Navy Recruiter in California

How Navy Recruiting Is Organized in California

Navy recruiting in California is a federal service, not a state one. No California agency runs these offices or writes their rules. Navy Recruiting Command, headquartered in Millington, Tennessee, directs recruiters nationwide, and every California office in this directory reports up through that chain of command. The state's role is indirect. California high schools, community colleges and the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) connect residents with the same benefits and career paths that recruiters describe.

Federal law, mainly Title 10 of the U.S. Code, sets enlistment age, citizenship or residency status, education and medical standards. Those rules are the same in Sanger as in Santa Monica. What changes across California is how many offices sit within a reasonable drive, how busy each one is, and which naval installations are nearby.

Our database holds 30 Navy recruiter offices across the state. Each is a small storefront or office staffed by a handful of enlisted recruiters. They talk with applicants, schedule the entrance exam and guide the paperwork. They are not where you formally enlist. That happens at a Military Entrance Processing Station, known as MEPS, where you complete a medical exam and take the oath.

What a California Navy Recruiter Office Actually Does

A first visit is a conversation, not a commitment. You can ask questions and leave without signing anything. In most cases the recruiter will help with the following:

• Explaining enlisted jobs, called ratings, and the paths toward becoming a Navy officer.
• Screening basic eligibility, including age, education, citizenship or residency status and background.
• Scheduling the ASVAB aptitude test and a visit to MEPS.
• Describing full-time service, the Navy Reserve and the education benefits tied to each.
• Walking you through recruit training, which takes place at Great Lakes, Illinois, for all new Sailors.

Recruiters are measured on enlistments, so treat the first meeting like any other major decision. Ask for details in writing, bring a parent or trusted adult if you are under 18, and compare the Navy with other branches before you decide.

Southern California: Los Angeles Basin, San Diego, Ventura and the Inland Empire

Southern California has the densest network of offices, and Los Angeles County leads with nine. The Van Nuys California Navy Recruiter at 6251 Van Nuys Boulevard (818-904-1900) covers the San Fernando Valley. On the Westside, the Santa Monica California Navy Recruiter is at 2708 Wilshire Boulevard (310-264-9840). In the San Gabriel Valley, the Alhambra California Navy Recruiter sits at 2 South Garfield Avenue (626-293-5758). The City Of Industry California Navy Recruiter is at 1600 South Azusa Avenue in Rowland Heights (626-945-7201).

Southeast and coastal parts of the county have their own offices. The Huntington Park California Navy Recruiter is at 2132 East Florence Avenue (323-581-8778), and the Whittier California Navy Recruiter is at 11709 Whittier Boulevard (562-695-2371). The Long Beach California Navy Recruiter is at 590 Pine Avenue (909-985-2264). Its phone number carries a 909 area code in our records, so confirm it by calling before you make the drive. In a county this large, choose the office closest to your home or school. Traffic on the 405, 101 and 10 can turn a short trip into an hour.

In San Diego County, the San Diego California Navy Recruiter at 6755 Mira Mesa Boulevard (858-546-1294) and the El Cajon California Navy Recruiter at 415 Parkway Plaza (619-440-6289) serve a region where the Navy is part of everyday life. Naval Base San Diego, Naval Air Station North Island and Naval Base Point Loma all employ thousands of Sailors and civilians. Many applicants here already know a Sailor, and recruiters in these offices can often connect you with people who work in the ratings you are considering.

Orange County has an office in Mission Viejo at 28231 Marguerite Parkway (949-347-8677). Ventura County has two: Oxnard at 2347 North Oxnard Boulevard (805-485-9551) and Simi Valley at 690 East Los Angeles Avenue (805-522-3134). The county is home to Naval Base Ventura County, which includes Port Hueneme and Point Mugu. Inland, San Bernardino County is served by the San Bernardino California Navy Recruiter at 618 South Mount Vernon Avenue (909-889-4885) and the Victorville California Navy Recruiter at 12130 Hesperia Road (760-245-6453). The High Desert is large, so Victorville applicants often travel from Hesperia, Apple Valley or Adelanto.

Bay Area, Central Valley and Sacramento Region Offices

In the East Bay, the Alameda California Navy Recruiter at 650 Central Avenue (510-865-5757) and the Hayward California Navy Recruiter at 24780 Hesperian Boulevard (510-670-1183) split the Alameda County workload. Naval Air Station Alameda closed in 1997, so the city no longer has an active airfield. The office still serves applicants from across the East Bay. South of the bay, the San Jose California Navy Recruiter is at 2326 McKee Road (408-729-6974) and covers Santa Clara County.

The Central Valley offices serve wide farm-country territories. The Manteca California Navy Recruiter at 1184 North Main Street (209-825-7323) works the southern San Joaquin Valley corridor, and the Sanger California Navy Recruiter at 1847 Jensen Avenue (559-875-4774) serves the Fresno area. The Lemoore California Navy Recruiter at 700 Avenger Avenue (559-998-6039) is in Kings County, home to Naval Air Station Lemoore, the Navy's West Coast strike fighter base. In the Sacramento region, the Roseville California Navy Recruiter at 996 Pleasant Grove Boulevard (916-786-8776) serves Placer County and nearby suburbs.

Rural California: Crescent City, Ukiah, Grass Valley and El Centro

Outside the metro areas, one office may stand in for an entire region. The Crescent City California Navy Recruiter at 785 East Washington Boulevard (707-465-4892) is the only listing in Del Norte County, near the Oregon border. The Ukiah California Navy Recruiter at 495 East Perkins Street (707-462-1467) serves Mendocino County. In the Sierra foothills, the Grass Valley California Navy Recruiter at 762 Freeman Lane (530-477-4001) is the Nevada County office. At the southern edge of the state, the El Centro California Navy Recruiter at 1611 Main Street (760-352-2665) serves Imperial County.

Rural applicants should call first. A recruiter responsible for a large territory may be out meeting students or families, so an appointment saves a wasted trip. Ask whether testing and the medical exam require travel to a larger city, and plan for time off work or school. Phone and video conversations can cover the early questions, which makes distance less of an obstacle than it once was.

One practical rule applies everywhere in California. Treat the phone numbers and addresses on this page as a starting point, then confirm hours and location directly with the office. Military recruiting offices sometimes relocate within a city or share space with other branches.

Navy recruiting offices throughout California connect residents with career opportunities in the active duty and reserve Navy, providing information about enlistment bonuses, job training, college benefits, and service pathways for people with a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds.

Navy Recruiter locations are available in 27 cities across California. They are spread across 17 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Los Angeles, San Diego, Alameda, which are served by multiple Navy recruiting stations reaching the largest pools of eligible candidates in the state.

Residents of California interested in Navy service can visit their nearest recruiting office for a no-obligation conversation about enlistment options, or explore career and benefit information online at navy.com before scheduling a visit.

Residents of California considering Navy service should research ASVAB score requirements for their desired Navy rating (job) and complete any required waivers early in the process. A recruiter can help identify the fastest path to enlistment based on your qualifications and the Navy's current needs.

Browse Navy Recruiter by county across California to find the nearest location.

Preparing for Your First Visit to a California Navy Recruiter

A little preparation makes the first meeting more useful, whether you visit the Van Nuys California Navy Recruiter, the San Diego California Navy Recruiter or the Grass Valley California Navy Recruiter. Gather the items below before you go, and write your questions down in advance.

• A government-issued photo ID, plus your Social Security card and birth certificate if you have them.
• High school transcripts or a diploma, or your current school schedule if you are still enrolled.
• A list of past medical conditions, medications and any surgeries.
• Honest answers about any legal history, including juvenile or traffic matters.
• A parent or guardian, if you are 17.

Ask each recruiter the same questions so you can compare answers. Good ones include which ratings you qualify for, how long the commitment lasts and what the Navy offers for college. California offers resources beyond the recruiting office. Counselors at your high school or community college can explain how military service fits with your education plans, and CalVet helps veterans after they leave the service.