May 22, 2019

Wingman, Leader, Warrior and Ranger

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — When U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Petrone and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jordan Ryan were sent home from the Ranger Assessment Course in July 2017 they were both frustrated, yet determined to prove they were meant to be United States Army Rangers.

Feb. 21, 2018

Soldier triumphs at state boxing tournament

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — "Man, this is a big boy!" That was the only thought distracting U.S. Army Sgt. Darius Lane from his unexpected opponent during the Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Qualifier in Virginia Beach, Feb. 11, 2018.

May 3, 2017

Weapons load competition honors fallen Airmen

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va — The 1st Maintenance Group hosted a Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition between the 27th and 94th Aircraft Maintenance Units, April 28, 2017. On this occasion, the quarterly competition, which gives Airmen from each AMU the opportunity to showcase their proficiency in loading aircraft munitions, held a deeper meaning as the weapons teams paid tribute to recently fallen Airmen: Senior Airmen Sara Toy and Austin Terrell, and Staff Sgt. Alexandria Morrow.

April 17, 2017

From victims to survivors: changing the conversation about sexual assault

JOINT BASE LANGLEY EUSTIS, Va. — Editor’s note: Due the nature of these testimonies, the U.S. service members’ names have been withheld. Unrestricted reporting procedures were used by both individuals and the accusers were discharged from their respective military branch. No matter how many times she said no, he continued. All she wanted was to be anywhere but there. Now, two years later, she often finds herself still reliving that moment. “At work if I was zoning out, I was probably going back to the memory,” said the U.S. Air Force Senior Airman, as she looked down at the floor, recounting the day at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, when she became a victim of sexual assault.

Jan. 14, 2017

AF boosts environment with plant relocation

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – — Volunteers helped the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron relocate pollinator plants from the Bethel Park Pollinator Garden to the nature trail on Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Jan. 6, 2017. Once an old dumping ground, the pollinator garden was installed at Bethel Park in 2014 in accordance with the National Public Lands Day project to help clean up the area. The garden plants provided food or habitat for pollinator organisms such as hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and occasionally small mammals. A grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation and the Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program awarded funds to 633rd CES personnel to plant a garden, however, due to the location of the garden, it has been underutilized by the public and overgrown with weeds.

Jan. 3, 2017

JBLE welcomes New Year’s baby

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – — At 7:02 p.m. on Jan. 1, U.S. Navy Seaman Keaton Tomlin and wife Chikeyva Tomlin became parents to Samaria Tomlin, the New Year’s baby of 2017 at the U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. According to Chikeyva, the delivery went well and the hospital stay has been relaxing.

Dec. 14, 2016

AF partners with NASA for mission success

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – — Developed in the mid 1990’s by the NASA Geographic Information System office , the Flood Impact Analysis Tool illustrates the effects of localized tidal storm flooding. Through a partnership with NASA, the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, has benefited from the multi-functioning tool, since its arrival to the base in 2006. “The intended purpose of the tool was so we would know where the water was going; however, it has allowed our team to focus on being more productive with our resources,” said Freddie Torres, 633rd CES geospatial information officer. “We use the tool to make smarter decisions, from planning storm impacts to construction projects.”

Nov. 21, 2016

Operation Warmheart: a time to give thanks

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Operation Warmheart volunteers fill 525 bags with Thanksgiving food items at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Nov. 20, 2016. Operation Warmheart is a nonprofit organization established by the First Sergeants Council to assist JJBLE service members and their families through charitable funds raised throughout the year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman

Nov. 16, 2016

Operation Warmheart: A time to give

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — The First Sergeant Council is hosting its annual Operation Warmheart Thanksgiving basket drive at Langley Air Force Base, Va., beginning Nov. 7 through Nov. 20, 2016. This year, they hope to gather enough food and money to deliver more than 500 Thanksgiving baskets. Operation Warmheart, a nonprofit organization, was established by the First Sergeants Council to manage, receive and distribute charitable funds to JBLE service members and families who are in need of assistance. Each year, the Thanksgiving basket drive is the largest direct effort of OWH.

Nov. 9, 2016

1st FW Raptors, crew soar through flying hours

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – — The 1st Fighter Wing’s F-22 Raptors collectively reached their flying hour mark this fiscal year of more than 6,000 hours. For each fiscal year, the flying hour program tasks the number of hours pilots need to acquire in order to maintain proficient in combative flying, based on budgeting and the maximum number of sorties the wing is capable of producing. With limited resources available, the 1st FW completing the hours was an intricate balance between progression in maintenance and tactical logistics, which guided the Raptors to success. “We have to maximize each and every sortie flown to reach the highest level of combat readiness,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael, 1st Operational Support Squadro¬¬¬¬n director of operations. “It takes a significant number of man-hours and resources to prepare and fix the aircraft for each and every flight.”