CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston's joint basing tabletop exercise ended here July 13 after working out potential joint base issues between Charleston AFB and Naval Weapons Station Charleston.
Base leadership from Charleston AFB and the Naval Weapons Station, participated in this weeklong exercise facilitated by representatives from the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy and Air Mobility Command to help strengthen bonds and identify potential pitfalls that would prevent the transition to a joint environment.
"The ending of today's tabletop exercise is just proof of the concept that the two bases can merge and work together soundly in a joint environment," said Lt. Col Kevin Riley, 437th Airlift Wing joint base coordinator. "We've been Team Charleston for years and we see Joint Basing as just adding one more family member to the team."
During the exercise, the members participated in 15 different scenarios where they had to answer questions and work together as a team to find solutions.
"The items discussed by the members were financial arrangements, installation support levels, financial and performance reporting requirements, dispute resolution procedures, disposition of assets other than real property and the timeline for full implementation regarding real property transfer," said Colonel Riley. "They also had to work together on different 'real-world' scenarios ranging from day-to-day support to providing aid to each other during a hurricane."
The exercise was praised by DOD representatives who said this training was positive and will help provide good framework for other bases where the Navy and Air Force will be partners.
"This exercise showed how effectively the Air Force and the Navy consolidated to identify issues and solutions associated with creating a joint base," said Lt. Cmdr. Gordie Meyer, Navy representative and commander of the Navy Institute of Commanders. "This exercise set the stage not only for the consolidation of Charleston but also at other bases where the Navy and the Air Force are partners."
During the exercise outbrief, members of the tabletop exercise seemed more confident and ready for Joint Base Charleston to happen.
"This training did nothing but confirm the solid working relationship and the 'can do' attitude of Charleston AFB and Naval Weapons Station," said Colonel Riley. "Probably our biggest challenge with merging with the NWS has to do with the things we can't control. But, if we can work it locally, we'll make it work ... Joint Base Charleston will happen."
The initiative for joint basing began in 2005 when then Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. John Jumper released the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure committee.
Within the recommendations, General Jumper included the concept of "joint basing" where two or more nearby DOD installations are run by a designated service.
Under this recommendation, the Air Force will become the lead installation support provider at six locations: Charleston AFB/Naval Weapons Station Charleston, McGuire AFB/Fort Dix, N.J., Andrews AFB/Naval Air Facility Washington, D.C., Elmendorf-Fort Richardson Alaska, Lackland AFB/Randolph AFB/Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Langley AFB/Fort Eustis, Va.
The Air Force will be the supported service at one Army Joint Base, Ft. Lewis-McChord AFB, Wash., and three Navy locations Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam AFB Hawaii, Naval Base Guam/Andersen AFB Guam and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling AFB-Naval Research Laboratory.
The DOD hopes to save the $2.3 billion over the next 20 years by consolidating installation support services at joined or nearby bases under one military department.