BRAC: Joint Installation Transfer BRAC: Joint Installation Transfer Published Dec. 18, 2009 By Frank Laras 43rd Airlift Wing POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Last week the Air Force and Army held a Joint Conference to discuss the transfer of Pope to the Army. The Air Force Team was lead by Col. Paul Murphy and cadre from Air Mobility Command. The Air Force team included members from Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Force Reserve Command and representatives from the Air Staff. The Army's team was lead by Mr. John Hunter and cadre from the Installation Management Command, including members from IMCOM-South East Region and the Department of the Army. The working groups included participation from the 43rd Airlift Wing, 440th Airlift Wing, 18 Air Support Operations Group, Combat Control School, Special Tactics Squadron and the Fort Bragg Garrison. The Army and Air Force agreed to establish October 2010 as the beginning of the transition period between Pope and Bragg, and March 2011 as the date for when all transitions between the 43rd AW and the Fort Bragg Garrison are to be completed. The transition period, Oct. 10, 2010 - Mar 11, 2011, is the time period when the majority of all functions transferring from the 43rd AW to both the Fort Bragg Garrison and 440th AW will occur. Personnel actions will commence during calendar year 2010 on both the civilian and military side of the house to meet the March 2011 transition end date. Col. James Johnson, 43rd AW AW Commander, decided to establish March 1, 2010 as the date to register civilians into the Priority Placement Program; thus, requiring a unit manning document end date for civilians to be established March 1, 2011. Military positions drawing down in number and remaining in the 4rd3 Airlift Group will be accomplished in a timeline coordinated with the headquarters functional manager; all other military positions not remaining post-BRAC will have an end date of June 30, 2011. The 43rd Medical Group will inactivate June 2010 and the 43rd Medical Squadron will be established to provide medical and dental care for active duty personnel assigned to Pope. Active duty dependants and retirees now seen at the Pope Clinic will continue to visit the Pope Clinic for medical care but under the care of the Fort Bragg (Womack) Army Hospital. The 43rd AW will inactivate in March 2011 and the 43rd AG will be established to execute the Green Ramp mission and to assist the 440th AW in operating the airfield. Pope real property will transfer to the Army in March 2011 at which point the Fort Bragg Garrison will assume responsibility for sustainment, security and protection of Pope Field real property. The Joint Conference took an in-depth look and review of all transition plans and associated timelines for: personnel, services, operations, logistics, communications, contracting, installation and mission support, environmental, security, comptroller, chaplain, safety and medical. All areas, with some minor exceptions, were found to be achievable within the agreed timelines. The exceptions identified required further analysis before a final decision is made and will be accomplished within the specified end dates established. The next 15 to 18 months will be challenging times in that Team Pope and Fort Bragg have both a national interest missions to accomplish on a daily basis while also executing the remaining BRAC mandates and transitioning to their respective new post-BRAC end states. The 43rd AW and Fort Bragg leadership, joined by the headquarters staff, had nothing but praises for the end results achieved, the work accomplished, and the effort put forth by all the personnel involved in the Joint Conference. Be sure to read the Jan. 15, 2010 issue of the Carolina Flyer which will be dedicated to BRAC-related issues.