Navy deployments average six to nine months. During that time, your belongings need somewhere to be — and the options most sailors end up with are expensive, inconvenient, or both.
Self-storage near the homeport is fine if you have a car to get there and someone to manage the unit while you’re at sea. But most junior enlisted sailors don’t have both. Leaving things in a barracks room works until leadership changes the policy. Asking a friend or family member to hold your stuff creates obligations that outlast the goodwill.
Ship2Storage is built around the reality of Navy life: you ship out, your situation changes, and your belongings need to be somewhere flexible, accessible, and manageable by someone other than you. Pack your boxes before deployment, ship them to our facility, and get them delivered to wherever you land when you return.
The Deployment Storage Problem for Navy Sailors
The storage challenge for deploying sailors has a few layers that make it harder than it looks.
First, timing. Deployment timelines change. You may have weeks of notice or days. Setting up a self-storage unit, arranging transportation to get your boxes there, and coordinating access for a family member takes time you often don’t have.
Second, geography. Homeports like Norfolk, San Diego, Bremerton, Jacksonville, and Pearl Harbor all have self-storage options, but they’re not always convenient from base, and prices near military installations tend to reflect the captive market.
Third, return uncertainty. You may come home to the same homeport, or you may have orders to a new duty station waiting when you return. A storage unit tied to Norfolk isn’t useful if you’re reporting to San Diego after the deployment ends.
You Can’t Take It Aboard — So Where Does It Go?
Life aboard a Navy ship is compact. Your rack, your locker, and a small storage allotment is what you have. Everything else stays ashore.
For single sailors living in the barracks, that means your room full of belongings needs to be packed up before deployment — especially if your BAH situation changes or your room assignment shifts while you’re away.
For sailors with off-base housing, deployment often means either keeping the apartment (and paying rent for six to nine months while you’re at sea) or vacating it — which means all your belongings need somewhere to go.
Ship2Storage handles the belongings piece. You determine what to store, ship the boxes before you leave, and get them delivered to your post-deployment address — wherever that is.
Storage Options That Actually Work for Sailors
The challenge with most storage options is that they’re designed for people who are staying in one place. Ship2Storage is designed for people who aren’t.
Per-box pricing. You pay for what you actually store, not for empty space in an oversized unit.
No long-term contract. Store month to month for as long as your deployment lasts.
No local trips required. Your family member or POA doesn’t need to drive to a facility.
Nationwide delivery. Whether you return to your homeport or report to a new duty station, we deliver anywhere in the U.S.
WHow Ship2Storage Supports Navy Deployments
When you return, log in — or have a designated family member log in — and enter your post-deployment address. We deliver within a few days.
Before deployment, pack your belongings into standard moving boxes.
Generate prepaid shipping labels from your Ship2Storage account.
Drop boxes at any UPS or FedEx location near base, or schedule a pickup.
Your boxes are received, barcoded, and stored in our climate-controlled facility.
Can a Family Member Access Your Storage While You’re Out?
Yes. Your Ship2Storage account can be managed by whoever you designate. Many sailors have their spouse, parent, or a trusted contact manage the account while they’re deployed. That person can request delivery, update the delivery address, or add boxes if needed.
This is particularly important for Navy families where the service member is at sea and the spouse is managing everything ashore. Ship2Storage is designed to be manageable by one person, remotely, without requiring access to a physical facility.
What Happens to Your Boxes When You Return?
When you return from deployment, your situation may look different from when you left. You might be returning to the same homeport, reporting to a new duty station, or leaving the Navy altogether. Your delivery address can reflect any of those situations.
Update your address in your account before your return date, and we’ll schedule delivery so your boxes are there when you arrive. If your post-deployment assignment is still uncertain, your boxes stay safely in storage until you confirm..
PCS After Deployment: Getting Your Stuff to the Next Duty Station
It’s common for a deployment to be followed by PCS orders. That means you’re managing a return, a homecoming, and a relocation all at once — with boxes stored in a self-storage unit that’s now in the wrong city.
Ship2Storage eliminates that geographic problem. Your boxes are stored centrally and delivered to any U.S. address, including your new duty station. One less thing to coordinate during one of the busiest transitions in military life.
FAQ
Can my spouse or family member manage my storage account?
Yes. Your account can be accessed by anyone you share your login with, or you can set up access for a family member before you deploy. They can request delivery, update addresses, or manage your boxes while you’re at sea.
What if I don’t know my homeport when I return?
That’s fine. Your boxes stay in storage until you confirm your return address. You can update your delivery details any time, and nothing ships until you give the go-ahead.
How long can I store my boxes during a long deployment?
As long as you need. There’s no maximum storage duration. Store for six months, nine months, or longer. You pay per box per month.
Do you ship to base housing addresses?
Yes. We deliver to any U.S. address, including on-base and off-base military housing at any installation nationwide.
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