Military Life: Military Facilities
and 10,000 civilian personnel work on the base that is the homeport for more than 80 ships of the Atlantic Fleet. The base’s 4,300 acres include Chambers Field, which is home to 16 airport squadrons. The world’s largest amphibious base is also located in Norfolk. The Little Creek Amphibious Base has approximately 30 amphibious ships, patrol craft and salvage ships and is home to 80 tenant commands including the Naval Special Warfare Group II, East Coast home of the SEALS and the Armed Forces School of Music. Further south, in Virginia Beach, is the Oceana Naval Air Station, one of the country’s Master Jet Bases, which houses F-14 Tomcats and other planes assigned to the Atlantic Fleet.
Blue Angels Flyover
The military has played a pivotal role in Hampton Roads since the English settlers set foot on this land in 1607. The soldiers who accompanied the first settlers are the predecessors of the thousands of men and women who have donned uniforms to protect the United States of America. The region is proud to house a number of bases associated with all branches of the U.S. military. Many of the ships, planes and soldiers actively engaged in America’s war on terrorism call Hampton Roads home. The military is an undeniable asset to the region’s economy. Over 95,000 uniformed men and women are currently stationed in Hampton Roads. Of these, approximately 15,000 join the private sector each year, creating a rich pool of skilled and experienced workers. Over 10,000 civilians also work at the various bases on the Peninsula. Altogether, an estimated 400,000 people in Hampton Roads, or 30 percent of the region’s population, have ties to military installations. In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission voted to close Fort Monroe and eliminate or move approximately 4,000 military-related positions from the area. In addition, certain conditions were met in 2006 for the Oceana Naval Air Station and its landing fields to stay in Virginia Beach. While this may decrease the military presence to some degree, it should not significantly impact Hampton Roads’ economy.
Military Bases & Activity
Langley Air Force Base, nestled between Hampton and Poquoson, opened 38 • Coastal Virginia 2021-22
in 1916 as an experimental air station for testing airplanes and dirigibles as part of the military power. Since then, Langley pilots have taken part in all conflicts in which the U.S. has had a role. From the 1940s, it has been home to the Tactical Air Command (TAC). The 1st Tactical Fighter Wing was established at Langley in 1946. Pilots with this Wing were the first to have a confirmed aerial kill in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq. Langley is also home to the Air Force’s new Air Combat Command, a consolidation of TAC with the Strategic Air Command, formerly headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Renovations were recently completed to provide hangars for the F-22 Raptors, the most stealthy and expensive jets in Air Force history, which are now flying operations out of Langley. Its 8,800 military and 2,000 civilian personnel draw a combined annual payroll of approximately $624 million. Fort Eustis, the Peninsula’s largest military installation located in northwestern Newport News, opened in 1918. Since 1942, its 8,228 acres have been home to the Army’s Transportation Center, a key part of the Army’s mission to ensure that troops, trucks, tanks, ships and other supplies reach combat sites in a efficient and timely manner. It has also been a key processing point for reservists going to and from Iraq. The installation’s 9,516 military and 2,407 civilian personnel draw a combined annual payroll of $765.7 million. Across the port of Hampton Roads from the Peninsula in Norfolk, is the Norfolk Naval Station, the world’s largest naval base. More than 60,000 military
Camp Peary
(York County) Camp Peary in York County is operated by the U.S. Army and the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA uses this 10,000 acre camp as a training ground for its agents. For obvious reasons, little is publicly known about this facility, which is referred to as “The Farm.”
Cheatham Annex
(York County) This base is the bulk storage facility for the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center in Norfolk. Its facilities are used for storing supplies for the ships of the Atlantic Fleet. In addition to providing storage, the base also houses a Naval Cargo Handling and Port Group and a branch of the Army Veterinarian Food Inspection Office.
Coast Guard Atlantic Area
(Portsmouth) This is the operations hub and headquarters for Coast Guard activities from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. More than 3000 Coast Guard and civilians work here providing support and other selected services for units throughout the country.
Fort Eustis Army Base
(Newport News) Ft. Eustis is home for the Army Transportation Center, the 7th Transportation Group, 8th Brigade and the Army Transportation Museum. Fort Eustis is also the home to the James River Reserve Fleet, which is a “mothballed” fleet of ships under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Maritime Administration. The fleet is anchored in the James River opposite the Fort. TRADOC, the army’s consulting arm for developing battle plans, commands
