Naval Base Kitsap

Branch: U.S. Navy
Location: Bremerton, Washington (multiple sites)
Installation Type: Naval Base
Status: Active

Overview

Naval Base Kitsap is a consolidated naval base in the Puget Sound region of Washington State, incorporating the former Naval Station Bremerton, Naval Submarine Base Bangor, and Naval Magazine Indian Island under a single installation command. Located on the Kitsap Peninsula across Puget Sound from Seattle, Naval Base Kitsap is home to a significant portion of the Pacific Fleet’s submarine and surface forces, including Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and Virginia-class attack submarines (SSNs). Bangor is the largest nuclear weapons storage site in the U.S. arsenal. The base provides strategic deterrence as a homeport for the Navy’s Trident nuclear submarine force and conventional submarine and surface operations.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Homeport and support Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs, Trident D-5 missile force) providing strategic nuclear deterrence; homeport Virginia-class and Los Angeles-class attack submarines; support surface warships and auxiliaries based at Bremerton.
Major Units: Submarine Base Bangor (SSBN/SSN homeport); Naval Station Bremerton (surface ship homeport, including USS Nimitz CVN-68 and others); Trident Training Facility Bangor; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) at Bremerton
Tenant Units: Commander, Submarine Force Pacific (COMSUBPAC) forward elements; Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Keyport Division; Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC); various Pacific Fleet support commands

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Bremerton, WA (population approximately 45,000) – immediately adjacent; Seattle, WA – approximately 16 miles east by ferry or 60 miles by car around the Sound; Silverdale/Poulsbo – adjacent to Bangor
Nearest Commercial Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – approximately 60 miles by car (via Tacoma Narrows Bridge) or accessible via Bremerton-Seattle passenger ferry plus shuttle
Gate Access: Bangor main gate; Bremerton main gate; multiple access points; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; nuclear and classified areas have significantly enhanced access control

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 14,000
Family Members: Approximately 18,000
Civilian Employees: Approximately 12,000 (large PSNS shipyard workforce)
Total Installation Population: Approximately 44,000

Key Facilities

Medical: Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) – full service hospital at Bremerton; branch clinic at Bangor; NHB provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care; Naval Medical Center or civilian specialists in Seattle for complex cases
Commissary: Yes – commissaries at Bremerton and Bangor
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Navy Exchange (NEX) and facilities at multiple sites
Fitness & Recreation: Multiple fitness centers; pools; golf courses; bowling; auto skills; Puget Sound boating (kayaking, sailing, fishing); Pacific Northwest outdoor recreation outstanding (mountains, forests, water); Seattle ferries make the city accessible
Schools: Bremerton School District, Central Kitsap School District, and North Kitsap School District serve military families; no DoDEA schools; Central Kitsap (Silverdale/Silverdale area near Bangor) is generally well-regarded; Bremerton district is improving; school quality varies by neighborhood
Childcare: Child Development Centers at multiple locations; waitlists common; register early
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office, Naval Base Kitsap; appointment-based

Housing

On-Post Housing: Navy Housing on base at both Bremerton and Bangor sites; substantial family housing inventory; condition generally good
Average Wait Time: 30-60 days typical; Kitsap Peninsula off-post housing is available but prices have risen
Off-Post Housing: Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Seabeck, Kingston are popular communities; Silverdale area near Bangor is a popular suburban community; average rent approximately $1,700-$2,400/month for 3-bedroom home; Kitsap Peninsula has grown in cost but remains below Seattle prices; Washington state has no income tax
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining command; submarine, surface ship, and shipyard sponsorship programs; submarine community (both SSBN and SSN) has strong sponsorship networks
In-Processing: Naval Base Kitsap in-processing; typically 2-3 days; submarine and nuclear-related personnel have additional security and technical in-processing; SWFPAC access requires special authorization
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Fleet and Family Support Center; enrollment required; Naval Hospital Bremerton provides baseline care; Seattle Children’s Hospital and UWMC provide excellent specialist access (via ferry or Narrows Bridge)

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Oceanic/maritime; mild cool summers (average high 72F/22C in July); mild winters (average low 36F/2C in January); frequent rain and overcast October through April; more rain shadow protection than Seattle itself; Pacific Northwest evergreen forests are beautiful
Cost of Living: Moderate; Kitsap Peninsula is significantly less expensive than Seattle; no state income tax; housing costs rising but still better than the city; ferry access to Seattle allows metro employment without metro housing costs
Nearby Attractions: Washington State Ferries to Seattle (35 min crossing, stunning views of the Olympics, Sound, and Seattle skyline); Seattle cultural amenities (Pike Place Market, Space Needle, museums, sports); Olympic National Park (1 hour west) – one of America’s most diverse national parks (glaciers, rainforest, Pacific coast); Port Townsend Victorian seaport (1 hour); Poulsbo (Norwegian heritage “Little Norway” town); Hood Canal (world-class oysters and Dungeness crab); Mount Rainier (2 hours); Whale watching in Puget Sound; San Juan Islands (2 hours)
Spouse Employment: Kitsap Peninsula employment in healthcare (Harrison Medical), education, and retail; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is a major employer for professional/technical spouses; ferry access to Seattle broadens employment to all of Seattle metro (Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, tech sector); remote work popular; FFSC assists

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrnw/installations/nbkitsap.html
Main Installation Phone: (360) 476-3711
MWR Website: https://kitsap.navymwr.org (verify current URL)
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), Naval Base Kitsap; (360) 475-4573; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support; submarine deployment support programs

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrnw/installations/nbkitsap.html; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/naval-base-kitsap; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NavalBaseKitsap; Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law