HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- Air Force officials announced the anticipated reduction of 4,500 civilian positions. This follows the Nov. 2 Air Force announcement which identified 12,000 of the 16,500 civilian billets that were eliminated to bring the Air Force civilian strength in line with its Financial Year 2012 President's Budget. The Air Force has been working to define the remaining 4,500 positions since the November announcement. These reductions will meet the Secretary of Defense's requirement for the civilian workforce to be maintained at FY10 levels.
"We value our talented and experienced work force and are trying to do everything possible to manage these reductions with as little impact to our people as possible," said Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force.
The reductions are the result of several strategic initiatives to include reducing overhead at every level, consolidating base support activities where feasible, and the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) restructuring.
"The sum of personnel reductions to include Air Force reductions, AFMC restructuring, and workforce growth due to several programs, nets a reduction of 159 personnel for Team Hill," said Maj. Gen. Andrew Busch, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander. "We will continue to support workforce shaping efforts to meet DoD, Air Force, and AFMC restructuring goals."
In an effort to encourage voluntary separations and retirements, the Air Force is currently offering its second round of voluntary separation incentive pay and voluntary early retirement authority programs. Civilian employees received VERA/VSIP eligibility surveys from their personnel managers earlier this month and the applications are due no later than Jan. 24 at Hill AFB. Approved applications will result in separations or retirements that take effect on April 30.
"Team Hill is hoping to receive several hundred VERA/VSIP applications to help with ongoing workforce shaping," said Andy Flowers, Hill AFB director of Civilian Personnel. "I encourage those Hill workers who are ready and interested in early retirement or separation to apply."
Air Force officials are still evaluating the need for a Reduction in Force.
"At this time, we are surveying the work force for a second round of VERA/VSIP and are in the midst of management reassignments resulting from the first round of the restructure," said Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso, director of Manpower, Organization, and Resources. "Once we exhaust all voluntary force management measures, a determination will be made whether or not a RIF is necessary. We hope to have more information in the spring."
This announcement marks the end of civilian reductions associated with the Air Force's FY12 civilian workforce restructure.
