Topeka ? Some wear green and some wear blue, but as of Oct. 1, the Kansas Air and Army National Guard are under one joint forces headquarters.

The change is part of the National Guard Bureau’s initiative to become more efficient, so that Guard units across the nation respond better to emergencies and homeland security incidents.

“This brings us closer to one Kansas team — Army, Air and state,” said Maj. Gen. Greg Gardner, state adjutant general. “The new structure should improve our relationship with active duty.”

Gardner said Kansas officials were moving toward a joint headquarters before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks, to respond to such incidents in Kansas.

He said the changes would improve coordination among local, state and federal authorities. In addition, the joint command will make each state better able to respond to the federal government’s homeland security needs.

“We will have a joint command that will look, smell and sound like what the active duty (military) is used to working with,” said Gardner, who also serves as director of homeland security and emergency management for the state.

Gardner briefed his staff Wednesday about the changes. The process is expected to take two years to complete, he said, because of necessary changes needed in federal laws, with appropriations being a major issue yet to be resolved.

“The changes are just starting and the staff is going to have input on how we’re making those changes,” he said.

Both the Air and Army National Guard headquarters are located at the State Defense Building in Topeka. Gardner said the only visible change to the public would be a name change on the west facade of the building.

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Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, accelerated efforts to establish a joint headquarters nationwide. Before the initiative, there were 162 headquarters in 50 states and four territories.

The Kansas headquarters will share personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, planning and training, information management and finance operations. Staff from the Kansas Air and Army National Guard, state of Kansas and liaisons from the other military branches will comprise the joint headquarters.

Blum has said the consolidation plan would increase cooperation among all branches — Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. The National Guard Bureau will add members of all four military branches to its staff. Historically, the National Guard has included members of the Army and Air Force.

Blum gave each state leeway to built its own consolidation plan.