Joint Base Langley-Eustis  In-depth Overview

JBLE-Langley

The 633rd Air Base Wing Mission Statement: Provide mission-ready warfighters, agile combat support, global sustainment operations, and premier installation support; deliver worldwide medical humanitarian support through the Global Response Force. Wing Priorities: Unyielding focus on mission readiness, conspicuous compliance with standards, Dedication to Service core values. Motto: Bonum Bono Accumulate (Accumulate Good Upon Good).

JBLE-Eustis

Fort Eustis is known for its association with Army Transportation, Army Aviation, and as the home to the Army's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). TRADOC recruits, trains, educates, develops, and builds the Army; establishes standards, drives improvement, and leads change to ensure the Army can deter, fight, and win on any battlefield now and into the future.

JBLE serves the greater Hampton Roads area with over 145,000 active duty, guard and reserve, family members, civilians, contractors, and retirees, including primary support to the following:

• 13,882 active duty
• 1,853 guard/reservists
• 20,943 family members
• 12,000 students per year

JBLE-Langley

Langley Field was named after Samuel Pierpoint Langley, an aerodynamic pioneer and a former Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Langley began aerodynamic experiments in 1887 and formed a basis for practical pioneer aviation. He built and saw the first steam model airplane in 1896 and the first gasoline model in 1903. Both planes were capable of flight. He also built the first man-carrying gasoline airplane in 1903, which he never succeeded in launching. Langley Field was the first Air Service base built especially for air power, and is the oldest continually active air force base in the world.

JBLE-Eustis

On March 19, 1918, the War Department authorized the construction of Camp Eustis for the purpose of concentrating, organizing, equipping, training, and embarking troops for duty abroad as field artillery, railway artillery, trench mortar, and anti-aircraft troops. The camp’s namesake MG Abraham Eustis was born in 1786 in Petersburg, Virginia, he proved his valor in the War of 1812 and the Seminole Wars. He commanded the School of Artillery Practice at Fort Monroe from 1824 to 1834.

Approximately 20,000 men were trained at Camp Eustis during the Great War. They were members of Anti-Aircraft Battalions, Ammunition Trains, and a Trench Motor Battalion. Among the many skills these Soldiers learned at Camp Eustis was how to work with observation balloons from the adjacent Lee Hall Balloon School and with airplanes stationed at the nearby and recently-opened Langley Air Field.

After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Camp Eustis was used as a de-mobilization post. In 1923 Camp Eustis was declared a permanent installation and renamed Fort Eustis. The Great Depression led to the mothballing of Fort Eustis. Its land was transferred to the Federal Relief Agency and the Bureau of Prisons. They operated a camp for homeless laborers and a prison farm. One of the post’s historic sites is the cemetery containing the remains of some of the homeless laborers. In January 1941, Fort Eustis was re-activated and became a Coast Artillery Replacement Center. Over 20,000 troops were trained in anti-aircraft artillery during the course of the Second World War.

As the war was ending in Europe, there was an effort at Fort Eustis to De-Nazify POWs. The program gave 26,000 Germans a six-day course in democracy. It was hoped those men could return to Germany and spread democratic ideals at home. On 10 January 1946, Fort Eustis became home to the Transportation Corps and School.

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act resulted in the greatest recent change in the make-up of Fort Eustis by relocating the Army Transportation School headquarters to Fort Lee in 2010. The Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC Headquarters replaced it in 2011.

JBLE serves the greater Hampton Roads area with over 145,000 active duty, guard and reserve, family members, civilians, contractors, and retirees, including primary support to the following:

• 13,882 active duty
• 1,853 guard/reservists
• 20,943 family members
• 12,000 students per year

Hampton: 137,148; Newport News: 186,247

*Based on 2020 Census Bureau Estimates

JBLE is located in a community that serves a large population made up of over 106,546 active duty, guard and reserve, family members, civilians, contractors, and retirees. JBLE provides primary support for 50,546 active duty, guard and reserve, family members, and civilians. Fort Eustis also trains an additional 12,000 students annually.

Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) is located on the Virginia Peninsula on the southeastern coast of the state. Hampton Roads is the name of the metropolitan area as well as a body of water surrounding the region. Langley AFB is located in Hampton while Fort Eustis is in Newport News; both are just a few miles off of Interstate 64. Although JBLE is a joint base, it is not contiguous. There are 17 miles of interstate between the installations. Hampton Roads is known for its large military presence. You will find all branches of the military in the region. JBLE is home to the 633rd Air Base Wing, Air Combat Command, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and many other units on the tip of the spear. Visit JBLE's website and the Facebook page.

The Hampton Roads community is rich in history and beauty. Langley and Fort Eustis are roughly 65 miles south of Richmond, the state capital and 40 miles north of Virginia Beach. Historic sites, extraordinary museums, and countless miles of scenic waterways and hiking trails are here for your exploration; the mountains only a few hours' drive to the west. Almost 2 million people call the Hampton Roads area home. Compared to the rest of the country Hampton's cost of living is 6% lower than the national average.

Base Operator:
Langley: 757-764-1110, or DSN 312-574-1110
Ft Eustis: 757-878-1212 or DSN 312-826-1212

If you are traveling via air, please make sure that you have someone to meet your flight or make rental car arrangements. There are two airports in the local area: Newport News/Williamsburg International (airport code is PHF) and Norfolk International (airport code is ORF). There is no shuttle service to either installation from either airport. Taxi fees range from $30-$60.

Langley AFB is located in the city of Hampton on the Virginia Peninsula. The community surrounding the base is known as Hampton Roads.

Traveling Southeast from Richmond on I-64

If you are traveling southeast from Richmond on Interstate 64 East to Langley AFB, merge onto Hampton Roads Center Parkway East via exit 261B. Turn right onto North Armistead Avenue. Turn left onto Tide Mill Lane. Turn left onto LaSalle Avenue. Proceed to the LaSalle Gate.

Traveling Northeast from the James River Bridge

If you are traveling northeast from the James River Bridge via U.S. Route 17-258, take West Mercury Boulevard to LaSalle Avenue.

Traveling North from Norfolk

If traveling north from Norfolk, take Interstate 64 West through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to exit 265-B and turn right onto LaSalle Avenue.

Traveling to Hampton from Emporia (I-95)

If you are approaching Hampton traveling from Emporia (I-95) take US-58 E for approx. 66 miles. Merge onto I-64 E/Hampton Roads via exit 1B toward Norfolk/Va Beach. Shortly thereafter, take exit 265-C toward Langley AFB. Turn right onto Rip Rap Road; then a slight right onto Armistead Ave, and another short right onto LaSalle Avenue.

Traveling South on Hwy 17

If you are traveling south on Hwy 17, continue until you reach Interstate 64. Take the interstate east until you exit at Armistead Avenue (north) and then to LaSalle Ave.

Fort Eustis Driving Directions

Directions from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, Norfolk International Airport, and points East: Take Interstate 64 West to exit 250A, Fort Eustis Blvd (Route 105) proceed west about 1 mile and you will enter Fort Eustis.
Directions from I 95 and points West (Richmond): Take Interstate 64 East to exit 250A, Fort Eustis Blvd. (Route 105) proceed west about 1 mile and you will enter Fort Eustis.

If you are traveling south on Hwy 17, continue until you reach Fort Eustis Blvd. This will lead you directly into Fort Eustis.

JBLE-Langley

Currently, there is no base transportation on Langley. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides public bus transportation throughout the city of Hampton.

JBLE-Eustis

Currently, there is no base transportation on Fort Eustis. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides public bus transportation throughout the city of Newport News.

Langley: 757-764-1110, or DSN 312-574-1110

Fort Eustis: 757-878-1212 or DSN 312-826-1212