LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
After eight months of consolidations and transitions during its Initial Operational Capability period, Joint Base Langley-Eustis celebrated its Full Operational Capability status Oct. 1 in a ceremony in the 71st Fighter Squadron hangar.
The achievement of FOC completes the process begun by Congress as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission to consolidate and streamline base support at Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis, according to Air Force Col. Donald E. Kirkland, 633d Air Base Wing commander. The Air Force, through the 633 ABW, is responsible for installation support functions across all of JBLE.
Planning at Langley AFB and Fort Eustis began in October 2006 with familiarization of functions and processes at the two locations. The Secretary of Defense issued detailed guidance in January 2008, allowing the Langley-Eustis team to plan for the consolidation.
The 633 ABW was activated Jan. 7, and the IOC process began three week later Jan. 29 with the activation of the 733d Mission Support Group at Fort Eustis, under command of the former garrison commander, Army Col. Glenn K. Grothe. Since then, Colonel Grothe and his team have integrated Air Force processes and procedures to ensure success during the joint basing process, according to Colonel Kirkland.
"Along the way, we transitioned four divisions of largely civilian personnel, as well as standing up the 733d Security Forces Squadron [at Fort Eustis]," he added.
Now that the Joint Basing process is complete, the 633 ABW "will pursue the efficiencies and effectiveness that Joint Basing promises," Colonel Kirkland said. Moving forward, the wing will focus on supporting the missions of commanders at both installations.
JBLE represents the "most successful partnership among the nation's 11 joint bases," according to Air Force Brig. Gen. Dave C. Howe, director of installations and mission support at Headquarters Air Combat Command.
Mr. Russell B. Hall, the director of the Army's Installation Management Command's Northeast Region, said JBLE "set the standard" for the Department of Defense's Joint Basing program over the past four years, attributing the success to the efforts of JBLE personnel.
"They really put their backs into making this happen," Mr. Hall said to the audience in attendance at the ceremony.
The FOC marks another milestone in the rich military history of each installation, both dating back to the World War I era. Langley AFB, then known as Langley Field, was established by the Army Dec. 30, 1916. Less than two years later, March 7, 1918, Fort Eustis, then Camp Abraham Eustis, was opened in Newport News, 17 miles northwest of Langley Field.
"These bases have worked closely over the decades; going back almost 100 years," Colonel Kirkland said. "We'll add our voice to that as we take care of our Airmen and Soldiers."
"The 633 ABW and all of JBLE is proud to be part of this Joint Basing initiative," he continued. "Our number one priority will be to take care of the missions, but along the way we will support all of our Soldiers, Airmen, retirees, civilian employees and all of their families."