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AMC leaders discuss BRAC changes within the command

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark Diamond
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AMCNS) --  Air Mobility Command senior leaders offered a series of town hall meetings for headquarters personnel here Nov. 15 to explain Base Realignment and Closure changes that will affect the command.

The BRAC Commission's recommendations became law Nov. 9, after the president accepted the commission's input and submitted them to Congress Sept. 15. The Defense Department is now beginning the process of closing or realigning hundreds of DOD installations and activities.

Within AMC, the BRAC changes affected all but one base, with significant changes at Andrews AFB, Md.; Grand Forks AFB, S.D.; McChord AFB, Wash.; McGuire AFB, N.J.; Pope AFB, S.C.; and Scott AFB.

Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, AMC commander, said now, more than ever, is the time for transformation.

"We are at a point where it's time to take those next steps," said the general. "BRAC is a big part of that. When you think about the future, we have to set up our installations so they are supportive of that vision."

In what AMC leaders called the most significant transformational change within the command, the U.S. Army's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, or SDDC, will be collocated with U.S. Transportation Command and Headquarters AMC at Scott AFB.

"As AMC evolves, not only in its 'organize, train and equip' role, but also as a component to U.S. TRANSCOM, it's very easy to see how dynamic that relationship is and what a difference it is making," General McNabb said.

With the collocation of Hq. AMC, SDDC and U.S. TRANSCOM, the general said that relationship becomes even more important. He said the move will accelerate the capabilities and enhance the effectiveness of each command.

The realignment involves relocating three major SDDC components, including a majority of the command at Fort Eustis, Va.; the command element, located in the Hoffman 2 Building (a leased facility) in Alexandria, Va.; and the Transportation Engineering Agency in Newport News, Va.

In all, AMC officials said about 800, primarily civil service, SDDC positions will relocate to Scott AFB. AMC officials also said the SDDC realignment alone will save the DOD about $1.2 billion over the next 20 years.

"Whenever there is change like this, it can be a little uncomfortable. But it's important, and it's something we must do," General McNabb said.

The general added that although the DOD has a timeline to implement the BRAC changes, the command must also ensure it continues to take care of its people and the mission."

By statute, the Defense Department has until Sept. 15, 2007 to begin closing and realigning the installations specified in the BRAC report. The process must be completed by Sept. 15, 2011.

"It's going to take a lot of give and take, and it's going to take a lot of good people hashing out ideas," he said. "But one of the most exciting things we get to do in the mobility world is to create the future."

AMC installation snapshot:

ANDREWS AFB, Md. -- Andrews AFB and Naval Air Facility Washington, Md., will combine to become Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, with command responsibility transferred to the Air Force District of Washington.

CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- The base will assume installation management functions for Naval Weapons Station Charleston.

DOVER AFB, Del. -- Several Armed Forces Institute of Pathology elements will move to Dover AFB, including the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, DNA Registry and Accident Investigation functions.

FAIRCHILD AFB, Wash. -– Transfer eight ANG KC-135Rs to Sioux Gateway Air Guard Station, Iowa. Gain two ANG combat communication geographically separated units.

GRAND FORKS AFB, ND. -- The base's 36 KC-135R aircraft will be redistributed to various AMC units to meet DOD requirements. Grand Forks will gain an unmanned aerial vehicle mission with command responsibility transferred to Air Combat Command.

MACDILL AFB, Fla. -- The base will receive four KC-135R aircraft from Grand Forks AFB, and establish association with the 927th Air Refueling Wing, Selfridge ANG Base, Mich.

MCCHORD AFB, Wash. -- McChord AFB and Fort Lewis will combine to form Joint Base Lewis-McChord, with ownership of installation management functions transferred to the U.S. Army.

MCCONNELL AFB, Kan. -- The base will receive KC-135R aircraft from various AMC units to establish a 48-aircraft wing.

MCGUIRE AFB, N.J. -- McGuire AFB, Fort Dix and Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station will combine to form Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, with ownership of the latter two installations transferred to the Air Force. The Air National Guard’s 108th Air Refueling Wing will retire 16 KC-135Es and receive 8 KC-135Rs from the 163d Air Refueling Wing at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. Additionally, Navy and Marine squadrons from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pa., and Cambria Regional Airport, Johnstown, Penn., will move to McGuire AFB.

POPE AFB, N.C. -- Pope AFB will become Pope Army Airfield, with ownership of installation management functions transferred to the U.S. Army. Twenty-five Pope C-130E aircraft will be re-distributed to meet DOD requirements. It will gain 16 C-130H aircraft to establish an Air Force Reserve Command wing with an active duty associate wing. The Air Force will also establish an Air Support Operations Group to provide unity of command of Air Force units here, mission execution planning, and management of efficient loadout of Fort Bragg assets.

SCOTT AFB, Ill. -- The U.S. Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command will be collocated here with Headquarters AMC and U.S. TRANSCOM. Additionally, the base will receive Regional Supply Squadron manpower from Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Sembach Air Base, Germany, and Logistics Readiness Squadron positions from Little Rock AFB and Altus AFB, Okla., to establish a Mobility Air Forces Logistics Support Center here. The 126th Air Refueling Wing will retire eight KC-135Es and receive eight KC-135Rs from Grand Forks AFB.

MEDICAL REALIGNMENTS -- Base hospitals at Andrews AFB, MacDill AFB, and Scott AFB will become clinics with ambulatory surgery centers.