JBER commander addresses Air Force civilian work force shaping at town hall

  • Published
  • By Luke Waack
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and 673d Air Base Wing commander hosted a town hall meeting for Air Force civilians Monday, to discuss work force shaping.

Air Force Col. Robert Evans, JBER/673d ABW commander, addressed an audience of hundreds of Air Force civilians at the Elmendorf Theater, to discuss the future of the work force on base.

"As we go into this, our goal is to minimize the impact on our civilian work force and to retain the quality civilian work force that we have today," Evans said. "As we approach this we're going to be completely honest, up front, transparent and fair in all our dealings."
Evans is working with leaders and managers who hope to achieve Air Force mandated 2010 levels of civilian personnel through voluntary separations and retirements.

"Buyouts are going to be offered, encouraging folks to separate voluntarily," said Angie Horn, JBER Civilian Personnel Office chief. "This is to avoid the need for reduction in force measures and potential involuntary separations."

The current hiring freeze and voluntary separation options should prevent or lessen the need for involuntary force reductions.

Horn laid out some of the voluntary options available for civilians in these circumstances.
Voluntary Early Retirement and Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay will be offered to encourage civilians to separate voluntarily, Horn said.

Despite past reductions in force, no employee has been involuntarily separated since the mid-1990s, according to Dave Owens, American Federal Government Employees union, Local 1101 president.

Civilian employees were encouraged to consider their circumstances, and evaluate if VERA or VSIP programs would be beneficial to them.

"VSIP payment is up to $25,000," Horn said. "It can be less than $25,000 for a few people, especially those with fewer years of service. The amount is connected to a severance pay calculation."

An initial VERA/VSIP interest survey call went out Aug. 29 with a suspense to return by Sept. 30, according to Horn.

The Air Force has established a specific separation date of Dec. 31.

If civilians receive a VSIP offer, the payment can be distributed three ways, Horn said. Lump sum, bi-weekly equal payments over a 26-week period or two equal amounts in six month increments.

Evans and his staff will help civilians in any way they can, the commander said.

"As we go through this process over the next couple of months, I want to be completely up front with you and I will be," Evans said. "I'll be completely honest and transparent with you. I'll make myself and my staff available to you - we're going to work through this together."

Evans promised more town hall meetings as changes come for the JBER civilian work force.

"I had this meeting today as the first of what will be a series of meetings over the next couple of months as we work through these changes."

After announcements from Evans, Owens and Horn, audience members had the opportunity to ask questions about the force shaping.

Horn encouraged workers to update their records and contact her office with personnel questions and issues.

The Air Force implemented hiring controls three months ago to control civilian end strength, but the desired goal was not achieved.

On Aug. 11, a 90-day hiring freeze was put in place for all permanent, temporary and term job vacanies.

To view the slides presented at the town hall, visit www.jber.af.mil and click on Hot Topics.

The CPO is open, 7:30 a.m. To 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be reached at 552-3572.