45th SW Identifies Personnel Reductions

Published Aug. 30, 2006
By Tom Andler and Lee Windschitl
45th Mission Support Squadron

PATRICK AFB, FL -- The 45th Space Wing identified and sent forward through 14th Air Force to Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) 22 government civilian positions proposed for elimination March 31, 2007.

These reductions are part of an Air Force-wide civilian personnel reduction of approximately 2,000 civilian slots across the Air Force, as directed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in an effort to cut costs. Of those positions, 180 will come out of AFSPC.

The reductions were levied to AFSPC wings and HQ in accordance with a fare share determination. Special populations were excluded from this reduction, e.g. Defense Health Program, National Intelligence Program, Special Operations Command, and Joint/Combatant Command authorizations.

Seven of the 22 local positions identified are vacant. For the 15 that are not vacant, the employees occupying those positions will be notified by their respective commanders/ supervisors. Even employees who are not in those 15 positions might be affected by a Reduction in Force (RIF).

The wing's civilian personnel flight (CPF) will look at reassignments into other vacancies as a way to help lessen any impact from the reductions. The CPF will also run a mock RIF later this year to determine opportunities to utilize other RIF-avoidance options, e.g. voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentives.

If these efforts, along with normal attrition, haven't been enough to place all affected employees, then in January 2007 the CPF will run the actual RIF, and issue notices by Jan. 31, 2007. RIF notices will indicate the worst possible outcome. During February and March 2007, the CPF will continue to work placement opportunities for any employees affected by the RIF.

"The wing has been very successful over the past 10 years in working initiatives that avoided all but one team member from losing a job," said Bob Fore, 45th SW executive director. "We will continue to work every possible initiative to reassign every displaced member.

"These are challenging budgetary times. We have to balance resources and shape the force in order to position our Air Force to continue to dominate air, space and cyberspace now and into the future.