Two prominent military installations occupy opposite sides of The Peninsula, and their joint name confuses many. In 2010, the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) merged Langley Air Force Base with the Army’s Fort Eustis, but didn’t physically move them any closer together. The two installations are a 20 to 30-minute drive from each other, and many people consider the “joint base” status to be in name only. They each still retain most of their own services, base amenities, and housing. With orders to Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) comes a slight learning curve, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

Langley AFB

The 633rd Air Base Wing proudly supports the missions of both the Air Force and the Army with operations on both installations. Langley is home to the 1st Fighter Wing (most notable for their F-22 Raptors) and Headquarters for Air Combat Command (ACC). It is also host to the Global Cyberspace Integration Center field operating agency. The F-22 Raptor Demo Team hosts an annual air show, to the delight of eardrums far and wide!

Adjacent to Hampton, VA, Langley is in the heart of the Tidewater region of Hampton Roads. It’s on the southeastern tip of the Peninsula, with easy access to Interstate 64. You can easily travel north to Newport News and Fort Eustis, but going to the Southside means getting through a bridge-tunnel. Base housing is available at Langley or Fort Eustis, so just be aware that there is at least a 30 minute commute between bases.

Fort Eustis

Any aficionado of history will love Fort Eustis. The base is nearing its centennial year, and you can trace its history even further back to the arrival of the first colonists in 1607. Today, Fort Eustis is the home of The Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Headquarters and 7th Transportation Brigade.

Fort Eustis occupies most of what used to be known as Mulberry Island—even though it’s technically a peninsula. This low-lying area just east of the James River is in Newport News, and sits roughly 18 miles south of Williamsburg. Base housing is available, but most people tend to head off base in search of desirable schools.