Grand Forks Air Force Base impacted by Air Force civilian workforce restructuring

  • Published
  • By 319th AIR BASE WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  In response to direction from the Secretary of Defense for DoD to stop civilian growth above fiscal year 2010 levels and the need to add 5,900 positions against the Air Force's top priorities, the Air Force has eliminated approximately 9,000 positions.

Grand Forks Air Force Base has identified 30 Air Force civilian permanent positions that will be eliminated to meet these established budgetary guidelines. There are no positions being added to Air Force missions here as a result of this effort.

To begin shaping the workforce to meet future needs, the Air Force implemented hiring controls in May, followed by a 90-day hiring freeze in August, and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive Program offerings in September.

Mandated by the Fiscal 2012 budget, these actions are designed to accommodate the reduced growth in the civilian workforce by allowing the Air Force to consider where new positions will best support future missions and where current tasks need to be eliminated or reduced.

Of those 30 positions identified at Grand Forks, 13 are ones that were vacant due to previous hiring controls and six positions are identified for employees who will voluntarily retire or separate from federal service by Dec. 31 as a result of VERA/VSIP incentives.

Through vacancies created by the voluntary separation programs and hiring freeze, one employee will be moved from eliminated positions into another position for which that employee qualifies for. This leaves 10 eliminated occupied positions with employees who have not applied for incentive programs or for which no matching vacancy has been identified at this time. No timeframe has been established for when this action will affect the employees, and Air Force officials stress that every opportunity for voluntary reduction opportunities will be exhausted before the Air Force initiates any involuntary actions.

The Air Force will grow by approximately 5,900 positions in acquisition, the nuclear enterprise, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and other key areas whereas the 9,000 reductions will come from management, staff, and support areas.

The Air Force must still define an additional 4,500 civilian positions for reduction and plans to have those identified in early 2012. As the Air Force approaches the end of the 90-day hiring freeze Nov. 15, and employees approved for VERA/VSIP approach separation by Dec. 31, the Air Force will consider what additional measures may be required to meet future needs. Air Force members should expect continued workforce shaping measures.

Air Force-wide, local leaders will be sharing the results of the civilian manpower adjustments with their workforces over the next several days.