Joint Base Langley-Eustis

Branch: U.S. Air Force (Lead Service); U.S. Army (co-located)
Location: Hampton and Newport News, Virginia (Langley); Newport News, Virginia (Fort Eustis)
Installation Type: Joint Base
Status: Active

Overview

Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) was established in 2010 under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) directive, merging Langley Air Force Base (established 1917 — one of the oldest Air Force installations in the United States) with Fort Eustis (established 1918, Army). The two sites are geographically separate but share a joint management structure under Air Force leadership. Langley Field, located in the city of Hampton on the Virginia Peninsula, serves as the headquarters of Air Combat Command (ACC) — the premier combat air force command — and is home to the first F-22 Raptor operational wing. Fort Eustis, located in Newport News, serves as the home of Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and is a major Army aviation and transportation training installation.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Serve as headquarters for Air Combat Command; provide F-22 Raptor air superiority operations; and provide Army training, transportation, and aviation support through Fort Eustis.
Major Units (Langley — Air Force):
Air Combat Command (ACC) — command headquarters (four-star command)
1st Fighter Wing (1 FW) — host wing; F-22 Raptor air superiority operations
1st Operations Group
1st Maintenance Group
1st Mission Support Group
1st Medical Group
192nd Wing — Virginia Air National Guard (F-22 associate unit)
480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (ISR Wing)
Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) — headquarters
Major Units (Fort Eustis — Army):
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) — command headquarters (four-star command)
7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary)
U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School
U.S. Army Transportation School
U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College
Installation Management Command (IMCOM) elements
Tenant Units:
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) elements
Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)
Multiple joint and interagency organizations

Location & Access

Nearest Major City (Langley): Hampton, Virginia — on-installation; Norfolk, VA — approximately 20 miles southeast; Newport News, VA — approximately 10 miles west
Nearest Major City (Fort Eustis): Newport News, Virginia — on the western edge of the city; Williamsburg, VA — approximately 15 miles northwest
Nearest Commercial Airport: Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) — approximately 5 miles from Fort Eustis, approximately 15 miles from Langley; Norfolk International Airport (ORF) — approximately 25 miles from Langley
Gate Access (Langley): Main gate on Dodd Boulevard, Hampton. Valid CAC or military ID required. Visitor passes issued at Visitor Control Center. RealID-compliant ID required for civilians.
Gate Access (Fort Eustis): Main gate on Washington Boulevard, Newport News. Valid CAC or military ID required. Visitor Control Center issues passes. Vehicle inspections conducted.

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 10,000-12,000 (Air Force and Army combined across both sites)
Family Members: Approximately 14,000-18,000
Civilian Employees: Approximately 7,000-10,000
Total Installation Population: Approximately 35,000-45,000 (including contractors)

Key Facilities

Medical: 1st Medical Group (Langley) — primary care, dental, mental health, flight medicine, and limited specialty care; McDonald Army Health Center (Fort Eustis) — primary and specialty care for Army personnel; referrals to Sentara Norfolk General, Riverside Regional Medical Center, or Naval Medical Center Portsmouth for advanced specialty/inpatient care
Commissary: Yes — full-service commissary at Langley; commissary at Fort Eustis as well
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes — Base Exchange (BX) at Langley; Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) at Fort Eustis; both sites offer retail, food courts, and specialty stores
Fitness & Recreation: Multiple fitness centers at both Langley and Fort Eustis; pools, sports courts, golf course at Langley (Skeet and Trap Club, Bethel Golf Course), marina, outdoor recreation programs, bowling centers, Arts and Crafts centers; proximity to Hampton Roads waterways enhances recreation
Schools: Hampton City Schools serves Langley families; Newport News Public Schools and York County Schools serve Fort Eustis families; DoDEA does not operate schools at JBLE; many military families in the area have strong public school options; private and charter schools available throughout Hampton Roads
Childcare: Child Development Center (CDC) at Langley — waitlists common; CDC at Fort Eustis — high demand; School Age Programs and Family Child Care (FCC) networks at both sites; coordination recommended well in advance of PCS
Veterinary Services: Langley Veterinary Treatment Facility — routine wellness, vaccinations, dental, and preventive care for active duty family pets and military working dogs; Fort Eustis Veterinary Services — similar services for Army families
Legal Assistance / JAG: 1st FW Judge Advocate (Langley) — legal assistance by appointment, walk-in POA/notary during duty hours; Fort Eustis Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) — Army legal assistance for Fort Eustis personnel

Housing

On-Base Housing (Langley): Managed by Lincoln Military Housing — approximately 1,500-2,000 family housing units; various neighborhood communities across Langley and associated areas
On-Base Housing (Fort Eustis): Managed by Lincoln Military Housing — approximately 2,500-3,000 family housing units across Fort Eustis neighborhoods
Average Wait Time: Varies by site, grade, and bedroom requirement; typically 1-6 months; both sites have active waitlists
Off-Base Housing: Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and York County are popular areas; average rent for a 3-bedroom home ranges from approximately $1,400-$2,200/month; Hampton Roads has a robust military housing market with wide options
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) website.

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Request a sponsor through the gaining unit’s orderly room or first sergeant (Air Force) or gaining unit POC (Army); A&FRC (Langley) and Army Community Service (ACS) at Fort Eustis can assist
In-Processing: Air Force personnel report to the 1st FW in-processing center at Langley; Army personnel report to Fort Eustis in-processing; plan for 3-5 duty days for each service component; bring all PCS orders, records, and required documentation
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Managed through respective medical groups; Air Force EFMP at 1st Medical Group (Langley); Army EFMP at McDonald Army Health Center (Fort Eustis); enrollment required before PCS orders are issued; Hampton Roads offers extensive special needs services and support networks

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Humid subtropical — hot, humid summers (90s F), mild winters with occasional snow; hurricane risk; beautiful spring and fall seasons; waterfront breezes moderate temperatures on the peninsula
Cost of Living: Moderate relative to the national average; Virginia Peninsula is generally more affordable than Northern Virginia or D.C. metro; housing costs are reasonable compared to other major military hubs; no city income tax in some Hampton Roads jurisdictions
Nearby Attractions: Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown Settlement (30 minutes from Fort Eustis), Busch Gardens Williamsburg (30 minutes), Virginia Beach (approximately 40 minutes from Langley), Naval Station Norfolk (nearby), Hampton Roads history and maritime museums, Chesapeake Bay, Outer Banks of North Carolina (approximately 2 hours), Washington D.C. (approximately 3 hours by car or Amtrak)
Spouse Employment: Good employment market in Hampton Roads; federal government, defense contracting, healthcare (Sentara, Riverside health systems), education (William and Mary, Christopher Newport University), and tourism sectors offer strong opportunities; military spouse employment networks are active in the region

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.jble.af.mil/
Main Installation Phone: (757) 764-1110 (Langley); (757) 878-1212 (Fort Eustis)
MWR Website: https://www.jblefss.com/
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC) — Langley Field; (757) 764-3990; Army Community Service (ACS) — Fort Eustis; (757) 878-3800

Last updated: 2026-02-22
Sources: jble.af.mil, acc.af.mil, militaryinstallations.dod.mil, tradoc.army.mil, mybaseguide.com/langley, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law