Naval Support Activity Panama City is located on the east coast of Florida. This Navy base, in St. Andrew Bay in Panama City Beach, hosts a variety of military and civilian missions including the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment, U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and many others.
Find information about 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
Naval Support Activity Panama City is all about readiness, training, and testing. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City is one of the major tenant units there. Other major tenant units include the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, and the Center for Navy Ordnance Disposal and Diving. The base conducts major research, development work including test and evaluation labs and supports civilian agencies.
Major Units at NSA Panama City include but are not limited to:
- Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six (EODMU6 Det PC)
- Fleet Logistics Center
- Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
- Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center
- Naval Surface Warfare Center
- Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU)
- U.S. Coast Guard, Eighth District
History
Naval Support Activity, Panama City got its start on more than 300 acres along St. Andrew Bay in 1942, and was used during and after World War Two as an amphibious training facility as well as the home of a Navy Mine Countermeasures Station.
Over time the footprint of NSA Panama City has increased to well over 600 acres. After the war, the base went through a variety of changes between 1945 and 1992, and was known over time as all of the following:
- U.S. Navy Mine Defense Laboratory
- Naval Ship Research and Development Laboratory Panama City
- Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory
- Naval Coastal Systems Center
- Coastal Systems Station
In 2003 the installation was reorganized yet again, redesignated as Naval Support Activity Panama City, and in contemporary times the base is still known for its research and development efforts, Navy diving operations, plus a wide range of testing and evaluation. There is a great deal of salvage, diving, ordnance disposal, and other activities here. They include:
- Naval Surface Warfare Center – Panama City Division
- Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit SIX
- Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center
- Navy Experimental Diving Unit
- Navy Munitions Command Detachment
Contacts
NSA Panama City Main Address And Phone Numbers
NSA Panama City
101 Vernon Avenue
Panama City, FL 32407-7018
- 850-234-4011
- 312-436-4011
Important NSA Panama City Contact Numbers
- Emergency 911
- Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) (850) 235-5800
- ID Cards (850) 235-5525
- Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) (850) 234-4374
- Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-8255
- Dental (850) 234-4131
- Naval Branch Health Clinic (877) 879-1621
- VA Primary Care Clinic (850) 636-7000
- Housing Service Center (850) 234-4248
- Navy Gateway Inns and Suites (850) 588-0753
- Navy Getaways (850) 234-4402
- Unaccompanied Personnel Housing (850) 235-5278
- School Liaison Officer (850) 238-9830
Surrounding Area
The hurricane season for the area surrounding NSA Panama City lasts from June 1st through November 30th. One of the most important things to know about being stationed in this part of the United States is that hurricane preparedness is a major issue and should never be taken lightly.
Panama City offers much in the way of water-based outdoor adventures including snorkeling, diving, sailing, fishing, etc. There are Panama Beach dolphin tours, fishing expeditions, and tourists rent boats to explore the Florida waterways. Panama City boasts a publishing museum, a “Museum of Man In The Sea”, and the Panama City Center For The Arts is also a big draw.
Panama City is just over five hours by car to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida which also features other theme parks including Universal, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens.
Fans of spacecraft and space launches will visit Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral and there is plenty to enjoy where major league sports are concerned–the Orlando Magic will lure many away from Panama City.
Inprocessing and Check-In
All new arrivals should check-in with their gaining unit or schoolhouse as directed but in general newcomers who are PCSing to the base will visit Building 308 (the Admin Office) to get a newcomer orientation. You must hand carry the following:
- PCS orders
- Personnel Records
- Pay Records
- Dental and Medical records
Inbound sailors will report wearing summer dress whites or dress blue. Those reporting to the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) as students will check in with NDSTC (Bldg 350) in the uniform of the day.
Services
Health Care
NSA Panama City is served by a detachment of the Pensacola Naval Hospital. It features a small medical clinic plus an outpatient VA Clinic. Pensacola Naval Hospital itself is located 100 miles from Panama City. Medical services are for active duty service members and their families who are enrolled in TRICARE PRIME.
There are no emergency room services on base and those who need immediate assistance are directed to call 911 and/or utilize a civilian hospital. Call for appointments: 1-877-879-1621. Pharmacy services at the clinic do not include filling civilian prescriptions.
Child Care
Child care services on base are provided by the Child Development Center. Due to demand, waiting lists may apply though many parents are referred to the CDC at Tyndall Air Force Base when CDC slots at NSA Panama City are full.
CDC child care is for children between six weeks and five years. Call 850-234-4938 for more information about waiting lists, referrals, and sign-up requirements.
Household Goods
All PCSing sailors should track and manage their household goods shipments via the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil. You can get local assistance by calling the Inbound TMO office at (850) 234-4317.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
ID card services on board NSA Panama City are provided at the main gate reception center.
Walk-ins are discouraged and you should be prepared to provide two forms of unexpired ID for ID card services. Call to make an appointment or get more information at (850) 235-5525. You can also make an appointment online using the RAPIDS system.
Schools
Parents assigned to NSA Panama City will send school-age children to Bay County School District unless private school options are used. Bay County School District features 19 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, an alternative middle school, and four high schools. There are no DoD schools on board NSA Panama City.
School uniform policies are enforced at Bay County schools, and transfer requirements include:
- Proof of a physical within one year prior to enrollment;
- Two proofs of Florida residence
- A copy of a certified birth certificate
Contact the NSA Panama City School Liaison Office for assistance with transfer requirements, deadlines, and other concerns.
Housing
On-base housing is privatized and managed by Balfour Beatty Communities–this applies to both family housing and single service member housing.
The Housing Service Center is prepared to help you with all of your housing needs. If you are a new arrival, we can help you find the right housing for you and your family. If you are leaving, we can help you with departure services to put you in contact with your new duty station and the information that will help you settle quickly at your next permanent change of station location.
PCS and TDY Temporary Lodging
Temporary lodging facilities at NSA Panama City are very limited, you will need to call as far in advance as possible to make reservations but keep in mind that PCSing travelers have first priority. Pets are not allowed.
Call 850-234-4217, 877-NAVYBED or 877-628-9233 to make reservations. If you arrive in the local area and cannot obtain temporary quarters on base, you will need to obtain a certificate of non-availability in order to be reimbursed for residing at an off-base hotel or other accommodations.
Transportation
The nearest airport to the base is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, roughly 15 minutes away. The usual ride sharing and commercial taxis and shuttles may be available but it’s a good idea to coordinate your arrival with your sponsor if you need assistance locating the base or need help with transportation upon arrival.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport features a military welcome center, you can get information and assistance. The base itself does not have any shuttles or other base transportation options.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
When driving your privately owned vehicle on board NSA Panama City for the first time you will need to present a current copy of your vehicle registration, unexpired drivers license, and proof of insurance.
All drivers operating privately owned vehicles on board NSA Panama City are required 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 and 100% ID checks. 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.