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Supply Centers Support Joint Bases Implementation

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090428-01
Release Date: 4/28/2009 7:23:00 AM

From Nannette Davis, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO, (NNS) -- Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers (COMFISCS) continues work to realize the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005-mandated joint basing initiative.

Although personnel transfer numbers are still fluid, the impact on the COMFISCS enterprise from BRAC 2005-mandated joint basing initiative varies from zero personnel at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington to a gain of more than 100 civilians and 40 embedded military at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Approximately 53 COMFISCS civilians will be impacted at Air Force supporting joint bases.

"Joint basing requires that 26 Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps installations merge their common functions and become 12 joint bases," said Mary Lou Hobbs, COMFISCS BRAC and Joint Basing program manager. "The Navy and COMFISCS are involved with seven of the 12 joint bases."

In a story published in the April issue of the FISC Pearl Harbor Center Relay, Director of Corporate Communications, Jim Murray, wrote that the theory behind joint basing rests with the basic belief that most bases — whether they are Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps — perform installation management functions that are somewhat similar. Under joint basing, the 26 designated military bases would merge common functions. Duplication of efforts would be minimized, and this would lead to greater efficiencies and marked cost savings.

"All base support functions/services are in play in joint basing," said Hobbs. "For example, family housing; bachelor officers' quarters; public works; legal; chaplain; child care; internal review, procurement; supply, storage and distribution; public affairs, postal, security to name a few."

In addition to saving funds, wrote Murray, joint basing would lead to enhancements in war fighting capabilities. Modern warfare is joint warfare, and joint basing would lead to closer relationships and stronger ties among all services.

Joint base implementation is divided into two phases. Phase 1 joint bases with Navy involvement include Joint Base Andrews-NAF Washington; Joint Base Little Creek-Ft. Story; Joint Region Marianas (Guam); and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Phase 2 joint bases with Navy involvement include Joint Base Charleston; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.

In each of these mergers, a lead service has been designated to assume ownership of the land and the funds used to support it. Of these seven joint bases, the Air Force will head three — Joint Base Andrews-NAF Washington, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Joint Base Charleston, and the Navy will head four — Joint Base Little Creek-Ft. Story; Joint Region Marianas; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.

Full operational capability (FOC) for Phase 1 joint bases should be achieved by Oct. 1. Phase 2 joint bases are expected to reach FOC Oct. 1, 2010. FOC is when all installation management resources transfer to the supporting service, that is, to the joint base commander.

"The civilian installation management employees at these bases will become the supporting service's employees," said Hobbs. "For example, the COMFISCS employees at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst will become Air Force employees effective Oct. 1, 2009. The Air Force installation management employees at Andersen Air Force Base Guam will transfer to Navy and become Navy employees.

"Military personnel will be embedded in the supporting service organization but are subject to recall by their parent service when required," she added.

The COMFISCS products and services impacted by joint basing are procurement, including Government Purchase Card (GPC) program management; non-munitions supply, storage and distribution; personal property/household goods; packing and shipping; mail; material transportation; and hazardous material management.

"Our products and services will be impacted in that at Air Force supporting bases the 53 COMFISCS civilian employees currently performing these function will transfer to the Air Force," explained Hobbs.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is considering designating some embedded military billets as "joint duty" billets. OSD does not expect approval of any joint duty designated billets until after all the joint bases are stood-up.

COMFISCS provides an array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy and Joint operational units across all warfare enterprises.

COMFISCS is responsible for facilitating best business practices and efficiencies across the seven FISCs located in San Diego, Norfolk, Va.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Yokosuka, Japan; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Bremerton (Puget Sound), Wash.; and Sigonella, Italy; and for optimizing the performance of base supply functions and standardizing levels of service across 13 regions and 79 Navy installations.

Comprising more than 7,500 military and civilian logistics professionals, COMFISCS operates as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from nearly 135 locations worldwide. A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., COMFISCS is part of a worldwide logistics network of more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.