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~The FReeper Canteen Presents~ Road Trip: Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia 
Joint Base Langley–Eustis (JBLE), composed of Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis, is a United States military joint base located in the greater Hampton Roads area of the Tidewater region of Virginia. The installation is the result of the Base Realignment and Closure, 2005, a Congressional initiative to maximize the operational efficiency of 26 military installations nationwide by combining their support functions, contracts and organizations. Unlike other joint bases that share common perimeters, such as Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, the two components are geographically separated by 17 miles. The installation is one of six Air Force-led joint bases in the country. 
In January 2010, the Air Force reactivated the 633d Air Base Wing to assume host unit and installation support functions at each location. The installation assumed its full operational capability (FOC) in October 2010. In April 2011, JBLE experienced the first Air Force operational readiness inspection (ORI) of a joint base. In addition, the inspection is the first of its kind for an installation hosting a combat-ready F-22 Raptor unit. 
As the host unit at Langley Air Force Base, Va., the 1st Fighter Wing operates and maintains one of the largest fighter bases in Air Combat Command. Throughout its history, the 1st FW has led the way, wherever and whenever called upon. The 192nd Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard component of the Virginia National Guard, located at Langley, which augments the active-duty Air Force components in the performance of their missions and other joint force operations.
The 1st Fighter Wing's mission is "to deliver airpower; train, equip and deploy Airmen; deploy, fight and win - anywhere, any time and to deliver 'first-class, first-time' support to Team Langley." 
On 7 August 1990, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. Throughout both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the wing flew more than 6,200 sorties and nearly 25,000 flying hours. The wing also recorded an aerial victory when Capt Steve Tate of the 71 FS shot down an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1.
From the end of Operation Desert Storm until the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, squadrons of the 1 FW routinely deployed to Turkey in support of Operation Northern Watch, or to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the northern and southern "No Fly" zones over Iraq. In 2003, the 1 FW deployed again to Southwest Asia in order to provide air superiority during actual combat operations. Deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the wing flew over 360 training and combat sorties.
Other historical firsts for the 1st Fighter Wing are:
*The first U.S. group-level unit to enter air combat.
*The first U.S. unit to destroy enemy aircraft in World War I.
*The parent unit of the first recipient of the Medal of Honor for aerial combat.
*The parent unit of the two highest scoring U.S. aces in World War I.
*The first fighter unit to deploy en masse over the North Atlantic.
*The first U.S. unit to destroy a German aircraft in World War II.
*The first U.S. jet fighter unit. 
The F-22 Raptor is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities. The Raptor performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force. Read More About Langley Air Force Base, and the F-22 Raptor Here!
FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.
Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun! We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity. We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon. We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way. God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always |
