CPO addresses DoD civilian changes at Town Hall Meeting

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 100th Air Refueling Wing commander hosted a Town Hall Meeting at the base theater Nov. 7, where Tina Lhamon, 100th Force Support Squadron civilian personnel officer, addressed changes affecting Department of Defense civilians.

Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th ARW commander, scheduled the meeting to discuss the Air Force civilian workforce restructuring. Members notified that their position was abolished were asked to remain after the meeting to discuss various employment options.

"Our nation, the DoD and the Air Force face significant budgetary constraints," said Lhamon, citing 100 positions will be abolished in the U.K.

Nearly half of the affected positions are currently filled by a DoD civilian.

"This is not about people, it's about positions," said Lhamon. "More than ever we must strategically align our people - our most critical asset - against our most critical priorities."

The Civilian Personnel Office is seeking equivalent employment opportunities by trying to place each effected civilian in positions suitable to their pay grade here in the U.K. If a member is near their date of expected return from overseas, they may be able to remain in their current position until their DEROS, and then execute their return rights.

"The plan is to realign all those effected prior to a reduction in force being implemented," said Lhamon, citing that a RIF could still occur if more civilian positions are abolished in the coming years.

The management-directed reassignments is set to re-align civilians by matching them against a valid vacancy here in the U.K. If that doesn't work they may be offered a position at another installation. Qualifications can be waivered for local placement.

"In some instances, a civilian who is assigned to a position with a lower pay grade may be re-assigned again when a suitable position to their pay grade is found," said Lhamon. "Veteran preference comes into play in job placement and employees have placement rights. A RIF is the last resort."

Those with abolished positions can register with the DoD Priority Placement Program to get priority placement anywhere in the DoD. Once offered a job by PPP, a civilian has 48 hours to accept that job or can be removed from federal service.

If matched to a job outside the commute area, permanent change of station costs would be paid, said Lhamon.

"We rely heavily on our talented civilian workforce and are making every effort to retain our experienced civilians," said Kulas.

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

"We are making difficult choices about how to deliberately restructure and posture the force and will continue to look for new ways of accomplishing the mission," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley.

Kulas echoed the secretary's remarks.

"We understand the stress caused by uncertainty," said Kulas. "Whether we wear a uniform or not, we're all Airmen and a key task is taking care of each other. These are difficult times and everyone is in this together. Take care of our people, remain focused on the mission and keep moving forward."

For more information, contact the CPO at DSN 238-3668.

(Lt. Col. Cynthia Anderson contributed to this article.)