About five years ago, the base realignment committee voted to combine Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base into a joint installation in an effort to save taxpayer money and improve operations efficiency.

Since the process began in February 2010, visible signs of the transition have been implemented, including police cars that now say Joint Base Lewis-McChord rather than Fort Lewis or McChord and signage with the new name that is posted on both parts of the installation.

In the final stretch (July 1-Oct. 1), less visible, internal changes that comprise the last pieces of the joint base process will be implemented.  

"We have 22 organizations belonging to JBLM that consolidate as part of this process," said Lt. Col. Greg Davidson, operations officer for joint integration on JBLM.  "Ten are complete, and we have 12 more to go."

Additionally, money will transferred and some Air Force employees will become Department of the Army employees.  

"The 62nd Airlift Wing will still have an operational budget," he said. "However, McChord Field will not have a budget per se.  The support of that installation will transfer to the Army and then to JBLM."

Additionally, although the Air Force mission and all Air Force active duty servicemembers will remain Air Force employees, some of the civilian employees at McChord Field will become Department of the Army employees.  

"Most of the employees that will make the transition do installation support business," he said. "The 62nd will keep its civilian employees. For the most part, the transfer of Air Force employees will be the same jobs at the same location for the same people.  At this time, we are not looking at eliminating positions ... we are looking at establishing the organization. We are keeping the focus on what we have to do now."

There are long-term plans to do other projects, such as the construction of a road that connects the two parts of the joint base. This and other projects will be completed as funding becomes available.  

As the joint base transition process nears completion, officials have been asked about the long-term stability of the base.  Despite assurances that the two branches will remain distinct, people have voiced concerns.

"Joint Base Lewis-McChord has been here since 1917, and it is not going anywhere," Davidson said. "The military continues to invest in the mission here.  This partnership is here to stay.  Of course, there will certainly be things that are exclusively the Army, and they always will be.  There will also be things that are exclusively the Air Force, and they always will be.  Where they touch is at the installation level."  

Further, the only combined organization on JBLM is the installation garrison, he said.

"The garrison commander is like the mayor of a town," he explained. "The businesses and the corporations do things in that town that provide services for you - police, fire department, sewage, and other operations.  Then the Army commander and the Air Force commander are like CEOs of a business."