SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Three Air Mobility Command bases are in the process of merging with two Army posts and a Naval Air Station as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission which identified that these military facilities could be combined to streamline operational efficiency and save taxpayers' money.
The bases scheduled to merge are McChord Air Force Base, Wash., with the Fort Lewis Army post; McGuire AFB, N.J., with Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst and Fort Dix Army post; and Charleston AFB, S.C., which is merging with the Naval Weapons Station Charleston.
The Lewis-McChord effort has recently launched a joint-basing Web site to answer questions and the bases' leadership has had two town-hall meetings to address individual concerns.
"The biggest piece for all of us has been the civilian employee issues," said Col. Shane Hershmann, leading the office of primary responsibility for Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "That is why we had the town-hall meetings and we are continuing to work to get the information out. We want to make sure we address all the concerns."
Upon completion of their merger in 2010, McChord AFB and Fort Lewis will become the largest military installation on the west coast.
McGuire AFB is not only merging with an Army post, but also with a Naval Air Engineering Station.
According to Maj. Robert Wetzel, the deputy director of the joint base program integration office at McGuire, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) outlining each facilities responsibilities is set to be finalized in February.
"Our monthly meetings include people from services, logistics, operations, everyone necessary to make it (the transition) happen. We want the transition to be transparent to the user."
When the Charleston AFB and Naval Weapons Station Charleston complete their merge, the new installation will be known as Joint Base Charleston.
"We have had an outstanding relationship for years," said Lt. Col. Kevin Riley, the joint base coordinator for Charleston AFB."This is Team Charleston and we just look at this as adding new members to the family."
Col. Richard Stonestreet, AMC Programs Division chief is overseeing the joint-basing efforts said, "The men and women at our bases have been phenomenal while working with the Army and Navy to make joint basing a success. We're on track and expect to stay on timeline as the joint bases stand up."
"This is a good thing for our nation and our people," said Colonel Stonestreet. "We are saving money, capitalizing our efficiencies and improving our joint partnerships.
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission requires the joint basing be complete by 2011.
