TSgt Jerry Morrison Former President George W. Bush and joint military members break ground on the future Walter Reed National Military Medical Center July 3, 2008, during a ceremony at the National Naval Medical Center.

As part of the Congressionally mandated Base Realignment and Closure program for the National Capital Region, with a completion deadline of September 2011, it will be America’s primary reception site for returning casualties and trauma care.

Currently, construction crews are erecting the exterior panels for Buildings A and B and the patient parking garage using pre-cast panels. As a result, the structures are beginning to resemble enclosed buildings.

Both the National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center are integrating to treat and care for service members and work is continuing to create a world-class, integrated state-of-the-art medical facility.

‘‘The medical construction projects at Bethesda and Fort Belvoir symbolize military medicine’s joint commitment to providing our nation’s warriors and their families patient focused care in state of the art facilities,” said Vice Adm. John Mateczun, Joint Task Force National Capital Region—Medical commander.

Approximately 2,200 staff will be added to the Bethesda campus with the integration of the two facilities.

‘‘As importantly, we are embarked on an exciting journey to take our existing world-class capabilities and enhance them through synergistic consolidation and integration. When together we open these new facilities in 2011, we’ll have one of the nation’s premier regional health care systems for all of our patients,” Mateczun said.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command’s commanding Officer in Charge of the Construction Capt. John Korka, said there have been few challenges considering the size and scope of the project.

Currently, the project is on schedule.

‘‘We’ve been very fortunate to date in that we haven’t faced any unusual or unexpected obstacles from a project of this magnitude.” Korka said.‘‘However, one of our larger challenges has been being able to adjust the overall construction execution plan after the contract was awarded to accommodate and capture the needs and interest of the end-users, the community, the National Capital Planning Commission, and our Defense Department leadership without compromising the overall completion date by moving forward in a safe and effective manner.”

‘‘The community has been very supportive. We have worked diligently with community representatives to attempt to ensure the construction process does not negatively impact their quality of life and I think they appreciate that,” said David Oliveria, deputy chief of staff for facilities and the BRAC program manager for Navy Medicine National Capital Area. ‘‘To address the traffic issues, we are working with state and local highway officials on an approach that will facilitate easier and more-timely access by both our patients and our staff.”

‘‘Knowing that we are delivering a premier medical facility for the people who preserve our freedom and defend the democratic ideals of our great country ... our wounded warriors, our service members —both active and retired, and our military family members ... this is what motivates everyone associated with the project and keeps the momentum moving forward in a safe and effective manner,” Korka said.