WASHINGTON — President Obama, accompanied by Gov. Chris Christie, will head to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst today to mark the end of combat operations in Afghanistan and thank the troops stationed there for their service to their country.

The president was scheduled to fly via Air Force One to the base, the only U.S. facility serving three branches of the military, and deliver remarks before returning to Washington.

Christie, a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate, was to meet Obama at the landing field. The two men bonded over the federal response to Hurricane Sandy, touring hard-hit New Jersey towns shortly before the 2012 election in which Obama defeated Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Christie was criticized by some Republicans for embracing the Democratic president so close to the election.

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez (both D-N.J.), are also scheduled to attend the event.

In his weekly radio address on Saturday, Obama explained the reason for his trip.

"Since our nation was attacked on 9/11, these men and women, like so many others in uniform, have met every mission we’ve asked of them." Obama said. "Now, many of our troops are returning from Afghanistan, and on Monday, I’ll be proud to help welcome them home. That’s because, this month, our combat mission in Afghanistan will be over. Our war in Afghanistan is coming to a responsible end."

Obama said that U.S. troops will continue to work with the Afghans after the combat mission ends, and are involved in efforts to defeat the Islamic State.

"In times of crisis and challenge, the world turns to America for leadership," Obama said in his radio address. "And when the world calls on America, we call on the brave men and women of our armed forces to do what no one else can."

The president's trip comes amid concern on the part of New Jersey lawmakers that the joint base could face reductions as the Pentagon looks for ways to cut spending. Menendez said he was going to discuss those concerns when he accompanied Obama to Las Vegas last month to highlight the president's executive order allowing millions of unauthorized immigrants to remain the U.S. And Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) sent a letter the president Friday expressing concern that the Pentagon will retire the KC-10 refueling tankers stationed there.

McGuire Air Force Base, part of the joint facility, has beaten back earlier budget-cutting efforts, thanks in part to former New Jersey Republican Rep. Jim Courter. He chaired the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission that in 1993 overruled the Defense Department, which had proposed making Plattsburgh AFB in New York the major northeast base for ferrying troops and equipment overseas, Instead, the Courter-led panel voted to give that mission to McGuire and close Plattsburgh.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst houses more than 38,000 people, including active-duty, reserve and National Guard personnel; their families; and a civilian workforce.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.