JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Come hail or high water, there was no stopping this train. Amidst a week of preparation, perspiration and rain, Joint Base Charleston officially achieved its long-awaited full operational capability Oct. 1.
At fourth and goal, the final week was a long way from initial operating capability, which began in January 2010 with stand up of the 628th Air Base Wing. Countdown complete, JB CHS has arrived at FOC ready to enter the new fiscal year as a fully operational joint base.
The inaugural day signifies a new chapter in South Carolina's Lowcountry military history at a time when senior U.S. military officials have said more is being asked of members of the Department of Defense than ever. Home to heroes of the wars of the 20th century and with history dating back to the Revolutionary War, the seeds of change fell on fertile ground in Charleston and have taken root.
JB CHS combines two historic bases into a single joint installation to support both Air Force and Navy missions, along with tenant commands, and all service members and their families. Capitalizing on best practices of both services, the base will continue to capture identified efficiencies, enhance warfighting readiness and maximize delivery of installation support services throughout the joint base.
Deservingly, inaugural day may have come with sigh of relief for some, as a day to celebrate or a welcome opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments. However the men and women of JB CHS chose to greet the day, one man in particular sees possibilities beyond what is past or present for Charleston. He calls the vision "continuous improvement."
Years from now, FOC celebrations long gone, the greatest result from the joint basing venture will be the people who've come and gone who can say they have bettered from it, and it from them, said Charleston's Joint Basing Coordinator Lt. Col. Kevin Riley.
His beat on the joint base scene began early on, in May 2007. He has observed nearly every challenge leading up to FOC.
In his eyes, which have seen their fair share, the narrow road to that "true measure of success," he said, parallels the path of continuous improvement for all of Joint Team Charleston.
Click here see more photos of the JB CHS inauguration and events leading up to the historic event.