Operations and Management
Naval Station Great Lakes is a large and busy place. More than 25,000 military and civilian personnel work, train and live here. Our training commands and schools proudly graduate thousands of recruits and Sailors every year.
The base soon will be 100 years old. It, along with the mission here, has been in constant change, allowing us to prepare Sailors for an increasingly sophisticated and technology-based Navy.
Since the first group of recruits reported for training July 1, 1911, more than 3.5 million Sailors have started their Navy careers right here in northern Illinois. Their experience in “boot camp” transformed them from civilians into Sailors, and it is an experience that continues to be a source of pride for all who have earned the right to wear the uniform of a United States Sailor. Naval Station Great Lakes is the largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training center in the Navy. The base includes 1,153 buildings with thirty-nine on the National Register of Historic Places. Naval Station Great Lakes sits on 1,628 acres and uses 50 miles of roadway to provide access to the installation's facilities.
The Naval Station Great Lakes Visitor Center, near the main gate, issues base decals. You must have a current valid registration, valid proof of insurance, a current valid State driver’s license, and a military or civilian I.D. card. For more information, call (847) 688-5648. For passes after hour, vehicles may pull up to the Main gate with the above listed requirements. One day passes will be issued for access. Patrons must visit the Badge and Pass office for permanent/extended passes during normal working hours.
In addition to providing sentries for the base, the Department of Public Safety also includes the Great Lakes Naval Security Force and Great Lakes Fire Department, which provide police and fire protection for the entire Naval Station. The Investigation section is responsible for investigating suspect thefts, drug abuse, and other related offenses. The Fire Fighting Division has established a well-planned fire-prevention, inspection, EMS, and fire-fighting program. The Great Lakes Fire Fighting Division also has mutual aid agreements with local civilian fire departments.