JBLM will become Ft. Lewis and McChord yet again starting Jan 1.
OLYMPIA, WA- After many months of consideration Joint Base Lewis McChord will return to being two separate bases starting in early 2015. Since the merger in 2010 there have been many battles between the competing bases for land use, oversight of both Public Works Departments, Funding allocations and use of both airfields.
The Federal Bureau of Joint Basing (FBJB) has been trying to work through the issues since the two bases have become one. Commanders for both bases have been going through merge counseling almost since the inception of the idea. Commander Lt. Brown of Ft. Lewis says he just can no longer deal 'whiney needs' of the Air Force's Colonel Elder taking all of his resources and squandering them to try and make his side of the base look pretty.
Custody battles for the use of the airfields and land surrounding both bases have raised a lot of attention. McChord came into the merger with much less overall land area. Colonel Elder insists they must take their half of the overall land mass. Elder also insists part of the split to include Grey Army Airfield as he feels the Army doesn't take good care of the airfield and they shouldn't have an airfield in the first place.
The FBJB has been sitting down with leaders from both bases for the past couple months trying to keep them together. It appears the differences are too large for the merger to continue much longer.
Colonel Elder insists that Commander Lt. Brown is not fit to have oversight of many troops and insists a shift of over 1,000 Army troops to the Air force is in store. Elder says Brown just doesn't care about the needs of his troops and pushes them too hard to succeed.
The split is expected to cost the Federal Government between $150-$200 million in court battles, new signs and new security fencing between the two separate bases.
The Federal Bureau of Joint Basing (FBJB) has been trying to work through the issues since the two bases have become one. Commanders for both bases have been going through merge counseling almost since the inception of the idea. Commander Lt. Brown of Ft. Lewis says he just can no longer deal 'whiney needs' of the Air Force's Colonel Elder taking all of his resources and squandering them to try and make his side of the base look pretty.
Custody battles for the use of the airfields and land surrounding both bases have raised a lot of attention. McChord came into the merger with much less overall land area. Colonel Elder insists they must take their half of the overall land mass. Elder also insists part of the split to include Grey Army Airfield as he feels the Army doesn't take good care of the airfield and they shouldn't have an airfield in the first place.
The FBJB has been sitting down with leaders from both bases for the past couple months trying to keep them together. It appears the differences are too large for the merger to continue much longer.
Colonel Elder insists that Commander Lt. Brown is not fit to have oversight of many troops and insists a shift of over 1,000 Army troops to the Air force is in store. Elder says Brown just doesn't care about the needs of his troops and pushes them too hard to succeed.
The split is expected to cost the Federal Government between $150-$200 million in court battles, new signs and new security fencing between the two separate bases.
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