Naval Air Station Whiting Field is a Navy installation just under 10 miles from Milton, Florida. The Air Station is one of two Navy pilot training sites for student pilots from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Air Force pilots also get training at the base.
Find information about NAS Whiting Field, including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PCSing personnel, and inprocessing.
Mission & Units
The primary mission of Whiting Field is flying training; this facility has been described as part of the “backbone of the Navy’s flight program.” Naval Air Station Whiting Field made a successful transition from the T-34 trainer aircraft to T-6B “Texan” in 2012 and in the 21st century is the host for six flight training squadrons and two instructor squadrons.
Naval Air Station Whiting Field is described by the Department of Defense as being “the busiest air station in the world” and the numbers are definitely there; there are roughly a million annual flight operations at the Air Station.
Important missions and units at Whiting Field include:
- Security
- Branch Medical Clinic (Dental)
- Naval Branch Clinic (Medical)
- I.D. Card/CAC Office
- Training Air Wing Five Reserve Component
- Training Squadron Two
- Training Squadron Three
- Training Air Wing Five
- Training Squadron Six
- Helicopter Training Squadron Eight
- Helicopter Training Squadron Eighteen
- Helicopter Training Squadron Twenty Eight
- Marine Aviation Training Support Group
- Naval Air Maintenance Training Group Detachment
History
The official history of Naval Air Station Whiting Field is a bit short; this Navy base is in the business of training pilots and while technology and airframes may change, the needs of the training programs don’t. This is a base that has focused on the same kinds of mission for many decades.
Some bases closed after World War Two only to reopen or be redesignated later; this installation has operated continuously since it opened. Whiting Field was named to honor Captain Kenneth Whiting, commissioned in 1908 and one of the earliest flight students, having learned to fly with none other than Orville Wright.
Whiting took command of the 1st Naval Air Unit in France in World War One and had an illustrious career until his death on duty (of natural causes) in 1943.
That same year, Naval Auxiliary Air Station Whiting Field was commissioned by Rear Admiral George Murray, Commandant of the Naval Air Training Center, The facility was needed to expand the efforts to train Navy pilots for duty in World War Two, and it opened shortly after the invasion of Sicily.
NAS Whiting Field has, in its 75 continuous years of service, served as a POW camp for German prisoners of war, was the home for the U.S. Navy’s first jet training unit, and has served as the host for the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team. Today, Whiting Field is home to flight training squadrons for both students and instructors, and the installation trains roughly 1200 students a year.
Contacts
Main Base Address And Phone Numbers
7511 USS Enterprise Street
Building 3025
Milton, FL 32570-6013
- 850-623-7177
- DSN 312-868-7177
Important Base Phone Numbers
- Emergency 911
- Public Affairs (850) 623-7341
- Administration (850) 623-7201
- Command Career Counselor (850) 623-7761
- Dental (850) 623-7626
- Emergency Management Office (850) 623-7030
- FFSC (850) 623-7177
- Fire Department (850) 623-7193
- Housing (Whiting Pines) (850) 623-7493
- Medical (850) 623-7508
- MWR (850) 623-7502
- Navy Gateway Inn and Suites (850) 623-7605
- Pass and Tag (850) 623-7205
- Personal Property (850) 623-7677
- Public Works (850) 623-7268
- Tricare (850) 623-7657
Surrounding Area
Approximately 30 minutes from Pensacola, Florida, Milton is on the coast roughly two hours from Alabama. If you don’t mind some longer drives there are plenty of places inside and outside the Florida border to discover including Mobile, Alabama (roughly an hour away) and Blackwater State Forest (35-45 minutes away in Florida, depending on traffic).
Those interested in a visit to Disney World in Orlando will have a longer journey–roughly six hours away. Your actual driving time may be affected by tourist season and the amount of interest a new attraction there might be generating. It’s best to check ahead of time before planning a trip to Disney!
There are plenty of outdoor activities to explore in and around Milton including the Milton Riverwalk, historic downtown Milton, and farmers’ market lovers will enjoy The Strawberry Farm with its pick-your-own options, and there are boat tours available at Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center. Blackwater Heritage State Trail gets good reviews as a couples destination in the area.
Inprocessing and Check-In
Those checking in during normal duty hours, Monday through Friday are directed to report to the Administrative Department in Building 1401. All after-hours, holidays, and weekend check-ins happen at Bachelor Quarters in Building 2957.
Call the Command Duty Officer at 850-623-7921 or 850-382-4966. It’s best to ask your sponsor or the orderly room of your gaining unit if there are special check-in requirements for your unit.
Services
Health Care
Healthcare services are provided by the Branch Health Clinic. Centralized Scheduling handles all appointments on base, contact them at 850-505-7171. The Naval Hospital Branch Medical Clinic at Whiting Field offers primary outpatient medical care, specialty referrals, and health-related services including:
- Clinical Psychology
- Family Medicine
- Aviation Medicine
- Physical Therapy
- Pharmacy
Child Care
Child care is provided by the Whiting Field Child Development Center and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. There are programs offered for children 6 weeks to 5 years old. Parents can take advantage of full-time weekly care and drop-in care is offered on a space-available basis only.
Waiting lists apply at NAS Whiting Field, you will need to complete a Child Development Program Request for Care Record (DD2606); you will be added to the list, but a separate application must be completed for each child.
Parents are required to update their waiting list applications each month during a five-day window. Call the CDC for more information or to get started with your waiting list application. Call them at 850-623-7472 or DSN 312-868-7776.
Household Goods
All inbound personnel are directed to track and manage their household goods shipments to Whiting Field via the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil. If you need local assistance, call the NAS Whiting Field Personal Property Office at 850-623-7677.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
ID card services are provided by the Pass & Tag office. Walk-ins are discouraged due to high demand, and same-day appointments are generally not available. Schedule all appointments via the Whiting Field RAPIDS scheduler system.
Services are provided for two ID cards per appointment, and you will need to schedule back-to-back appointments for ID card services for more than two IDs. Call them at (850) 623-7159 for information.
**Note to all retirees; ID card services at NAS Whiting Field no longer include ID cards with an “Indef” expiration. All ID cards for retirees will be issued with an expiration date.
Schools
There are no DoDDS schools at NAS Whiting Field or other military bases in the area. School-age children will attend Santa Rosa schools. There are six high schools, eight middle schools, and 18 elementary schools. Transferring into Santa Rosa schools requires the following immunizations:
- 3 DPT or DT (Diphtheria-Whooping Cough-Tetanus)
- 3 Oral Polio (Trivalent OTPV)
- 2 MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
Student records are required from the previous year. You can get help enrolling in area schools by calling the NAS Whiting Field School Liaison Officer at 850-665-6105. Transferring younger students may have additional considerations.
Kindergarten transfers or new signups require the child to be at least five years old by September 1st. For first grade, the child must be six years old before September 1st.
Housing
Housing at NAS Whiting Field is run as a public/private venture with Whiting Pines Navy Family Housing which is operated by Balfour Beatty Communities. This housing area is a short drive from the base.
This housing is pet-friendly, with no pet deposit is required at the time of this writing. Housing applications should be delivered to the Housing Office with a completed DD Form 1746, Application for Assignment to Housing, plus a copy (no originals) of your orders.
Some families who choose housing offered by Balfour Beatty may be entitled to keep a portion of their housing allowance; according to published sources, mil-to-mil families where both spouses serve in uniform will be charged only for the senior member’s BAH.
Single and unaccompanied service members have on-post living options including facilities operated by Gateway Inns & Suites as the Consolidated Bachelor Housing for both officers and enlisted members.
PCS and TDY Lodging
Limited temporary lodging is available at NAS Whiting Field via Gateway Inns and Suites. There are NO pet-friendly accommodations available onboard Whiting Field at the time of this writing, but there are pet boarding facilities off-base that can help, depending on demand and other variables.
Navy Gateway Inns & Suites close to several base amenities including a consolidated dining facility, Navy Exchange, Commissary, bowling alley, and a gymnasium. TLF for families may be restricted to certain unoccupied Bachelor Quarters. Make reservations as far in advance as possible by calling DSN 312-868-7605 or commercial 850-623-7605.
Transportation
Depending on the time of day, airport selection, and other variables, the usual ride sharing and commercial taxi services may be available to NAS Whiting Field. However, due to the location of the base, it may be best to ask your sponsor for advice on where to fly in, what time of day, and what to expect based on location.
The nearest airports to NAS Whiting Field include:
- Spencer Naval Outlying Field,Pace, FL
- Peter Prince Field Milton, FL
- Duke Field Airport Duke Field Afs, FL
The closest MAJOR airports to NAS Whiting Field are:
- Pensacola International Airport (30 miles)
- Northwest Florida Regional Airport (60 miles)
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
All drivers must carry State of Florida required car insurance, identification, registration and tags. With most Florida-based military installations, base decals may or may not be mandatory, but all motor vehicles entering and leaving the base are subject to search.
Your civilian ID may be required to be REAL ID Act compliant-ask the sponsor at your gaining unit what you will need to do to gain initial access to the base to register your vehicle.
Base decals and registration are required aboard NAS Whiting Field for the following personnel:
- Any military member assigned to NAS Whiting Field.
- Civilian personnel working at NAS Whiting Field.
- Contractors working at NAS Whiting Field.
The following documentation is required to register:
- Current (Valid) registration
- Current proof of insurance
- Valid driver’s license
- Military identification or Civilian identification showing that you are assigned or work on NAS Whiting Field
Florida state law at the time of this writing includes a requirement for any driver operating a privately owned vehicle in Florida longer than 90 days (consecutive or not) must carry personal injury protection and property damage liability insurance coverage in compliance with Florida law.