ANAPOLIS NAVAL STATION

(aka NSA)

Naval Support Activity (NSA) Annapolis is located on the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland. NSA Annapolis is charged with delivering base operating support services to tenant commands. These include the United States Naval Academy, North Severn Complex, Chesapeake Bay Detachment in Randle Cliff, MD, and the Navy Operational Support Center in Baltimore, MD.

NSA Annapolis was officially established in 2006, after determining the need to streamline previous operations. However, the station’s history dates back to 1851, six years after the U.S. Naval Academy was established. Naval training was initially conducted on what was then known as Fort Severn. The first ship to be stationed at Fort Severn was the USS Preble.

Today, NSA Annapolis supports activities that include a fleet of more than 250 Yard Patrol and sail craft. These vessels teach midshipmen the skills required to succeed in basic and advanced seamanship and navigation. NSA Annapolis is home to more than 600 military and civilian employees.

NSA Annapolis has multiple options for housing. Liberty Military Housing operates privatized on base housing. Off base, many service members choose to live in Annapolis because of the convenient location and commute. Others choose nearby cities such as Severna Park, Pasadena, Crofton, and Arnold. Nearby Fort Meade NSA also has on base housing managed by Corvias.

Housing:

The public school system that encompasses Annapolis and nearby cities is Anne Arundel County School District. Many private schools are available in Annapolis, and a community favorite is the Naval Academy Primary School, however, it is not associated with U.S. Naval Academy.

Schools:

BAH for NSA Annapolis ranges from $2,337 for E-1 to $2,880 for E-9 with dependents, and from $2,493 for O-1 to $3,429 for O-7 with dependents. See housing section for more info.

BAH:

The official USNA tours are highly regarded and often full during popular holidays and campus events. The best place to start is the Visitor Center inside USNA Gate 1.

Tours of the U.S. Naval Academy campus

Military Installations Near Naval Support Activity NSA Annapolis:

  • Coast Guard Yard Curtis Bay

  • Fort Meade NSA

  • U.S. Naval Academy

  • D.C. Area Military Installations

Basic Information

Annapolis is one of those cherished duty stations that has a pleasant dual personality. Certainly, NSA Annapolis has a major impact on the city and the citizens appreciate the Navy’s presence, but Annapolis holds its own as a charming coastal city with a small town feel to include historic buildings and brick walkways. 

Established in 1649, Annapolis is the seat of Maryland’s government and is a prime target for tourist dollars all year round, especially because, for some audiences in the sailing world, it is the Sailing Capital of the U.S., despite arguments from locals in Newport, Rhode Island. 

Multiple bodies of water surround NSA Annapolis. The campus is located on the banks of the Severn River and the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Nautical influences affect most occurences— from high tides and flood warnings to regattas and sailing lessons, and right down to everyday dining and shopping.  

Not quite part of what is traditionally considered the National Capital Region (NCR), Annapolis is positioned about 35 miles east of Washington, D.C., and 30 miles south of Baltimore. Dual servicemember couples who find themselves hoping to serve near their spouse stationed at NSA Annapolis often look to nearby military installations such as Fort Meade NSA or further south into the Washington, D.C., area. 

Commuting into the D.C. area is a challenge for those living at NSA Annapolis and for those who have the need to travel into the city often. A good day of commuting equals a 45-minute drive each way, but most days this time frame will exceed an hour. US 50 is the major roadway that commuters use into Washington, D.C.

US 50 also allows beach traffic to flow, or to stand still. During the warm months, “beach traffic” is a force to be reckoned with, especially heading over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge which leads to Atlantic Ocean destinations such as widely popular Ocean City, Maryland, in addition to nearby neighboring beaches in Delaware: Bethany, Rehoboth, and Lewes. 

Data source: Militarybyowner.com