Whidbey Island NAS
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Relocation Information
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tucker M. Yates/Released)
Welcome to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island!
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is the Pacific Northwest’s only military naval aviation support base. NAS Whidbey Island is home to all Navy tactical electronic attack squadrons including the EA-18G Growler. The other major flying squadrons are Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance squadrons flying the P-3 Orion, P-8 Poseidon, and EP-3E Aries.
In total, there are 10 tenant aviation commands and 14 Operational Wing Commands located at NAS Whidbey Island. Ault Field is NAS Whidbey Island's airstrip and named for Commander William B. Ault, who was declared missing in action during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942.
Image via defense.gov
Multiple U.S.military influences including the Navy, Marine Corps, and Revenue Marine (precursor to the U.S. Coast Guard) have explored and protected the Pacific Northwest since the mid-nineteenth century. The Navy has operated missions from the area’s waterways since 1841.
The Navy’s early presence was primarily to calm strife between incoming settlers and the local population, in addition to upholding the disputed boundaries around the San Juan Islands. After the U.S. purchase of Alaska, missions expanded to include sea life regulation, primitive search and rescue operations, and supporting the westward settlement progression. Official Navy bases and shipyards were operating by the late 1890s, and in 1903 the Thirteenth Naval District was established in Seattle. By this time, sea power was firmly established as a necessary force for the U.S military to maintain strategic placement in the Northwest.
Just short of a year before the U.S. entered World War II, residents began work on Ault Field. Driven by patriotic duty, they focused their resources on the war effort and the need for a highly trained Navy. Squadrons of PBY Catalinas were the first seaplanes to find a home on NAS Whidbey Island. Later, the earliest squadrons of aircraft were the F4F Wildcats, which came aboard in 1942, followed by F6F Hellcats.
NAS Whidbey Island’s operations slowed at the end of WWII, and most thought the base would be closed. However, the Navy chose NAS Whidbey Island for the versatile, all-type, all-weather Navy field to support the fleet and their growing responsibilities in Alaska.
NAS Whidbey Island has been involved with all modern U.S. conflicts since WWII through many iterations of warcraft that provided both sea and air power. NAS Whidbey continues to provide essential missions today for traditional Navy operations and maritime patrol.
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Frequently Asked Questions About NAS Whidbey Island
1) Where is Naval Air Station Whidbey Island?
NAS Whidbey Island is located near Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, Washington. Ault Field is the major section of the base about three miles north of Oak Harbor. The second section is known as Seaplane Base and has many of the amenities military families need such as housing and shopping.
2) What is Whidbey Island known for?
Other than the military presence, Whidbey Island is known for the local seafood, especially mussels, and how creatively the chefs prepare the fresh catch. A collection of artisans of all kinds also bring significant attention to Whidbey Island.
3) Does Whidbey Island have bears?
Bears have been known to roam east of Interstate 5 in the forested mountain areas, but rarely make treks down to Whidbey Island. The last sightings date back 20-50 years.
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4) What is the BAH for NAS Whidbey Island?
The BAH for NAS Whidbey Island ranges from $1,848 for E-1 to $2,904 for E-9 with dependents, and $1,974 for O-1 to $3,129 for O-7 with dependents based on the zip code 98278 See housing section for more info.
Military Installations Near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island:
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Base Location and Information
Map of Whidbey Island
NAS Whidbey Island NAS Whidbey Island is located at 3730 N. Charles Porter Ave, Oak Harbor, WA, 98278, in Island County in Washington state, about 80 miles north of Seattle. The base has two parts which consist of the Seaplane Base on the Eastern Shore of the island and Ault Field on the western shore. The city of Oak Harbor surrounds the base. Other cities that are located nearby include Anacortes, Coupeville, and Fidalgo Island. On-base housing is available on the Seaplane Base portion of Whidbey Island.
The commissary and Navy Exchange are also located on Seaplane Base. The hospital does not offer an emergency room or urgent care, but does have labor and delivery services. Most specialty services are found at other installations or through civilian providers.
You’ll find many opportunities for outdoor activities and travel while stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. Beach walking, boating, and camping are all popular as the facilities are well cared for, especially while exploring the San Juan Islands and the Cascade and Olympic mountains.
Joseph Whidbey State Park Beach
With the amazing outdoor activities comes the burden of the abundance of Pacific Northwest mosquitos, and residents of Whidbey Island are not strangers to the plight. In fact, NAS Whidbey has a task force to address the problems.
Fleet and Family Readiness is the best resource to take advantage of discounts and travel advice options. Alaskan cruises, Canadian adventure trips, and whale watching are just a few of the excursions available.
Learning to navigate life with ferry rides involved is often an adjustment for those new to the area. Because of the numerous waterways and mountainous terrain, there are very few direct routes and many require a ferry. Travel time and distance are sometimes misleading, because the trip may not highlight this exchange. The Washington State Department of Transportation is a good place to start for learning crucial ferry schedules around NAS Whidbey Island.
Arrival Lodging
Navy Gateway Inns & Suites Whidbey Island
1175 W Midway Street
Bldg 973
Oak Harbor, WA 98278
877-628-9233
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Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Housing
Image via Northwest Military Housing
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island On Base Housing
Contact Navy Housing
Nor'Wester
3675 W Lexington
Bldg 2556
Oak Harbor, WA 98278
360-257-3331
Hunt Military Community
2205 Egret Drive
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
360-679-4241
The Hunt Military Community properties on NAS Whidbey Island include multiple phases of the Crescent Harbor community, which is located near the Seaplane Base. All of the houses are new or renovated with impressive views of Puget Sound. Maylor Point and Forbes Point Housing are the only housing areas located on the Seaplane Base. The other housing areas are on military-affiliated property, but just beyond Seaplane borders.
- Crescent Harbor, I, II, III
- Maylor Coral
- Maylor Glacier
- Maylor Point
- Oriole Housing
- Rockhill Terrace
- Saratoga Heights
- Whidbey Apartments
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NAS Whidbey Island Off-Base Housing
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Only 10 minutes from NAS Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor is a popular waterfront city for military families, and has big box store conveniences readily available. Oak Harbor is often referred to as small town living, and residents enjoy a slower pace of life. Families find plenty of outdoor activities to engage in and the opportunity to find homes with larger yards to play.
The city of Anacortes is also nearby, about a 30-minute drive north of the installation. Anacortes provides a little more of the city-life feel and has easy access to Interstate 5. The city has an abundance of shopping and dining/nightlife options. The back gate of NAS Whidbey Island is often utilized by those residing in Anacortes.
Coupeville has a historic waterfront, Fort Casey, and is home to Admiralty Head Lighthouse. These offer scenic views and are the perfect spot for residents to attend public events such as arts and craft fairs as well as festivals dedicated to Native Americans. Locals note that Coupeville often receives more sunshine than other nearby cities and also tends to stay warmer. Expect a strong community and welcoming neighbors.
Base Search
City Search
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NAS Whidbey Island BAH Information
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S.-based allowance determined by geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. It provides uniformed service members compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets when government quarters are not provided. Learn more about your Basic Allowance for Housing.
NAS Whidbey Island is near Oak Harbor, La Conner, and Anacortes, WA with options to buy or rent. The BAH is close to the cost of living in the area. Some sample NAS Whidbey Island BAH rates for zip code 98278:
- E-1 with dependents: $1,848
- E-1 without dependents: $1,428
- E-9 with dependents: $2,904
- E-9 without dependents: $2,202
- O-1 with dependents: $1,974
- O-1 without dependents: $1,794
- O-7 with dependents: $3,129
- O-7 without dependents: $2,898
NAS Whidbey Island Weather & Climate
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Ask most people stationed at NAS Whidbey Island about the weather, and you’ll likely get a positive response even though cloudiness and precipitation rule a big part of the year. The pleasant temperatures allow for plenty of time spent outside enjoying the scenery.
Summers are comfortable, drier, and partly cloudy. Winter is very cold, wet, and mostly cloudy. Yearly temperatures normally fall in the range of 37°F to 67°F. Temperatures rarely dip below 26°F or rise above 75°F. October through April is the wet season, when each day has about a 33% chance of precipitation.
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NAS Whidbey Island Area Schools
NAS Whidbey Island is served by the Oak Harbor School District. There are five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Programs for alternative learners and cooperative service for home-schooling are available. Religious and non-private schools are also available in the area.
These are additional options for public school systems that serve military families.
To learn more about the school system, try Report Cards for Washington State School Districts. A conversation with the Student Liaison Officer before arriving at NAS Whidbey island should shed more light on which school community is the right choice for your child.
Student Liaison Officer
260 W Pioneer Way
Bldg 13
Oak Harbor, WA 98278
360-257-6863
whidbey.slo@navylifepnw.com
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Support for Military and Families
Servicemembers and their families interested in pursuing additional education are served by the Service Member Opportunity Colleges (SOC), which is an association of colleges and universities that are friendly to the military lifestyle and understand the difficulties of transferring credits.
For traditional and online learning opportunities check out these resources, some of which have locations near NAS Whidbey Island.
Career and job resources are collected within Navy Region Northwest Fleet & Family Readiness Employment Opportunities. Find other availabilities through:
Some more helpful links:
More Area Info
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Base Address:
3730 N Charles Porter Avenue
Oak Harbor
,
98278-2500