Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
“Just because we’re next door does not mean that we have an awful lot of interaction,” said Air Force Col. Anne Sullivan, chief of public affairs for the 446th Airlift Wing. “I’ve been here for 15 years and I’ve been to [Fort Lewis only] a few times.”
McChord is one of 26 military installations tagged for joint basing under recommendations from the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission. When the process is complete, McChord will be part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which will be run by one commander under standards streamlined between the services. The plan is for both bases to share many programs, such as child care and morale, welfare and recreation.
Final decisions on the nuts and bolts of the realignment are awaiting approval from the Pentagon. Until that direction comes, officials here say they are keeping busy nurturing cross-base relationships and mulling decisions on whether McChord or Lewis will be in charge of programs.
“It’s too preliminary to give any details on who will take the lead on what,” said John Austin, who leads the Fort Lewis Army Garrison plans, analysis and integration office. “We meet every Thursday to talk about how we go forward.”
The potential for an explosive situation exists, Sullivan said.
Of the 12 scheduled joint bases, Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the only Air Force installation of which the Army has been placed in charge. Add to that tension the normal rivalry between the two services and you could have some serious fireworks, Sullivan and Austin agreed.
But with more than two years to get used to the idea — and the knowledge that joint basing is not going away — McChord and Lewis officials are making a conscious effort to make the changes smoother.
For example, top Fort Lewis officials are invited to McChord ceremonies; the Lewis and McChord public affairs offices work together to address BRAC questions; Fort Lewis this summer will take part in McChord’s annual air show; and Lewis and McChord officials are working together on plans for a special airdrop of the game ball into the Seattle Mariners stadium on Armed Forces Day.
“It’s that sort of working together and being face to face that makes communication happen and things get done,” Sullivan said.
Some services already have been combined or are part of separate BRAC initiatives. McChord’s wastewater has been pumped to Fort Lewis for treatment for 19 years; the process of handing off the base’s Hazardous Material Control Center to Lewis was started last year; and McChord’s medical services are already being realigned under Madigan Army Medical Center.
But McChord won’t hand everything over to the Army. Officials are weighing best practices for each issue and deciding whether the Army or Air Force should take the lead.
But all the talking now does not mean there won’t be growing pains later, officials admit.
“Culture’s a huge piece of it,” Sullivan said. “The sibling rivalry will never go away, never. I think the cultural things will come after the organizational things, and we are still working on those.”
It is unclear when the joint basing will be complete.
Officials are waiting on guidance from the Pentagon on whether they will be part of Phase 1, set to be complete by October 2009, or Phase 2, which has a completion date of October 2010.
McChord is one of 26 military installations tagged for joint basing under recommendations from the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission. When the process is complete, McChord will be part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which will be run by one commander under standards streamlined between the services. The plan is for both bases to share many programs, such as child care and morale, welfare and recreation.
Final decisions on the nuts and bolts of the realignment are awaiting approval from the Pentagon. Until that direction comes, officials here say they are keeping busy nurturing cross-base relationships and mulling decisions on whether McChord or Lewis will be in charge of programs.
“It’s too preliminary to give any details on who will take the lead on what,” said John Austin, who leads the Fort Lewis Army Garrison plans, analysis and integration office. “We meet every Thursday to talk about how we go forward.”
The potential for an explosive situation exists, Sullivan said.
Of the 12 scheduled joint bases, Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the only Air Force installation of which the Army has been placed in charge. Add to that tension the normal rivalry between the two services and you could have some serious fireworks, Sullivan and Austin agreed.
But with more than two years to get used to the idea — and the knowledge that joint basing is not going away — McChord and Lewis officials are making a conscious effort to make the changes smoother.
For example, top Fort Lewis officials are invited to McChord ceremonies; the Lewis and McChord public affairs offices work together to address BRAC questions; Fort Lewis this summer will take part in McChord’s annual air show; and Lewis and McChord officials are working together on plans for a special airdrop of the game ball into the Seattle Mariners stadium on Armed Forces Day.
“It’s that sort of working together and being face to face that makes communication happen and things get done,” Sullivan said.
Some services already have been combined or are part of separate BRAC initiatives. McChord’s wastewater has been pumped to Fort Lewis for treatment for 19 years; the process of handing off the base’s Hazardous Material Control Center to Lewis was started last year; and McChord’s medical services are already being realigned under Madigan Army Medical Center.
But McChord won’t hand everything over to the Army. Officials are weighing best practices for each issue and deciding whether the Army or Air Force should take the lead.
But all the talking now does not mean there won’t be growing pains later, officials admit.
“Culture’s a huge piece of it,” Sullivan said. “The sibling rivalry will never go away, never. I think the cultural things will come after the organizational things, and we are still working on those.”
It is unclear when the joint basing will be complete.
Officials are waiting on guidance from the Pentagon on whether they will be part of Phase 1, set to be complete by October 2009, or Phase 2, which has a completion date of October 2010.
