Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay | Military Base Guide

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is located in southeast Georgia alongside the Intracostal Waterway, less than an hour from Jacksonville International Airport. The 16,000 acre base is home to half a dozen Ohio-class submarines, and two guided missile subs. NSB Kings Bay serves as the home port for Navy ballistic missile subs belonging to U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

This historic area is famous in part for military engagements during the War of 1812, but the base didn’t enter the picture until the 1950s. NSB Kings Bay is also known for its submarine static display at the front gate, featuring the decommissioned USS George Bancroft.

Find information about Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PSCing personnel, and inprocessing.

Mission & Units

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is home to three major Navy commands; Trident Training Facility, Trident Refit Facility, and Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic. The base is known as the East Coast home for eight submarines including USS Florida and the USS Georgia.

Major units include:

Submarine Group 10
Submarine Squadron 16 & 20
Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit 6 Detachment Kings Bay
Inshore Boat Unit 28
Marine Corps Security Force Battalion
MT “A” School
Naval Branch Medical Clinic Kings Bay
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
Naval Submarine Support Center, Kings Bay
Navy Legal Service Office Detachment, Kings Bay
Personnel Support Detachment, Kings Bay
ROICC Detachment, Kings Bay
Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic
Trident Refit Facility, Kings Bay
Trident Training Facility, Kings Bay
US Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team
USS Alaska – SSBN 732
USS Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit
USS Florida – SSGN 728
USS Georgia – SSGN 729
USS Maryland – SSBN 738
USS Rhode Island – SSBN 740
USS West Virginia – SSBN 736
USS Wyoming – SSBN 742

History

Kings Bay got its’ start as a proposed Army Base designed to ship munitions via a “military ocean terminal”. A three-year construction project for the facility began in 1955, but the base was never used for its’ stated purpose; it was placed in an inactive-but-ready status.

There were times when the area was used for military needs including during the Cuban Missile Crisis when military personnel and boats were positioned at Kings Bay.

The Army may never have had the opportunity to use the facility, but in the 1970s there was a need to relocate a fleet of ballistic missile subs from their home at Naval Station Rota, Spain as part of an agreement with the Spanish government. That agreement was ratified in 1976 and eventually Kings Bay would become the new home of the submarines leaving Rota.

This required a transfer of materials and jurisdiction from the Army to the Navy, and by the time NSB Kings Bay was firmly under Navy control, several thousand acres had been added to the facility.

In 1989, the first Trident submarine arrived at Kings Bay. Over time the end of the Cold War and other developments required the reduction of the Navy’s nuclear fleet which affected NSB Kings Bay; some were decommissioned and converted to guided missile subs and Tomahawk subs with conventional warheads.

Today the nuclear mission at Kings Bay continues; the Naval Submarine Base has a Trident Missile training facility and a Trident refit facility mission in addition to the various submarine squadrons and other activities at the base.

Contacts

Main Address And Phone Number

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay

1063 USS Tennessee Avenue

Kings Bay, GA 31547

912-573-2020
DSN 312-573-2020

Important Contact Numbers

Emergency – 911
Barracks/Single Service Member Housing – (912) 573-3112
Hospital/Medical Treatment Facility – (912) 573-4215
ID/CAC Card Processing – (912) 573-4519
Information and Referral Services – (912) 573-4513
Legal Services/JAG – (912) 573-3935
Welcome/Visitors Center – (912) 573-2020
Base Operator – (912) 573-2000
Suicide Prevention Hotline – 800-273-8255
Women, Infants, and Children – (912) 573-4893
Non-appropriated Funds (NAF) Human Resources – (912) 573-4583
MWR Kings Bay Child Development Center – (912) 573-9918
Child Development Homes – (912) 573-9918
The Youth Center – (912) 573-2380
Naval Branch Health Clinic – EFMP Enrollment – (912) 573-6394
Family Employment Readiness Program – (912) 573-4520
Child and Youth Registration and Referral – (912) 573-3888
Fleet and Family Support Center – Family Advocacy Program – (912) 573-4222
Family Center – (912) 573-4512
New Parent Support Program – (912) 573-4893
Victim Advocate Program – (912) 573-0992
Navy Legal Service Office – Kings Bay Detachment – (912) 573-3935
Retired Affairs Office – (912) 573-4513
Naval Branch Health Clinic Kings Bay – Health Benefits Advisor – (912) 573-4228
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Dental Clinic – (912) 573-4212
Kings Bay Fitness Complex – (912) 573-2485
Naval Branch Health Clinic – Kings Bay – (912) 573-4215
Transient Visitors Quarters – (912) 573-3112
Navy Housing Office – (912) 573-2056
Temporary Lodging/Billeting – Navy Lodge – (912) 882-6868
Personnel Support Detachment – ID/CAC Card/DEERS Processing – (912) 573-4519
Relocation Assistance Program – (912) 573-4513
Transition Assistance Program – (912) 573-4513
Welcome/Visitors Center After Hours Check-In – (912) 573-2020

Surrounding Area

NSB Kings Bay is strategically located for both Florida and Georgia travel. There is much to do in these areas including the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum in St. Marys just under five miles away. There is also Crooked River State Park nearby in St. Marys, and a short drive away to Jacksonville, Florida you can visit the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens, plan a visit to the Fort Caroline National Memorial, or drop by the Riverside/Avondale Historic District in Jacksonville.

Georgia attractions include Trident Lakes Golf Course in Kings Bay proper, plus Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton-a four hour drive but worth the trip for racing fans. Approximately five hours from Kings Bay, you’ll find plenty to do in Atlanta including professional football with the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball, and the NBA Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta, Athens, and other nearby towns are hotspots for live music, microbreweries, and nightlife.

It’s true that some of these destinations require a bit of extended driving, but they are definitely worth the effort.

Inprocessing and Check-In

Unlike some military installations, new arrivals to NSB Kings Bay are directed to check in with their gaining command for all new arrival and in-processing needs. Orders will be endorsed by the gaining command and any permissive TDY for house hunting will be arranged or approved with the gaining unit.

The gaining command will scheduled for an appointment to in-process via the Kings Bay Personnel Support Detachment (PSD). New arrivals can contact PSD at 912-573-4475 for more information. After-hours check-in may be accomplished at the Welcome Center located on base at 1050 USS Georgia Avenue, Building 1063.

Services

Healthcare

NSB Kings Bay does not have a major medical facility on base and there are no emergency services available. All emergencies should be handled by calling 9-1-1. There are limited services at the Branch Health Clinic on board NSB Kings Bay, which has service times limited to normal duty hours. The clinic is closed weekends and holidays. There is general help available via the Nurse Advice Line 24 hours a day at 1-800-874-2273.

Make appointments at the clinic by calling 912-573-6450.

Child Care

Kings Bay is served by the Child Development Center, which offers full-time care for infants through preschool-aged children. There are priorities for full-time care:

Single/dual active duty;
Active duty with a working spouse or student spouse;
Reservists activated to active duty;
DoD civilians;
DoD contractors;
Retirees with a waiver.

Waiting lists apply for most care and these lists are broken into age groups from infants to 5 year old children. If you sign up for a CDC waiting list you will be required to contact the Child Development Center at the beginning of each month. Part-time care is also offered on a space-available basis. Call the CDC at 912-573-9918 for more details.

There is also an option to use Family Child Care (FCC) which is provided by on-base private caregivers living in family housing. FCC homes are certified and regulated, and offer services including weekend care, after-hours care, and more depending on the caregiver and circumstances.

Additional child care is available via the Camden County School System, which offers after-school daycare at its’ elementary schools. Contact the Kings Bay School Liaison Officer for information on these programs at 912-573-8986.

Household Goods

All inbound personnel are directed to schedule and manage their household goods shipments using the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil.

Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue

The Kings Bay Personnel Support Detachment handles all ID card and Common Access Card services for the base. All personnel are directed to schedule their appointments for ID card services via the RAPIDS system. Walk-in appointments may required long wait times depending on demand and mission requirements. Two forms of unexpired ID are required and one must be a state-issued/government-issued ID.

For dependents, retirees, and currently serving military members, the following unexpired primary ID is acceptable:

Military ID
Driver’s License
Passport.

Secondary ID may include:

Any second Primary ID
Social Security Card
Voter’s registration card
Birth Certificate
Veterans Health Identification Card

For every ID card need a separate appointment should be scheduled. Call (912) 573-8259 for further assistance.

Schools

Those stationed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay should in most cases expect to send school-age children to schools in the Camden County School System. That system features nine elementary schools (Pre-K through 5th grade), two middle schools, and one high school with a grades 9-12. There is also a special needs school.

Not all will choose to live in this school district’s jurisdiction; some military families wind up living in Nassau County, Florida and the school districts in that area. Contact the NSB Kings Bay School Liaison Officer for assistance with school choices in these areas by calling 912-573-8986.

Some families will need to know general immunization requirements for these schools; expect requirements for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and other common childhood vaccinations.

Housing

All service members (accompanied or unaccompanied) are considered eligible for privatized housing operated by Balfour Beatty Communities, but unaccompanied E4s and below are placed on a lower priority. All personnel are required to check into base housing within 30 days of arrival “to secure full local move benefits”. All base housing and privatized housing applications must include the following documentation (copies, not originals):

Housing Application DD Form 1746;
Sex Offender Policy Acknowledgement & Disclosure;
Permanent Change of Duty Station Orders;
Record of Emergency Data (Page II) or Recall Emergency Data Sheet (REDS)
Power of Attorney, which is required when the military spouse or a representative is applying.

All incoming personnel will have a “control date” set for base housing, which is your last duty day at the previous duty station. All service members must contact the Navy Housing Services Center before making any off-base housing commitments. This rule is for both accompanied and unaccompanied military members.

Unaccompanied new arrivals and geographic bachelors in ranks E4 and below must live in Unaccompanied Housing; this is also true of those receiving the Single Basic Housing Allowance at their previous duty station.

Single E5s and above are “generally not housed in Unaccompanied Housing and it is recommended that these service members arrange for other appropriate housing prior to reporting to Kings Bay” according to the official site.

PCS and TDY Lodging

Kings Bay is served by both Navy Gateway Inns & Suites, and the Navy Lodge. New arrivals are given a temporary lodging expense of 10 reimbursed days at the inn or via commercial lodging (with a non-availability letter you must obtain from the Inn or Lodge) at local per diem rates. Make reservations as far in advance as possible once your new assignment or TDY is known.

Call Navy Gateway Inns and Suites at 912-573-4871 call the Navy Lodge at 912-882-6868. Ask in advance if you need pet accommodations as space may be limited or unavailable.

Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

Non-resident military drivers assigned to NSB Kings Bay are not required to register their vehicles in the State of Georgia if the driver has a valid license and registration from another state.

Privately owned vehicles must be registered at NSB Kings Bay Pass and ID during in-processing. This registration is considered good until the driver’s Common Access Card (CAC) card expires. New arrivals should know that all rental vehicles are considered privately-owned where base entry and access control procedures are concerned. Your rental contract is considered sufficient for licensing, registration and proof of insurance.

Motorcycle must furnish documentation of all required motorcycle safety training to operate on base, and current base rules state that no driver can operate another’s vehicle without written permission to do so on base by the owner. Family members are excluded from this requirement.

This military installation has a rule concerning bumper stickers and other decals affixed to the vehicle; “No motor vehicle with any sticker, decal, emblem or other device containing profane or lewd words or pictures, describing sexual acts or excretory functions on (sic) parts of the human body will be allowed”.