Naval Support Activity Orlando (NSA Orlando) is located in Orlando, Florida within 40 miles of Disney World, Epcot, Sea World, Universal Studios and other famous attractions in Orange County. It is on the east side of the Orlando city limits in the Central Florida Research Park.
This Navy installation is smaller than many of its’ peers, but plays an important role in support of the many other military bases nearby. NSA Orlando also fills a role in disaster preparedness in the area including hurricane support activities.
Find information about Naval Support Activity Orlando 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
According to the Department of Defense, the mission of NSA Orlando includes shore installation support services in the following areas:
- Physical Security for all DoD components
- Public Works Support including construction, maintenance and “BOS Services” for all Central Florida activities
- Disaster Preparedness & Hurricane Support to DoD components:
The state of Florida experiences a regular hurricane season, so the disaster preparedness portion of the mission at NSA Orlando is of great importance to both the community and the other DoD operations in the state. Important units at NSA Orlando include:
- Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation (AFAMS)
- Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI)
- Joint Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Co-Lab (JHT)
- Joint Development Integration Facility (JDIF)
- Joint Training Integration and Evaluation Center (JTIEC)
- Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division
- OPNAV N11 Detachment Orlando
- Program Manager Training Systems (PM TRASYS) Partnership II
- United States Coast Guard: Liaison Office
- US Army Research Devel. & Engineering Command – Simulation & Training (RDECOM – STTC)
History
NSA Orlando is fairly atypical of military bases in many ways-its’ small size is one uncommon aspect, but its’ age is also not typical of many installations. Naval Support Activity Orlando opened in 1988. It was then designated as the host installation for the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) which is a Navy center for modeling, simulation, and training systems, and is an important part of the NSA Orlando mission as well as the heritage of the base.
NSA Orlando may have officially started in the 1980s but this Navy base’s history could be said to stretch as far back as World War Two when the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics began looking at training tools that could be viewed as early simulations or “synthetic training devices”; such innovations were developed to train bombers, gunners, and other areas.
In time, the Navy created a Special Devices Division, with the commissioning of the Special Devices Center after the war; in 1946 the division found a home at Port Washington, Long Island, NY, by the mid-1960s, the Center had moved to Orlando, Florida. Today, special devices has given way to computer-based simulation and training, and the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) plays a vital part in NSA Orlando community.
NSA Orlando is part of Orlando’s Central Florida Research Park, which involves research and design projects for private industry, government, and academia. In the present day, NSA Orlando is tasked with supporting “all Department of Defense activities in Central Florida”.
Contacts
Main Address And Phone Numbers
NSA Orlando
12201 Science Drive
Orlando, FL 32826
- 407-380-4444
- DSN 312-960-4444
Important Phone Numbers
- Emergency – 911
- Emergency Relief Services – (321) 494-5675
- Family Advocacy Program – (904) 542-2766
- Fleet and Family Support Center – (904) 542-2766
- Household Goods/Transportation Office – (321) 494-9173
- ID/CAC Card Processing – (407) 380-4315
- Legal Services/JAG – (904) 542-3481
- MWR – (407) 855-0116
- Personnel Support Office (Civilian) -(407) 380-4244
- Personnel Support Office (Military) – (407) 380-4158
- Spouse Education, Training and Careers – (407) 531-1227
- Temporary Lodging/Billeting – (407) 249-0044
Surrounding Area
Orlando, Florida is well-known for its’ destination theme parks; Universal, Disney, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens are all popular attractions for tourists and locals alike. The Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral is an important place for space enthusiasts, and fans of major league sports will want to check out an Orlando Magic game at the Amway Center.
Orlando is roughly three and a half hours from Miami by car, and at lovers should consider making the drive each year to attend Art Basel in Miami Beach, which an important “destination art show” in America.
NSA Orlando is a part of a larger military community in Florida that includes NAS Jacksonville, NAS Whiting Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Camp Blanding, and Patrick Air Force Base
Inprocessing and Check-In
All inbound personnel are directed to consult their gaining unit for inprocessing and check-in procedures;
There are no temporary lodging facilities at NSA Orlando; accommodations may be found commercially in the local area but you may also check with any of the other military installations in the area for availability; NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, or Patrick Air Force Base.
Services
Due to the small size of NSA Orlando, most base services you would expect from a larger installation are not available; these may be obtained at other nearby military bases such as NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, or Patrick Air Force Base. There are no Child Development Centers on board NSA Orlando, and according to the Department of Defense, “There is no inpatient medical facility located on board NSA Orlando, nor in the Orlando area at any other military facility”.
All healthcare needs for troops and families serving at NSA Orlando may be obtained via civilian facilities through TRICARE PRIME Remote.
Household Goods
All personnel inbound to NSA Orlando are directed to track and manage their household goods shipments via the Defense Personal Property System. You can also get assistance by calling the NSA Orlando Household Goods/Transportation Office at DSN (321) 494-9173.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
All appointments for ID card services must be made by phone at (407) 380-4313 or via the RAPIDS system. Walk-in times may vary depending upon the number of customers awaiting services. Appointments are highly recommended, but if you cannot make an appointment at NSA Orlando, one of the several other nearby military installations may be able to help.
Schools
All military dependents in the Orlando area attend schools off-base based on address/location as there are no DoD school operations on board NSA Orlando. For the most current transfer and registration requirements, contact The Orange County Public School System.
PCS and TDY Lodging
There is no temporary lodging available on board NSA Orlando. If you need to get a certificate of non-availability or wish to try other bases TLF or temporary lodging facilities, Patrick Air Force Base is approximately an hour away by car.
Transportation
Due to the size of NSA Orlando, there is no base transportation available. Transportation for those PCS or TDY to the base from the airport is available via the usual commercial and ride sharing services; if you have a sponsor assigned to you for your relocation to NSA Orlando, talk to the sponsor if you need other transportation needs.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
All newcomers to the base are directed to stop at the NSA Orlando Welcome Center to get the most current instructions on vehicle access to the base. All drivers must carry the required car insurance, identification, registration and tags required to legally operate a vehicle in the state of Florida. Whether or not base decals or other registration is required, 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.