experience; Italian culture deeply values food, family, art, history, and leisure; Sicily has its own distinct cultural identity within Italy
Currency and Banking: Euro (EUR); on-base banking available; Italian banks available in Catania; ATMs widespread; credit cards generally accepted; Italian preference for cash in some situations; local markets and small restaurants may prefer cash
Travel Restrictions: Free movement throughout Schengen Area (26 countries); ferry service to mainland Italy, Malta, and North Africa; Italy has extensive train network; Catania airport convenient for flights throughout Europe and Middle East; unit travel policies apply
Mail: APO AE address assigned; APO mail for personal shipments; Italian postal service (Poste Italiane) available; custom declaration required for packages from U.S.
Pets: EU pet passport or USDA-endorsed EU Health Certificate required; ISO 15-digit microchip mandatory; rabies vaccination current; obtain USDA-accredited vet endorsement; Italy follows EU rules; dogs may require tapeworm treatment; Italian dog culture is generally pet-friendly; Sicily is warm and outdoor-oriented, good for dogs; local Italian veterinarians available for ongoing care

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafcent/installations/nassigonella.html; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/naval-air-station-sigonella; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NavalAirStationSigonella