Communications present no ‘show-stoppers’ in joint-base endeavor Published Sept. 30, 2009 By 092909 JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Personnel from the 87th Communications Squadron finished preparing 300 computers here Sept. 18 to be installed at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst in support of the joint-base endeavor. Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base and NAES Lakehurst are all combining support services in accordance with a Department of Defense mandate, 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission Report Joint Basing Recommendation 146, affecting various co-located military installations across the nation. According to the mandate the Air Force will take the lead on what will be the sole tri-service base in the DOD inventory. Several other military installations are combining support as well, though they are based on dual-service and the lead branch of service varies. The DOD requires Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to attain Full Operational Capability by Oct. 1. To meet this looming deadline, members of 87th CS have undertaken the task of integrating 800-plus personnel from their installation-specific networks onto the Air Force network. Capt. Doug Steinert, the plans and resources flight commander for the 87th CS, oversees all the production, storage and communication of information using computers and electronic technology on the installation and in support of the joint base. "Our goal at the 87th CS is to ensure approximately 800 new folks - about 300 from Lakehurst and 400 to 500 from Fort Dix - are seamlessly integrated into what will be JB MDL," he said. The combined location will encompass 42,000 acres requiring additional communication towers, telephone switching systems, software upgrades, IT equipment and much more. "That's a lot of land and space. We'll have people spread out all over the place," Captain Steinert explained. "My biggest role is to ensure we incorporate Lakehurst and Dix into our network and those folks are up and running by October first." Though nearly 1,000 jobs will transfer to the Air Force, the Army and Navy will continue to maintain their respective missions and networks. The Air Force is assuming the support function and overall installation command. The effort marks the first of its kind historically. "Though it's a big change for those employees, we're doing the best we can to extend this network so they can still do their job and the move will be less disruptive. We also need to make sure we welcome them into our Air Force family and communicate with them through the Air Force network," Captain Steinert said. With change, comes a lot of hard work, something Tech. Sgt. Darrin Littlefield, noncommissioned officer in charge of the plans and resources flight, can attest to. He makes sure the right people get the right parts and that the team will be there to get everything installed, hooked up and ready to go. "A big part of my job is dealing with the various terminologies and ways of doing business between the different branches of service - trying to mesh them all together - to attain one common goal: to get us to joint base MDL," Sergeant Littlefield said. The Army personnel will keep their current computers, though they will be reconfigured to make them compatible with the Air Force network. The Navy, however, will receive 300 new computers at Lakehurst because their current equipment is under a contract which is not part of Air Force operations. "It's better for the Navy in the long run because their computers are the most current and won't need any updates for some time," Sergeant Littlefield said. The overall cost for the additional communications requirements exceeds $1.5 million, a figure that will bring returns in the future. "It's just like a company going green, it takes spending money up front to improve the environment," Captain Steinert said. "Investments typically cost front money with expected returns coming in later; this situation is similar to that." Change can bring tumultuous moments, but generally people adapt and the new becomes the norm. Captain Steinert said failure is not an option, "There will be no show stoppers in 'comm.;' the network will be extended as much as possible. Everyone will have access to the JB MDL network who needs it - come FOC, one way or another." The plans and resources team are putting final touches on their projects, crossing the final bridges and clearing the final hurdles, not without difficulties, but with assurances. "There're always challenges with anything you do; overall it will be a success." Sergeant Littlefield said. "Challenges are just another opportunity to excel ..." Though challenges both organizationally and individually will be faced during the transition and may pose difficulties as cultures are merged, the overall goal is to benefit the greater good. "Overall it's not what's best for individuals, or particular branches of service, but it's what's best for the DOD which equates to what's best for our nation. Though it could put us to the test at first, once we begin to realize a lot of the savings and economies of force we're able to produce as a tri-base, it will be recognized as a good thing. We may not see immediate rewards, but 10 to 15 years down the road it will be realized. When they look back, they'll say it was a good thing ...," Captain Steinert said.