JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST –
In a June 4 briefing at Fort Dix, aptly titled Joint Base 101, Col. Gina Grosso, commander of the 87th Air Base Wing, presented a rapid-fire summary of challenges, opportunities and organizational imperatives facing McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix and the Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst as the three installations march toward "full operating capability" on Oct. 1, when real property and funds are set to transfer to Air Force control.
The merger of the three facilities was inspired by a congressionally mandated Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, initiative, which identified several military facilities that could be combined to streamline operational efficiency and save taxpayers' money.
Assisted by a staff representing expertise in human resources, civilian personnel, labor relations and communications, Grosso addressed the crowd of more than 500 people in the auditorium of Bldg. 5507. She and her staff fielded questions, too, from Fort Dix supervisors and current employees slated to transfer to McGuire when Joint Basing becomes fully operational.
Fort Dix Commander, Army Col. Ronald Thaxton, introduced Colonel Grosso after making several cogent comments.
Admitting that the transition to Air Force control would have a "growing period," with give and take, Colonel Thaxton said, "This [joint basing] can be successful," and encouraged the Army audience to "give Colonel Grosso your support."
Colonel Grosso then told the Army audience, "We will not succeed without you," and further elaborated that her role was to ensure "a seamless transition" to the Air Force.
"I'm very thrilled to work with you," she continued, adding that the move to joint basing would save money in the future. She also suggested that cooperative efforts by top-notch military and civilian personnel could spur significant innovations in boosting job performances.
Reviewing points appearing in a slide presentation, Colonel Grosso noted that BRAC legislation directed DoD "to create common definitions for installation management services and to create DoD-wide standards for delivery of installation management services." All installations falling under the joint basing umbrella are tasked to "employ military, civilian, and contractor personnel to perform common functions in support of installation facilities and personnel" and "all installations execute these functions using similar or near-similar processes," she said.
BRAC officials held that "installations that share a common boundary have a significant opportunity to reduce duplication of effort" by "optimizing contract requirements" and "establishing a single space management authority" capable of streamlining "use of facilities and infrastructure," Colonel Grosso said.
And the BRAC scenario envisions services forging closer ties because "we will not only train as we fight, we will live as we fight," she said, adding that all three bases "are children of the Army."
BRAC relocations will add 37 Army, Navy and Marine aircraft to McGuire's arsenal -- a 57 percent increase. Personnel increase is estimated to run to an additional 700 full-time employees and about 1,500 part-timers. Twenty-three Army Guard aircraft are scheduled to move to NAES Lakehurst, including 18 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, four UH-72A Lakota helicopters and one C-12.
The Army took over Lakehurst upon America's entry into World War I, using the camp to test chemical and gas warfare weapons. McGuire AFB began its days as part of the Army Air Corps after the War Department purchased 17,000 acres of land adjacent to Fort Dix in 1940, intending to expand the capabilities of the Army Air Base. When the Air Force was established in 1947 the Army Air Base became a part of the Air Force and was renamed McGuire AFB in 1948 after a Medal of Honor winner and World War II air ace.
Camp Dix, of course, was one of 16 new Army camps established in 1917 to train men for duty in World War I. At its peak in that war, Camp Dix housed 55,000 men before becoming a fort during the next decade.
Colonel Grosso opened the floor for questions after introducing her team of experts, which included Lt. Col. John Clark; his deputy John Cullinane; Human Resources chief Connie O'Dell; Civilian Personnel Officer Bethy Stouck; Labor Relations Officer Pat Schmidt; Labor Relations Specialist Doug Loftin; and Communications expert Lt. Col. Robert Licciardi, who was assisted by Directorate of Information Management Richard Eckstein.
Civilian personnel issues dominated the question and answer segments between briefings with queries received on transfers, vacancies, labor union agreements, wages differences, data migration and concerns relating to Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF).
Human Resources and Personnel officers emphasized the importance for McGuire transfers of filling out resumes and explained parts of the Air Force's skill-based rating system along with how to apply for job openings at www.usajobs.gov.
Speakers predicted the impact on current Army and Navy employees transferring to Air Force control would be minimal. They said employees will retain their current job, current pay plan, series, grade and pay, keep the same benefits, with only supervisory chain, functional title and/or duty changes occurring as mission warrants.
Key concerns arising from questions at the meeting or material on the slides included: Will I lose my job as result of joint basing? No, Air Force officials said. The current NAF employees will transfer to the "supporting" component, or lead service, as-is.
There were other key questions and answers. Will the status of my employment be affected? No. you will transfer as is with your pay, guaranteed hours and grade not changed due to joint basing. And you will not have to re-compete for your job.
Another question focused on the personnel system: I'm not familiar with the AF NAF Personnel System. Who will help me with the system when I transfer? The Human Resource professionals at the Joint Base said they are working to ensure the transfer is as seamless as possible. All transferring personnel will be provided with detailed written information specific to their situation prior to transfer and will receive training on the NAF Pay and Personnel system as appropriate prior to transfer, they said.
Will benefits transfer? Yes. Air Force NAF offers a full range of retirement, 401(k) and insurance benefits, officials said. Personnel will have the option to retain current retirement and 401(k) or elect the Air Force program.
All services use the same health insurance program. And prior to transfer, the NAF HRO will meet with each employee and review their specific situations to ensure they fully understand options and entitlements available to them. Employee impact, in most cases, should be minimal, officials said.
Army and Navy employees will "transfer as-is" on Oct. 1. They retain their job, current pay plan, series, grade and pay with benefits remaining the same, Air Force officials said. An Air Force cover sheet will be added to Army and Navy personnel files.
The only likely change will involve an employee's supervisory chain, functional title, and/or duty location as missions warrant, officials said, adding that in-processing for transfers will be accomplished via mass briefings with dates, times and locations to be determined.