Commentary
The Panama Canal
Military Stewardship of the Environment
Restoring and Supporting Democracy
End of an Era
U.S. Military Regional Activities
Panama The Country
Related Web Sites and Literature
Dedications
Procedures had to be developed to ensure a smooth transfer of designated parts of military installations (part of Fort Amador, Albrook Army Airfield, Albrook airstrip, and some housing units) to the Government of Panama on Treaty Day and for other military properties at different stages during the life of the treaty. The planning for the transfer of part of the Army sector of Fort Amador had to include relocating the Army headquarters from that area (including Building 1) to Fort Clayton. Likewise, the Army's 210th Aviation Battalion was relocated from the hangars at Albrook Army Airfield, with its aircraft going to Howard Air Force Base and its administrative section going to Fort Kobbe adjacent to Howard (both on the other side of the Canal).

The initial planning concept for transferring military properties and facilities to the Panamanian government envisioned that they would be transferred to the Panama Defense Forces to be used for similar purposes -- which turned out to be the rule. Among procedures developed were joint walk-through inspections of each facility to be transferred.

Specific military agencies had to be identified before Treaty Day to assume several civil affairs and community functions to be transferred on Treaty Day to the Department of Defense from the Canal Zone Government and the former Panama Canal Company for continued support to the U.S. community in the Panama Canal Area. (The Treaty, which dissolved the Canal Zone and hence the Canal Zone Government, also prohibited the Panama Canal Commission from carrying out retail and many community support functions.) Thus, procedures and regulations had to be developed, and initial funding and manpower requirements secured to ensure the continued operation of such activities as schools, hospital and medical clinics, postal operations, two commissaries, and certain other activities.

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