Logisticians prepare to support the joint base

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ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  As Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson approaches full-operating capability on Oct. 1, 2010, the 673rd Air Base Wing and the 673rd Logistics Readiness Group are getting closer to becoming reality.

The group will consist of the 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron from Elmendorf Air Force Base and 114 members of the Directorate of Logistics on Fort Richardson. Although the overall structure will change, the first class level of support units receive today will be provided under JBER.

The new logistics structure will consist of a group with two squadrons. It was designed to foster effective command and control, provide a manageable span of control, accomplish Army and Air Force day-to-day logistics support and support unique joint deployment operations.

The combination of Army and Air Force logistics in a single group will create synergy between the services that is unique. JBER will be the only joint base installation in which an Air Force Logistics Group is responsible for deploying both fighter aircraft and multiple Army brigade-level teams.

The opportunities for success are great because the new Joint Logistics Readiness Group will be dedicated to implementing the "best practices" for all of the logistics' disciplines from supply, to transportation and distribution, to planning and mobility.

One of the precepts used to develop the joint base concept was that only support functions would be combined, and the mission units of the Army and Air Force would not be affected. However, the deployment support function of a combined logistics group, responsible for the worldwide deployment of the Army and the Air Forces in Alaska, is as close as it gets to having a joint operational mission on JBER.

The ability to move forces to the fight is an enormous responsibility and a major concern of the Army and Air Force operational commanders here in Alaska and in the theater of operations.
There are dedicated logistics professionals in both the Army and Air Force working behind the scenes to ensure the units are prepared to deploy. Currently, the work is done with little integration between the services.

The synergistic effects gained through a joint logistics group will have a significant impact on the JBER mission. Many of the institutionalized barriers between the services such as separate sources of funding, policy differences, and service specific cultural barriers will begin to erode. The lessons learned will reach beyond JBER to the joint community as a whole.

We are about a year away from FOC on JBER and the 673rd Logistics Readiness Group. The logisticians of Fort Richardson and Elmendorf are looking forward to working together as a team to provide even better logistics support for the JBER community.

The 673rd LRG is a ground breaking unit. It will be exciting to see the best Army and Air Force Logistics practices implemented to support the combat units in Alaska.

For more information on the 673rd Logistics Readiness Group or any other subject regarding the stand up of JBER, contact the Joint Base Enterprise Team at 384-JBER (5237), jber.qa@elmendorf.af.mil or jber.qa@richardson.army.mil.  

(Information provided by the JBER Enterprise Team)