Fort Eustis

Fort Eustis, Virginia, located in the city of Newport News, is now known as Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE). JBLE Eustis came to be established in compliance with congressional laws enacting the guidelines associated with the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The regulation directed the merging of the two locations which were formerly adjacent however independent military installation. The two bases were formed into one combined base which is one of a dozen joint bases established in the US resulting from this legislation.

Located along the historical Hampton Roads area, this base is a joint facility catering to all branches of the military with the Air Force and Army making up the majority.

The following major units are located in JBLE:

• 597th Transportation Brigade
• US Army Training and Doctrine Command
• Army Training Support Center
• Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate
• Army Aviation Logistics School
• Installation Management Command, Atlantic
• 7th Sustainment Brigade

Fort Eustis is a prime location for training military service members in a variety of military fields such as logistics, transportation, aviation maintenance, and deployment doctrine. It provides a diverse landscape that is ideal for training a host of military occupational specialties. It is primarily used for training in most transportation fields and helicopter maintenance. It is also home to the Transportation Regiment which has been located at this installation for many years. It is also excellent for naval and Coast Guard activities since it is located adjacent to the James River which provides access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Most of the land that Fort Eustis occupies was known during America’s colonial period as Mulberry Island. This area was shortly established by English colonists after nearby Jamestown was settled in 1607. Since then, the installation that is known as Fort Eustis went through several changes. The post did not receive its name until 1918 when the US Army bought Mulberry Island in preparation for World War I. After relocation of the Mulberry Island residents, the base was officially named Camp Abraham Eustis. This name was given in respect to Brigadier General Abraham Eustis who was a commander of nearby Fort Monroe during the 19th century.

In 1923, the camp was later renamed Fort Eustis and became a permanent installation. It served mostly as a prison for bootleggers during Prohibition and was later closed. It was reopened again in 1940 in response to WWII and became the home of the Transportation School in 1946. This helped the military consolidate training for marine, rail, and amphibious operations. This continued up until 2005 when orders from Congress moved the U.S. Army Transportation School and Center to Ft. Lee, Virginia in 2010. Fort Eustis still remains as a major training center and new home of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command which moved there from Fort Monroe after the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure directives.

Both award-winning Hampton and Newport News Public Schools educates thousands of children each year. This includes centers for early childhood, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, combination schools, and program sites to provide children with a high-quality education. Many schools in this area have received numerous achievements on the state and national level.

Complete lodging can also be found in the area both on JBLE and off-post. Both installations offer very limited lodging facilities and most personnel travelling on orders take preference. Lodging can easily be found at several hotels, motels, and inns that are conveniently located just a few minutes off the installation.

Balfour Beatty Residential areas situated on Joint Base Langley/Fort Eustis, Newport News, perfectly located at the charming Hampton Roads community of Virginia. Here, everyone will discover more than 880 appealing properties in 10 warm and friendly communities. Newport News and its adjacent area provide a variety of entertainment, thirty one recreational areas to discover and take pleasure in, and an abundant military heritage. Together with the James and Warwick Rivers nearby the community, sailing and fishing are well-known hobbies for community residents.