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Naval Support Activity Monterey Base Guide

Kena Sosa

The Naval Support Activity Monterey site in Monterey, California, is home to the Naval Postgraduate School or NPS, Navy Research Lab or NRL, and the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center or FNMOC offering graduate degrees and high-tech educational options.

The Naval Postgraduate School provides quality education and training to nearly 2,000 students from the U.S. Uniformed Services and many countries worldwide. The FNMOC offers current developments and supports innovation in meteorology and oceanography.

Naval Support Activity Monterey site is spread over 600 acres to ensure space and facilities are exceptional for advanced graduate studies. Learn more about Naval Support Activity Monterey, including information on base services, housing, education, child care, and check-in procedures.

Base History

According to the DoD, before World War II, the site we know today as Naval Support Activity Monterey was home to “one of the finest luxury hotels in North America, the Hotel Del Monte.” That operation occupied the present site of the Naval Postgraduate School.

The site was devastated by fire a few years later but rebuilt, only to succumb to a blaze again in 1924. By then, hotel ownership had changed hands, and so had its purpose. Serving as a sports facility, it was taken over by the Navy and used for aviation in 1942.

Though it served well, the Navy decided to change the course of this facility once more in 1945 and deemed it a graduate institution. The Hotel Del Monte, now known as Herrmann Hall is now the recognized site of the offices of the Naval Postgraduate School on site of the Naval Support Activity Monterey location.

Surrounding Area

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is in Monterey County, California. The local area is home to over 400,000 residents which includes service members from the Navy, Army and Coast Guard, as well as civilians.

Monterey, California, is a site travelers love for its pleasant weather and sandy beaches. In their free time, visitors and locals enjoy whale watching, riding bikes up and down the coastline, scooter rentals and other outdoor activities. Indoor activities abound as well, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

After the aquarium, walk Old Fisherman’s Wharf or Cannery Row. Golfers will be pleased to know that there are many in the area, including the well-known Pebble Beach, making it an ideal region for families and single service members alike.

Mission and Units

The mission of the Naval Support Activity Monterey is to ensure the opportunity for unequaled education and a high quality of life to its service members in both times of war and in times of peace. It serves domestic and international students year-round in atmospheric studies.

The site features 15 tenant commands, the Naval Postgraduate School, Navy Research Lab and the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. Major units have included:

• Alpha Company
• Command Marine Corps Detachment (MCD)
• Bravo Company
• Charlie Company
• Delta Company
• Echo Company
• Foxtrot Company
• HQ 14th Brigade Western Region, ROTC the Presidio/DLI
• Personnel Support Detachment located in Lemoore
• Defense Military Finance, Pay Office

In-Processing and Check-In

All inbound students should report to Student Services in Hermann Hall located in the Del Monte hotel. Check-in is done in uniform. Winter uniforms begin Oct. 1; summer uniforms are required beginning April 1. All PCSing troops should report to their gaining unit command support staff.

Child Care

Child care in the area is available for babies from six weeks of age to school-aged children through the Child Development Center. Programs are offered for part-time and full-time care and drop-in care when available.

Prices vary based on the income of the qualifying service member. For those interested, keep in mind the waiting time for care can be long. Apply online in advance using the Request For Care form. The Child Development Center can be reached for questions and details at (831) 656-2734.

Another option for local child care is using Child Development Homes for private, in-home care with small populations and flexible availability. La Mesa Housing has Child Development Homes, depending on availability.

Housing

The Housing Service Department is the key to communication between DoD employees and Monterey Bay Military Housing, home to almost 3,000 family units.

Housing should be applied for and secured as soon as possible after receiving orders as the area is a high-demand area for service members and civilians alike. Waiting times for housing can be over three months long and deposits for housing can be high and may be in addition to the first month’s rent, so it is best to prepare in advance.

The Housing Services Office is at 4250 General Jim Moore Blvd. and can be called for questions or assistance at (831) 242-7979.

Related: Basic Allowance for Housing Calculator

PCS and TDY Lodging

The Monterey Bay area has a high cost of living, which translates to the pricing for temporary lodging, although local lodging makes an effort to accommodate military families.

The Navy Lodge, near the Naval Postgraduate School campus, offers temporary lodging; call them at 800-628-9466 or 800-NAVY-INN; dial the local number at 831-372-6133.

Other options include the Navy Gateway Inn and Suites at the Naval Postgraduate School in the historic Del Monte Hotel, now renamed Hermann Hall. Make reservations at 1-877-NAVY-BED, 831-656-2060 or 831-656-2069.

Monterey Tides, Hyatt Regency Monterey, and Inn By The Bay Monterey are pet-friendly temporary lodging options that are also available in the area.

Transportation

The nearest airport to Naval Support Activity Monterey is the Monterey Peninsula Airport at less than ten minutes in distance. From the airport follow Olmstead Road using a car, taxi or shuttle service. Make sure your taxi prices using the meter. Inquiries for shuttles are arranged at (831) 373-7777.

The military shuttle operates daily from the Stilwell Community Center. Other transit options include the Monterey-Salinas Transit. From your transportation option of choice, follow directions to one of the two installation entrances: the Del Monte Avenue entrance or the 9th/10th Street gates.

Those traveling from San Francisco, 1.5 hours away, should take US Route 101 South to Prunedale and follow signs to Del Monte Avenue entrance. Traffic may be high on this route.

Los Angeles and San Diego area origins mean a travel time of almost six hours by roadway taking US Hwy 5 North to Sacramento and then Route 46 West, to the 101 toward Salinas, and then finally, CA Route 68 to Monterey. If coming in from the east, use Interstate 5 headed north to Highway 156.

Regardless of the method of travel, a valid military ID will be required to enter the installation. Those who arrive without it will need to secure this before reaching the security gate.

Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

Drivers in or moving to California will need to register their vehicle with their state at the local DMV. The nearest one to base is on Canyon Del Rey Blvd in Seaside, California.

To register the vehicle, the following documentation is needed: proof of ownership, passed smog inspection certificate, identification and insurance, Application for Title or Registration, and the application fee. To register a vehicle on base, report to the 9th/10th Street gate with an ID card, insurance and registration, and driver’s license.

Safety regulations in moving vehicles include using seatbelts and child safety seats at all times, hands-free devices for cell phone use, and helmets and safety equipment for motorcycle riders.

Schools

Students in the Monterey area usually go to schools in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Schools in MPUSD include but are not limited to:

• Crumpton Elementary School
• Del Rey Woods Elementary
• Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School of the Arts
• La Mesa School
• Los Arboles Middle School
• Monte Vista Middle School
• Seaside Middle School
• Central Coast High School
• Marina High School
• Seaside High School
• Monterey High School

Charter School options are also available, which include the International School of Monterey and

Learning for Life.

Colleges and Universities

Monterey has community college options to help those who want to pursue higher education. On base, however, there are no adult education classes. Career training programs are offered with the Regional Occupation Program for technology, tourism, health care and media. Local community colleges include:

• Monterey Peninsula College (MPC), 980 Fremont St, Monterey, CA
• California State University, Monterey Bay, 100 Campus Center, Seaside, CA

Related: Ultimate GI Bill Guide

Contacts

• Installation Home (831) 656-2442
• Barracks/Single Member Housing (831) 644-0400
• Child Development Center (831) 656-2734
• Housing Office (831) 242-7979
• ID/CAC Card Processing (831) 656-1860
• School Liaison (831) 656-1008
• Temporary Lodging/Billeting (800) 628-9466
• Welcome Center (831) 644-0400
• Youth Programs (831) 656-2432

Related: Ultimate Military Benefits Guide