Air Force officials announce civilian Reduction in Force

News > Air Force officials announce civilian Reduction in Force

Photos


(U.S. Air Force graphic/Sylvia Saab)
Download HiRes

Related Biographies
• BRIGADIER GENERAL GINA M. GROSSO

Air Force officials announce civilian Reduction in Force

Posted 4/17/2013 Updated 5/16/2013

Email story Print story

4/17/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In a continuing effort to meet the Department of Defense funding targets in the FY12 President's Budget and re-balance the civilian workforce, approximately 60 Air Force installations will implement civilian Reduction in Force authorities effective through about Aug. 23, to assist in the placement of employees not assigned against funded positions (termed "surplus employees").

These actions started in FY12 and are not related to the current sequestration actions.

To meet the funding targets in the FY12 President's Budget, the Air Force was required to reduce more than 16,000 civilian positions. The Air Force was able to successfully reduce approximately 15,000 positions minimizing adverse impact to civilian personnel, but now needs to use RIF authorities, which will provide options to help place most of the remaining civilians on unfunded positions.

RIF procedures allow greater flexibilities for employees to be placed at their installations and still retain their grade or pay. In addition, the use of RIF procedures allows for eligible employees who cannot immediately be placed in local vacancies to be registered in the Priority Placement Program (PPP).

"Voluntary efforts to balance the civilian workforce in FY12 have gotten us significantly closer to funded levels, but we still have a way to go in placing the number of surplus employees to funded vacancies, and RIF authorities will enable us to achieve that goal," said Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso, the director of force management policy for the Air Force. "The Air Force recognizes and strives to balance the invaluable contributions of our civilian workforce with the fiscal realities under which the Department of Defense and the government as a whole are operating. We continue to focus on minimizing the impact on our current civilian workforce and their families."

As the Air Force continues to shape the work force, starting the RIF procedures will provide installations greater flexibilities to further realign and rebalance the civilian force.

"Usually a reduction in force has negative perception, but the use of RIF procedures will allow many employees to be retained and continue employment with the Air Force," Grosso said. "We want to assure everyone involved with this process that we remain committed to minimizing the impacts during these times of transition."

The processes available use reduction in force procedures to determine employee placement rights into vacancies as well as provide the flexibility to waive qualifications to create more placement options.

RIF implementation is separate from current sequestration actions.

For information about civilian employment, reduction in force and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Service website at https://mypers.af.mil.

Comments

4/25/2013 3:55:22 PM ET
@ A SNCO If you actually read my comment you will see that I said by order of the government. I have never heard of a civilian getting short notice deployed by contract. You should make sure you read someone's comment before you respond condescendingly.

Airman, Sheppard

4/25/2013 9:45:27 AM ET
All they have to do is offer me the early out I will be gone

Old Guard, Anywhere

4/23/2013 7:14:30 PM ET
Hold on... here we go again

Greg Call, Little Rock AFB

4/22/2013 4:17:02 PM ET
@Airman Civilians do deploy and quite frequently at that. Perhaps if you were a little more situationally aware while you were deployed you would see that. @Stacy some of those disabled vets that are you talking bad about are exactly that Disabled Veterans There may be good reasons for why they look like they do. Remember unless you have walked in their combat boots footsteps maybe you should keep your opinion to yourself

A SNCO, An AFB Near You

4/22/2013 1:36:58 PM ET
@Bob Any civilian impacted by the RIF should have to compete for any open federal job without any preference. As taxpayers we should want the best qualified in each position. If that persons prior service makes them the best qualified so be it. But its not the AF or DoD job to continue the cycle of employing people just because they got their foot in the door earlier on.

JT, Maxwell

4/22/2013 12:29:48 PM ET
At stacy they cant make civilians abide my physical standards because they have no need to. They dont deploy for us by order of the government so they do not need to be fit. All the fat military can get out and use all their experience the air force needs and support Uncle Sugar as a civilian.

Airman, Sheppard

4/22/2013 10:56:47 AM ET
It appears the AF did a grave disservice to its civilians by halting the original RMD 703 actions and announcing this latest RIF action. Once positively identified to lose a job for a RIF the individual gets hiring preference for other federal jobs. That preference could not be used last year because there was no official RIF. Now it can be used but there are significantly less federal job opportunities being advertised now versus the end of last year into early this year. So that RIF hiring preference now no longer has as much effect. Thanks a lot Air Force

Bob, Joint Base Langley-Eustis

4/22/2013 9:54:32 AM ET
Old Retired Guy Retireeville IL. I believe Arctic Warrior is saying they cannot compete for a higher GS level job unless they apply as external candidate due to the hiring process. They did not mention at anytime anything about being worried about competing with someone off the street. Competing external is just that. I am speculating that they are a GS-7 trying to compete for a GS-11 or better job but cannot on an internal level because of several factors. My guess is they could compete as an external candidate because they do have the qualifications AND get the job. You are not the only one who pays taxes. Next time put your mind in gear before you take your mouth out of park.

Frisco Jones, Land of Entrapment

4/22/2013 8:54:24 AM ET
@Old Retired Guy and Arctic I have to agree with Arctic. You see a position opened apply get referred but don't even get an interview because they open a position for a buddy who is retiring. It should be if you get referred you should at least get an interview but cronyism is running rampant in the civil service positions. When you can't even get an interview and the position is posted cancelled after people are referred reposted and filled three days after closing is a bs system of them just wanting the buddy in the position but they weren't in the first group of referrals.

Danpski, Offutt AFB NE

4/22/2013 8:27:00 AM ET
If Uncle Sam really wants to trim the fat from the civilian workforce just start requiring them to meet the same fitness standards as their active duty coworkers. There are too many 300 pound blobs filling civilian positions by playing the disabled vet card just because they have bad knees and backs from being overweight.

stacy, wright patt

4/21/2013 8:04:51 PM ET
I have worked for all three branches of the military yes Navy covers Navy and Corps and believe me the USAF has entirely too much fat active duty and civilian get rid of the numbered air forces and reduce the manning at the major command levels. While they are at it get rid of some of the major command l but not like the early 90's major command l restructure. Suffice it to say if the other services can survive on less overhead so can the CHAIRFORCE.

All services guy, CAFB SC

4/21/2013 3:04:46 PM ET
Start by reducing civilian positions at the HQ staff level...there are quite a few civilians that just take up space and waste resources. A chief or officer retirement is not a reason to create another unnecessary civilian position.

Gregg, VA

4/19/2013 1:26:43 PM ET
Ref PPP. Regardless of what you hear unless you know someone if you get PPP you might as well pack your bags. I was PPP'd during the last RIF and am out of a job

Fernando Martinez, Lackland AFB

4/19/2013 1:14:26 PM ET
The civilian workforce does a wonderful job and is a true enabler. However it has grown significantly over while overall defense budgets have shrunk. Military endstrength is returning towards 2001 levels. Doing so with the civilian workforce would equate to approximately 150000 positions eliminated DoD wide. I agree with Old Nuke Guy to follow through this time. DoD civper numbers increased some 25 percent over the last decade. We have not made a dent in trimming that growth yet.

JT, Maxwell

4/19/2013 1:10:46 PM ET
So what's next We are still under a hiring freeze pay freeze forlough plans no more award money no annual appraisal money no trainingTDY dollars and the list goes on. Next they'll want us to bring in our own office supplies.

DAF, USAF

4/19/2013 9:55:40 AM ET
@Arctic Warrior Good Restricting job applicants to only those who are in civil service breeds cronyism and doesn't put the most qualified person into the position. Every job in the federal government should be open for any citizen to apply. As a tax payer I want the most qualified person to fill a position regardless if they are a current GS employee or hired off the street. Besides if you have good qualifications why would there be a worry about competing against someone off the street

Old Retired Guy, Retireeville IL

4/19/2013 8:05:08 AM ET
Make me an offer.

Bill, Ft Worth

4/18/2013 10:19:06 AM ET
Don chances of getting any promotions are slim to none for many of us. I am a GS-X trying to compete for a GS-XX but can't unless I apply as an external candidate despite my qualifications.

Arctic Warrior, Colorado Springs CO

4/17/2013 2:10:38 PM ET
It seems that the only people who are going to go into RIF status are people who are in unfunded positions. Also if a civilian employee is looking to get a promotion in their office they can forget it. All jobs will be filled by Priority Placement.

Don, Oklahoma

4/17/2013 12:11:43 PM ET
Another veiled threat. How about actually following through with it this time. If it is truely time to cut the fat then lets cut the fat. Put up or shut up

Old Nuke Guy, Colorado

Add a comment

Inside AF.mil

GeneralImagesVideo

View All RSS

Subscribe AF.MIL

More Headlines

Davis-Monthan Airmen work to end veteran homelessness by 2015

Jennies to jets to stealth: Bomb wing turns 90

Concentration camp survivor to fighter pilot: 'Freedom a beautiful thing'  5

Wounded warriors adapt, overcome at Andrews sports camp

Pilots, combat systems officers may be eligible for retention incentives   2

Alert Reaper Airmen find IED  1

Luke AFB F-16 crashes, pilots safely eject  4

AF drops 50,000 plus gallons of retardant on Colorado fires

352nd SOG welcomes Osprey to fleet

SecDef: DOD welcomes Supreme Court decision  37

Weather warns warriors, saves services silver  1

Squadron's lone female gunner aims high  4

Flight engineer reaches combat sortie milestone  4

Training helps deployed Airman save lives  2

Commentary

Our commitment, our community

'Lucky' people take personal responsibility for their own success 16