Location

The U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay is located on Crete, Greece on the Hellenic (Greek) Air Force Base near the village of Mouzouras, 17 kilometers (approximately 10 miles) east of the city of Hania.  NSA occupies an area of approximately 110 acres on the north side of the air base, which is home of the Hellenic Air Force’s 115th Combat Wing flying F-16 aircraft. We are physically located on the large, circular shaped Akrotiri Peninsula, which forms the northern face of the Souda Harbor.

History

From the late 1950’s through the 1960’s Advance Aviation Base (AVB) ships were frequently deployed to Souda Bay. The positioning of these AVB ships was the first step taken by the U.S. Navy in supporting forward deployed Sixth fleet units from this Eastern Mediterranean island. These ships were designed to provide fuel, spare parts, technicians and facilities necessary to establish and operate an airstrip for patrol and carrier aircraft in locations where there were no base facilities. U.S. Naval Detachment, Souda Bay was commissioned on 28 May 1969. At that time a sixteen personnel complement, under the command of a First Class Petty Officer, made up the entire detachment. On 1 October 1980, U.S. Naval Detachment, Souda Bay was disestablished and U.S. Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay, Crete, Greece was established. For more information, visit theSouda Bay homepage.

Mission

To extend Joint and Fleet war-fighting capability through operational support to U.S., Allied and Coalition Forces deployed within the European, Central and African Commands areas of responsibility by providing, operating and sustaining superior facilities and services dedicated to combat readiness and security of ships, aircraft, detachments and personnel.

Population Served

NSA Souda Bay is comprised of approximately 20 officers, 300 enlisted personnel, 100 U.S civilians, and 200 contractors, both U.S. and local national. NSA Souda Bay consists of the following departments: Administration, Command Support, Chaplain, Comptroller, Fleet and Family Support Center, Legal, MWR, Operations, Public Affairs, Public Works, Safety, Security, Supply, CROF, Information Systems, Fire, Housing, HRO, Emergency Management, and 13 tenant commands.

Base Transportation

Transportation to/from NSA Souda Bay is extremely limited. It is highly recommended that you ship your vehicle to Souda Bay. There is taxi service available to/from the base to all local areas. There is no bus service regularly available. There is normally a shuttle running to/from the base to designated housing areas in the Akrotiri. The shuttle runs once in the morning and once after work. Please note that you may only bring one vehicle, not a car and a motorcycle both. If you do bring a motorcycle instead of a car, you will be able to drive it only if your state drivers license is endorsed for motorcycle use.

Sponsorship

You will be assigned a sponsor who will contact you to answer any questions you may have. Please be sure to notify your sponsor of your expected arrival date so that they will be available to meet you at the air terminal or civilian airport when you arrive. If the sponsor is unable to meet you, someone else from the appropriate department will be there to meet you. While en route to Souda Bay you may have your mail forwarded to the command. Please visit the Souda Bay homepage to request a sponsor.

Temporary Quarters

Bachelor Housing (BH) permanent party accommodations are mandatory for unaccompanied E4 and below. E4 and below personnel will be assigned a permanent party room immediately upon arrival. E5 and above military personnel and all civilians live on the economy during their tour.  Upon arrival, if there is space available, they will reside temporarily in the Navy Gateway Inns and Suites (NGIS) while aggressively seeking housing on the economy. Reservations for the NGIS should be made in advance by calling DSN 314-266-1601/02, or 011-30-282-102-1601/02, or faxing your request to DSN 314-266-1193 or 011-30-282-102-1193.

Oftentimes, your sponsor will make these reservations for you. If there is not a room available in the NGIS, you will be provided a Certificate of Non-Availability (CNA) allowing authorization to make alternative reservations in an approved local temporary lodging facility. The NSA Souda Bay NGIS does not accept pets and bringing pet(s) does not automatically entitle one to seek accommodations at a hotel on the economy. Reservations at a local temporary lodging facility cannot be made without prior approval from the BH Manager or Housing Director.

Please note: a Certificate of Non-Availability (CNA) will be required prior to reservations being made at alternate hotels on the economy. Failure to abide by the reservations and/or lodging procedures can result in the non-payment or reduced payment of temporary lodging allowance (TLA).

Relocation Assistance

All individuals living on the economy will be supplied with appliances (oven/stove, refrigerator, freezer, electrical transformer, washer, dryer, microwave) to be utilized for the entire length of your tour. Single service members who have not shipped personal items will be loaned furniture (beds, nightstands, dressers, sofa, armchairs, end tables, lamps, coffee table, dining table and dining chairs) for the length of their tour. Others may borrow these furniture items for up to 90 days until household goods arrive.

Fleet and Family Support Center has a loan closet with all kitchen essentials including pots and pans, dishes, and utensils. These items can be borrowed for one month or until your express shipment arrives, whichever comes first.

Incoming personnel attend both a two-day check-in brief and a week long orientation class which provide information on command services, policies, and Greek culture and customs as well as a tour of the local community.

Critical Installation Information

Medical and Dental Services

Branch Health Clinic (BHC) Souda Bay, is a branch clinic of U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Sigonella, Italy and is staffed to meet the needs of active duty personnel. Medical services are limited to outpatient care such as sick-call, physical examinations, aviation medicine and primary care. Very limited emergency services are provided. There is only one physician and limited other staff. There is no X-ray or diagnostic laboratory capability. Because of these limitations, all emergency, specialized, or inpatient care is provided by Greek civilian medical facilities.  Prescription drugs can sometimes be difficult to obtain. Due to size limitations of our pharmacy, those taking prescription medications should obtain the maximum quantity allowed from their Primary Care Manager (PCM) prior to transfer overseas.

Household Goods and Unaccompanied Baggage

The Greek Government is very strict on the importation and exportation of controlled items. Controlled items include, but are not limited to, all electrical items, cameras, watches, bicycles, furniture items, firearms, metal detectors, televisions, VCRs, stereo equipment, appliances, and scuba equipment. It is important these items be identified by type of item, model no., and serial no. on your Household Goods (HHG)/Unaccompanied Baggage (UB) inventory sheets when you pack out your possessions for shipment to Greece. By direction of the Base CO, members are not authorized to bring any firearms into Greece.

Base Access Required

The NSA Souda Bay is located on the Hellenic (Greek) Air Force Base. As a result, if you are arriving via commercial flight or ferry you must obtain base access permission prior to reporting to NSA Souda Bay. If you arrive via AMC flight, base access in advance of your arrival is NOT necessary but you will need to obtain access before leaving the base in order to come back on. If arriving by commercial air or ferry, it is absolutely essential that you inform your sponsor of your anticipated arrival date so that base access can be arranged for you in advance. You will have extreme difficulty accessing the base from outside the gate without base access. This is true even if you have a military ID card and orders in your possession.

Arrival by AMC Flight

Travel by AMC flight is easiest, but may not always be available. The (Category B) flight departs Norfolk, VA every other week throughout the year. The flight makes a brief stop in Lajes (Azores, Portugal) then Naples
(Italy) before arrival in Souda Bay, Crete, Greece. After arrival, you (and your sponsor) will proceed to the NSA billeting office for your temporary lodging assignment. The billeting office is located back from the main road
across the street from the NEX – about a 7 minute walk from the air terminal.

Arrival by Commercial Flight

If you travel by commercial carrier you should plan to bring Euro along with you on the trip. You should arrive at the Chania International Airport and will be met by your sponsor outside the baggage claim area. You must inform your sponsor of your arrival time and flight information in advance. If no one from the command is present, you should call your sponsor, the command Admin department during working hours (28210-21667) or the Command Duty Officer (CDO) (697-207-9832) for assistance upon arrival. There are normally taxis outside the commercial airport. You will not gain entrance to the base unless you have obtained base access permission in advance. If you have problems at the gate you should contact the Admin Department or the CDO