aval Base Ventura County (NBVC) is a major aviation shore command and a naval construction force mobilization base providing airfield, seaport and base support services to fleet operating forces and shore activities. A national defense resource, NBVC offers a unique combination of mission capabilities to the Navy and the Department of Defense (DoD). The base and its tenants employ more than 6,000 civilians, 9,000 military personnel and 1,300 contractors. In addition, NBVC hosts more than 60 tenant commands.

As part of the Navy’s effort to streamline shore installations and reduce costs, the Construction Battalion Center (CBC), Port Hueneme, and the Naval Air Station (NAS), Point Mugu, were realigned so that both commands fall under the command and control of the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, with region management by Commander Navy Region Southwest in San Diego. Since 1998, base operating support and quality-of-life services for military and families have been consolidated at Port Hueneme and Point Mugu. CBC provides operating support services for both bases, and NAS provides the aviation mission support at Point Mugu.

Point Mugu Naval Air Weapons Station
The Point Mugu Naval Air Weapons Station is located at Point Mugu, 8 miles south of Oxnard and 6 miles southeast of Port Hueneme. The total acreage of the base is 28,000 acres, including 4,490 acres used

for the inhabited area and the naval base, and 22,600 acres for Mugu Lagoon, an important wetlands area. Named for the Chumash word “muwu,” meaning beach, the word is the oldest recorded name in California history, being mentioned by the explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542.

Major units stationed at the naval base are Naval Satellite Operations Center, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division; Naval Air Reserves; Weapons Test Squadron, Antarctic Development Squadron 6; and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron, 9th Detachment.

Naval Air Weapons Station History
The recorded history of Point Mugu dates to Oct. 10, 1542, when the Cabrillo reportedly landed at Mugu Lagoon as he chartered the coastal waters. During the 1930s and ‘40s a sand spit between the lagoon and ocean was the site of the Mugu Fish Camp, including a fishing pier, a store, cabins and a cafe that later became the first officers’ club. As the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, Point Mugu became a training area for the Seabees at Port Hueneme. The Seabees put down a section of the Marston Mat runway that became Point Mugu’s first airstrip. A Naval Air Facility was established to test and evaluate the Loon surface-to-surface missile, followed by other missile programs. In 1946 it became Naval Air Missile Test Center at Point Mugu, then in 1949 the Naval Air Station Point Mugu was founded to provide support for the Missile Test Center. After the Army transferred more than 19,000 acres of South Camp Cooke to the Navy in 1958, the Pacific Missile Range was formed with headquarters at Point Mugu. Despite the name changes of the station, Point Mugu’s quality of testing and evaluation has been instrumental in the development of numerous missiles including the Sparrow, Polaris, Trident, Harpoon, Tomahawk, SLAM and Sidewinder. On Jan. 22, 1992, the Naval Air Station was re-established as the Naval Air Weapons Station.

Mission
Under the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, the Naval Air Weapons Station is involved in research, development, test and evaluation, and in-service engineering for weapon systems associated with air warfare, missiles and missile subsystems, aircraft weapons integration and assigned airborne electronic warfare systems. In addition, 15 Naval Air Reserve units are stationed at the base. These two commands add $251 million in economic impact to the area.

Naval Air Reserve
Under the commander of the Naval Air Reserve Force, Naval Air Reserve Point Mugu is the hub of training and support for more than 1,000 reservists serving in 15 reserve units. These consist of the Naval Reserve staff, Patrol Squadron Six Five and Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadron, plus nine reinforcing Reserve units.

Relocation and Temporary Housing
The Family Service Center located in Building 124 serves as an information and assistance center for military personnel and their families. The relocation assistance program includes welcome brochures containing complete information of on-base facilities and surrounding communities, hospitality kits containing futons, bedding, kitchenware and household articles that are available for loan, and indoctrination programs. At the center there is a full staff of counselors who are available to assist with any problem from spousal employment to parenting. Referral: 805/989-8146.

If you have dependents, you should communicate with the Base Housing Office as soon as possible by sending a letter with copies of your transfer orders. There is a set-aside program that offers military personnel a 5-percent break in rent and waives the security deposit.

Temporary lodging: Eight distinguished visitor units; 52 visiting officer units; two visiting enlisted units; 92 unaccompanied officer units; 814 unaccompanied enlisted units Billeting: 805/989-8251. Beach motel: 805/989-8407.

Transportation / Vehicle Registration
The station is served by Amtrak (805/487-8787), Greyhound Bus (800/231-2222), Great American Stageline (805/499-4316) and Yellow Cab Co. taxis (805/483-2444). The Ventura County Airporter also provides transportation to and from Los Angeles International Airport. Air transportation connecting with LAX can be made by contacting the Oxnard Airport.

All vehicles operating on the base must be properly licensed and registered within 60 days of arrival with the Security Department. You must provide a copy of current state registration, a valid driver’s license, California smog certification and identification card to register vehicles and to obtain an on-center vehicle permit.

Housing
For married personnel, two housing areas with 983 units are available at Point Mugu and at Camarillo. The Housing Welcome Center located on Point Mugu Road handles all applications. Referral: 805/989-7250.

Applications for bachelor housing may be made through the Missile Inn Building 27. Off-base housing is available in surrounding communities that are described in the beginning chapters of this guide. The Off-Base Housing Referral Office in the Assignment and Termination Branch has information on listings of rentals and homes for sale.

Station Facilities
The Point Mugu Navy Exchange on Mugu Road near the barracks and housing area is a branch of the exchange store at Port Hueneme. The Point Mugu Navy Exchange includes a main retail store, barber and beauty shop, dry cleaner, video rental, film processing, etc.; it also operates the mini-mart at the Camarillo Housing Area and the San Nicolas Island Convenience Store. The Point Mugu Commissary Agency located in Building 123 next to the Exchange carries a wide variety of groceries, meat and produce.

The new Port Hueneme Navy Exchange and Commissary Mall, a one-story 133,000-square-foot building, is located on the corner of 23rd Street and Dodson Street.

The Chapel of Faith (Building 121) offers a complete religious program including weekly services and religious assistance. In addition, the Family Service Center includes counseling offices for substance abuse, financial services, social services, spouse employment, personnel, etc. Family Service Center: 805/989-8146.

The Child Development Center has two child-care centers. They operate full-time child care, part-time preschool and kindergarten programs. The center is open 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 805/989-7481.

Employment
Information is available at the personnel office about on-base civil service and civilian employment with contractors from the surrounding community, both large and small companies that provide a variety of technical and administrative services. Inquiries may be made directly to contractors who also offer off-base and on-base jobs.

Medical Services
The Naval Medical Center Port Hueneme and its branch clinic at Point Mugu provide medical care for military personnel and dependents. The clinic offers primary care, pediatrics, optometry and referral to specialty services. Routine medical care is available at the Branch Clinic Building 5 at NAWS or the Medical Annex at San Nicholas Island. There are no emergency services available. Appointments: 805/989-8815. Health benefits: 805/982-6322. The Branch Dental Clinic located in Building 5 provides dental care for military personnel and dependents. Appointments: 805/989-7603.

Pet Control
Animals are to be registered with the base veterinarian within 10 working days of arrival on base. Owners will confine pets at their residence or exercise them under the owner’s direct control.

Postal Services
The Station Post Office is located adjacent to the Navy Exchange Complex and offers a full range of postal services.

Educational Services Office
The Educational Services Office offers assistance in planning educational programs that enable participants to advance educationally and vocationally. Programs are available locally to provide courses leading to high school completion, two-year vocational programs, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Information on tuition assistance, VA benefits, correspondence programs, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), college catalogs and current on-base college programs is available. A list of nearby universities is available in the “Expanding Your Mind” chapter.

Schools
Both elementary and secondary students attend schools operated by the Oxnard Public School District. There are also private schools available in the surrounding communities. Please see the school listings under Education
.
Recreation
The station offers a variety of recreation facilities, activities and libraries for military personnel and their families. There are youth, community and fitness centers; a bowling center; swimming pool; gym; 9-hole golf course, movie theater; tennis; volleyball; ball field and skateboard park. The Youth Center provides a well-rounded recreation program for children grades kindergarten through high school.