Naval Base Kitsap

Naval Base Kitsap, on Washington’s Kitsap Peninsula across Puget Sound from Seattle, was formed in June 2004 when Naval Station Bremerton and Submarine Base Bangor were joined into one regional base, according to the Naval Base Kitsap MilitaryINSTALLATIONS overview. It serves homeported fleet units, tenant commands and families at Bremerton, Bangor, Keyport, Manchester and Jackson Park. Bangor works with the submarine communities and Bremerton with the ship communities, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard operates as a separate unit. In 1973, the Navy announced Bangor as the homeport for the first squadron of Trident submarines, and Naval Submarine Base Bangor was officially activated in 1977.

Checking in

Report to 120 South Dewey Street, Building 443, Bremerton; for help on your check-in day, call Command Admin (360-627-4024), or after hours, the Command Duty Office (360-340-5335), per the check-in page. If you are reporting to a tenant command at Bangor, report to the Duty Office in Building 1100, near the Main (Trident) Gate. If you do not have a sponsor, contact your future command or the Fleet and Family Support relocation specialist (360-396-4115).

A maximum of 21 days of Temporary Lodging Expense is authorized for this area, the check-in page says. Make lodging arrangements as soon as possible because of seasonal tourist events and limited availability; the Navy Lodge on Bangor takes reservations up to one year in advance with orders. Pets are not allowed in bachelor quarters.

Getting there from Seattle

From Seattle, take the Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry (30-minute crossing) or the Seattle-Bremerton ferry (60-minute crossing), or drive around the Sound through Tacoma; from Sea-Tac Airport, the drive is about 1 1/2 hours, depending on traffic, the overview says. Ferry traffic is very heavy on summer weekends and holidays, and you may have to wait for several ferries before you can board.

Housing: Hunt Military Communities

“Navy Family Housing in the Northwest is privatized”, and at Kitsap the Navy’s partner is Hunt Military Communities, which has also managed The Landings (formerly Jackson Park Navy Family Housing) since June 1, 2014, according to Navy Region Northwest’s Kitsap housing page. PPV housing requires a lease of at least one year, and your BAH is paid to the partner by allotment. Priority goes to service members first; for priorities and waitlists, contact the Housing Service Center (360-396-4399).

Medical care

Naval Hospital Bremerton is the main military medical facility in the area (360-475-4000), and Bangor has a Branch Medical Clinic for active duty (360-315-4391), per the health care page. Madigan Army Medical Center, the largest military treatment facility, is 45 miles from Bangor in Tacoma, and Naval Hospital Bremerton runs a shuttle to Madigan for all TRICARE beneficiaries with no reservation needed. Before you count on an emergency room at the hospital, read our Naval Hospital Bremerton guide, which covers its urgent care clinic and hours.

Routine dental care cannot be provided for non-active-duty beneficiaries, so the page strongly encourages enrolling family members in the TRICARE dental plan.

Base rules to know

Photography on Naval Base Kitsap is restricted, and all family members over 10 years of age must have a dependent ID card, according to the installation page. All personnel assigned to Puget Sound activities must register their privately owned vehicles at the Pass and ID Office.

Before you arrive

Book the Navy Lodge early, plan your Seattle crossing around ferry traffic, and contact the Housing Service Center about the PPV waitlist.