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Located along Lake Michigan in northern Illinois, Naval Station Great Lakes is the Navy’s largest training installation and home to its only boot camp. The installation supports more than 50 tenant commands and more than 20,000 servicemembers and civilian personnel. It’s also a major hub for Navy training, including much of the service’s surface warfare specialty training.
But what is it like to call Great Lakes home? From housing and healthcare to schools, support services, and life beyond the installation, here’s what servicemembers and military families should know before settling in.
1. There Are Housing Options for Different Needs
Whether you’re PCSing on your own or with family, Naval Station Great Lakes offers several housing options and resources to help you find the right fit.
- Family housing: Great Lakes partners with Hunt Military Communities to offer privatized housing for eligible active-duty servicemembers and their families. On-base options include a variety of home styles and neighborhoods, with no up-front rent costs or security deposits for active-duty servicemembers.
- Unaccompanied housing: Housing is also available for eligible single and unaccompanied sailors. Availability and eligibility can vary based on rank and assignment, so contact the Unaccompanied Housing office for current information and assistance.
- Community housing: Prefer to live off base? The Housing Service Center can help you explore options in the surrounding community. Services include housing referrals, listings, lease reviews, and assistance with the Rental Partnership Program (RPP), which connects eligible servicemembers with participating rental properties that may offer benefits such as reduced deposits or other incentives.
When weighing your options, consider more than the home itself. Your commute, BAH, schools (if you have school-aged children), access to amenities, and preferred community can all factor into where you choose to live.
2. Support Is Available from Day One
A new duty station can bring questions about everything from finances and employment to deployment and everyday life. The Military and Family Support Center at Naval Station Great Lakes is a good place to start.
Free programs and services include relocation assistance, financial counseling, transition and employment support, deployment assistance, new parent support, and more — giving you a go-to resource throughout your time at Great Lakes.
3. Military-Focused Healthcare Is Close By
Servicemembers and eligible family members have access to the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in nearby North Chicago.
Lovell FHCC is notable because it’s built on a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of War health care in one federal facility. Established when the former North Chicago VA Medical Center and Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes merged, the center serves Veterans, military personnel, recruits, and military families.
4. Families Have Multiple School Options
If you’re moving with school-age children, where you live will help determine where they attend school.
Families living in government housing at Great Lakes are served by North Chicago Community Unit School District 187. Military-connected students make up a significant portion of the district’s student population. Families living off base may fall within other Lake County school districts. In addition, there are more than 100 private primary and secondary schools in Lake County, as well as options in neighboring Kenosha County, Wisconsin.
The installation’s School Liaison Program can help military families navigate school transitions and connect with local education resources.
5. Families Have Several Childcare Options, as Well
Naval Station Great Lakes offers several childcare options to help meet the needs of military families. The installation has two Child Development Centers (CDCs), which provide full-time, part-time, and hourly care for children ages six weeks to five years.
The installation also offers a Family Child Care program, which provides home-based care for children ages six weeks to 12 years in government housing. For older children, the Great Lakes Youth Center offers before- and after-school care, camps, and youth and teen activities for children from kindergarten through age 18. Families can learn more about available programs and childcare options through Great Lakes Child & Youth Programs.
6. Spouses Can Tap Into a Large Regional Job Market
A move to Great Lakes can also mean a career transition for military spouses. Fortunately, the installation’s location provides access to employment opportunities throughout Lake County and in commutable cities.
The Military and Family Support Center offers employment assistance for military spouses, including help with career planning, resumes, job searches, and navigating employment after a PCS.
Military spouses can also use resources such as the Department of War’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership to connect with employers committed to recruiting and retaining military spouses. Depending on your field and preferred commute, nearby communities as well as the larger Chicago and Milwaukee job markets can broaden the range of opportunities available.
7. There Are Plenty of Ways to Connect with the Military Community
Beyond the support services available on base, the USO Great Lakes Center gives eligible Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, and retired military members and their families a dedicated place to work, recharge, and connect. The center offers Wi-Fi and work areas, meals and snacks, recreation, events, and more.
For servicemembers working at Recruit Training Command, there is also a separate USO RTC Great Lakes location open specifically to RTC staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
8. Chicago and Milwaukee Are Both Within Reach
One of the advantages of a Great Lakes assignment is easy access to two major cities. Chicago is about 40 miles south of the installation, while Milwaukee is roughly 50 miles north.
That puts servicemembers and military families within reach of expanded job and higher education opportunities, major airports, professional sports, museums, dining, cultural attractions, and more.
At the same time, you don’t have to live in the middle of a major city to enjoy those benefits. Communities surrounding Great Lakes offer all the benefits of suburban living as well as ready access to Lake Michigan.
9. Be Prepared for Four Distinct Seasons
If you’re new to the Midwest, prepare for a little bit of everything. Summers around Great Lakes are generally warm and humid, while winters can be cold, snowy, and windy — particularly near Lake Michigan. Spring and fall bring milder temperatures but can change quickly.
For families PCSing from a warmer climate, winter weather may take some adjustment. Cold-weather clothing, snow and ice supplies, and a winter-ready vehicle can make those first Great Lakes winters easier to navigate.
10. The Area Has Significant Naval History — and Pride
Great Lakes has been training servicemembers since the early 20th century, giving the installation a connection to Navy history that few duty stations can match.Once you get settled, consider a trip to the National Museum of the American Sailor, which explores the history and experiences of enlisted Sailors throughout the Navy’s history.
Serving at Great Lakes puts you in the middle of that continuing story, whether you’re helping prepare new recruits, completing specialty training, supporting one of the installation’s many commands, or accompanying a servicemember who is.
Making Naval Station Great Lakes Home
A new duty station comes with plenty to learn, but knowing what to expect can make settling in easier. At Naval Station Great Lakes, you’ll find a major Navy training mission, an established military community, dedicated healthcare and support resources, and easy access to both Chicago and Milwaukee.
Whether you’re arriving on your own or with a family, getting familiar with your options and resources early can help you settle in — and make the most of your time at Great Lakes.
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