Commissioned in 1941, the Station had two distinct missions: as home for two strategic submarine squadrons and a tender, and as an ordnance station with capacity for more than 60 million pounds conventional ordnance. The ordnance mission continues today, and Naval Weapons Station Charleston is the only military installation in the continental U.S. with completely unencumbered explosive safety arcs.
The Weapons Station has expanded its mission and DoD support role, and today is a training center, with the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Nuclear Power Training Unit and Border Patrol satellite academy; an engineering center, with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center and nearby Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command; and as the Army logistics hub, the busiest CONUS surface port in the defense transportation system.
Main
phone numbers: Commercial (843)764-7000 or
DSN 794-7000
Mailing
address: NWS Charleston, Goose Creek, SC
29445
Population:
3,753 active duty; 756 reservists; 3,123 family
members; 1,676 civilians
Housing: 151
officer family units; 1,284 enlisted family units; 146
unaccompanied personnel units (843)764-7264 or
(800)362-2399
Temporary
lodging: No visitor units; campground with
42 short-stay cabins (843)764-7601
Family
Support Center: (843)764-7540
Schools: Two
elementary and one middle within enlisted housing
area
Child
Care: Center for 146, six-month wait; 32
approved homes (843)764-7408
Health
care: Clinic. Appointments
(843)743-3709; benefits (843)743-7600; Tricare
(843)740-5660
Naval Weapons Station - Charleston, SC
has a
large size commissary - (843)764-2020,
a small exchange and a mini mall (843)764-7042. Recreation at Naval Weapons Station - Charleston, SC
includes arts and crafts, auto hobby, recreation center,
golf, gym, tennis, swimming, outdoor activities, camping,
fishing, and stables.
