Objective To evaluate the iodine nutrition level of Chinese naval soldiers, and to know whether the universal iodization policy is suitable for naval soldiers by examining their thyroid function and thyroid ultrasonography changes. Methods In June 2015, we examined the morning urine iodine and blood sample for thyroid function in 285 soldiers from the East Sea Fleet of Chinese Navy; the participants also underwent thyroid ultrasonography test. At the same time, we also detected the morning urine iodine of 296 randomly selected residents who lived in Shanghai and were taking a routine check-up in the same hospital. SPSS 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results The 285 naval soldiers included 278 males and 7 females, with an age of (25.93±4.90) years. Their mean urinary iodine level was 119.934 μg/L, with the median level being 97.6 μg/L. There were 147 naval soldiers with urine iodine level <100 μg/L(51.58%). Thyroid function examination showed that thyroid antibody was abnormal in 18 cases (6.32%) and thyroid ultrasonography was abnormal in 39 cases (13.68%). The 296 Shanghai residents included 59 males and 237 females, with an age of (40.76±28.61) years old; the mean level of urinary iodine was 172.482 μg/L (median was 146.9 μg/L), which was significantly higher than that of naval soldiers (P=0.001). There were 71 residents with urine iodine level <100 μg/L (23.99%). Conclusion It has been found that 51.58% of the Chinese naval soldiers have insufficient iodine intake, indicating that the policy of iodized salt is also suitable for the Navy soldiers, and their iodine intake should be even more.