Submitted by: Susu Kulow, FRC Communications Team, 301.757.9034

PATUXENT RIVER, MD – October 18, 2006 – On October 16, 2006 the Commander, Fleet Readiness Center (COMFRC) held a ceremony to stand-up Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic (FRCMA) operations at Naval Air Station Oceana.

“Integrating Intermediate and Depot level maintenance is an incredibly intricate and
complex undertaking,” said Rear Adm. Michael Hardee, COMFRC. “But one that creates the kind of “all star” team Naval Aviation needs in order to generate the combat readiness our warfighter needs to efficiently operate now and in the future.”

In addition to FRCMA, there are five other FRC area commands: FRC West, FRC Southwest, FRC Northeast, FRC Southeast and FRC East.

The Navy is transforming the way naval aviation maintenance is performed. In February 2006, the Naval Aviation Enterprise Board of Directors approved the concept of operations developed by the Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR’s) Commander for Aviation Depots to implement Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 decisions affecting naval aviation maintenance. The BRAC law calls for establishment of FRCs, which integrate Naval Air Depots (NADEPs) and the Continental United States (CONUS) Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachments (AIMDs) into a consolidated organization for shore-based, off-flightline maintenance, reducing duplicative maintenance processes and improving service to the fleet. FRCs will decrease turnaround time for aircraft maintenance, which will improve the Navy’s ability to maintain the right level of combat-ready aircraft at reduced costs. The FRC organization aligns all CONUS off-flightline maintenance functions under one command that will report to the Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF).
On August 1, 2006, the Office of the Secretary of Defense approved the FRC business plan. The planned completion and realignment of all resources for the FRC transition is scheduled for FY09.

The implementation of FRCs is one of the Navy’s strategies to support the warfighter and achieve cost-wise readiness in the 21st Century.

Photo:
CAPT Steve Bartlett, Commander FRCMA, and AVCM (AW) Bill White, maintenance Master Chief and CMC for FRC Mid-Atlantic unveil the Fleet Readiness Center flag. PHOTO CREDIT: MC3 Jason R. Zalasky