A new era at Joint Base: Leadership turns from Army green to Air Force blue.

San Antonio Express News ^ | 18 July 2011 | Sig Christenson

[Racehorse]

The arrival of summer brings command-change ceremonies on military installations around the nation, but the one Monday at Fort Sam Houston was historic.

Blue Air Force uniforms dotted the post's sprawling MacArthur Parade Field, rather than Army green. An Air Force general presided over a 46-minute ceremony that saw a fellow airman, Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick, turn over command of Joint Base San Antonio to Air Force Brig. Gen. Theresa Carter.

Patrick, who will lead the 2nd Air Force in Biloxi, Miss., has spent the past year leading a new kind of installation ordered by the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. BRAC created “joint bases” in hopes of cutting costs, but the verdict so far is out.

“We are working on that daily, but it is still too early to tell,” said Patrick, who noted that Joint Base San Antonio took over logistical operations at Fort Sam on Oct. 1. “So we're still a work in progress.”

Joint Base San Antonio is the largest in the nation, overseeing Fort Sam, and Randolph and Lackland AFBs.

SNIP

The joint basing era brought a new wrinkle, closing with “The Armed Forces Medley” — Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard theme songs. “The Army Song,” boisterously sung over the years here, didn't have the same passion.

“I don't think you heard a lack of enthusiasm,” the Army's Rubenstein said, noting that fewer GIs were there. “Typically, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines sing their own song and don't sing somebody else's song. I'm a fightin' Texas Aggie. I don't sing the Baylor song.”

[RitchieAprile]

I’m sure a JB would be cheaper - one set of contracts for each item of supply, one kind of each thing
for both sides of the base, one payroll, whats not to like?

I predict someday we will have a Canadian model unified armed force, with a single chain of command.

[Hulka]

Maybe, but each service has their own procurement regulations and payroll. Military pay grades might align, but special pays and bonuses apply differently to different services, as well as different services hire civilians differently. Until those issues are taken care of, there will be costly difficulties and duplications. Only upside is the capital cost to maintaining one base versus two.

“Joint base” might make sense if it was actually part of a joint command. Maybe it will be.

[ScottinVA]

“Joint base” might make sense if it was actually part of a joint command. Maybe it will be

My wife works at "joint base" Langley-Eustis" (aka Fort Eustis) near Newport News, VA. The regulatory guidance, formerly Army, is now Air Force. Unfortunately, the little detail of proper training to the new procedures was forgotten. The transition happened many months ago, but everyone's still trying to figure out who's doing what to whom.

[Grunthor]

I loved Fort Sam Houston and the city of San Antonio.