Trying to decide on next duty station...can you tell us about Ingleside NAS or Portsmouth NH Naval Shipyard?

If you have the choice go with Portsmouth (actually in Maine not NH.) You are about 90 minutes to Boston and are 30 minutes to just about anything you could ever want to do when off duty. The area is very low in crime (I haven't locked my car in years.) The cost of living is easy to take and the fresh air is priceless. You can also learn how to speak a new language (Down East, sometimes called Yankee.)

Ingleside isn't an NAS as far as I know, Kingsville and Corpus Christi are. Ingleside is a small town, if you like small towns you'll be happy. Corpus is a close drive from Ingleside and Kingsville, and there's plenty to do there on liberty. San Antonio, Austin and Houston are all popular destinations those of us that are from the area. Schlitterbahn is the best waterpark in the nation and is within 2 hours drive, Houston has six flags. Plus you'd get to live in Texas for three years! Lots of outdoor stuff to do and we have good food.

In the Navy there only very few ways to get the detailer to give you an East to West coast move (or W to E), and Ingleside is one of the few ways to pull that off, another option would be Great Lakes. A 'hard fill' billet like Naples, Italy will get you east coast, or some of the Japan will get you west.

I was stationed in Norfolk for a while, and if you didn't know it is a continious city with Portsmouth, Damneck and Littlecreek in the Hampton Roads/Va Beach area. The pro's of living there: Bigger city than Corpus (lots to do!), Two good amusement parks close by, Virginia Beach boardwalk is lots of fun, close to DC, military facilities are excellent (the NEX is huge), good seafood, lots of military (if you live in town chances are you'll have a military neighbor nearby, maybe that's a con too). Con's: Traffic is almost as bad as it gets in the United States, locals can be rude - especially close to the bases, occasional winter ice - it stinks to drive on especially if youre from a southern state. I hated the Va Beach area at first,but after I got a feel for the city I kinda liked it.

EDIT- woops portsmougth shipyard is in NH (I dunno nothing about NH). Portsmouth Naval hospital is in Va Beach! lol, sorry bud. At least I'm not the only one replying here.

Kinda messed up when you think about it, Norfolk naval shipyard is in Portsmouth Virginia!

I don't know much about being stationed in the New England area. You've got two good answers about it already.

I do know that the Corpus Christi area is fantastic. Just remember, it's going to be very hot and humid in the summer and summer in South Texas lasts a long time. You've got the extra added excitement of hurricane season to worry about too.

I was at both of them at different time in the 80's, you can't get something better? If that is all you have, I would pick Portsmouth. But I would still cry for having to go there.

I agree with my_iq. Portsmouth is a nice place, conveniently located and a safe place to live. But I'm from New England too, so my point of view is biased.